Epilogue
Slowly burning
Nyomi
I looked at the door. “Where’s Reo?”
Kenji took a bite of his food and spoke between chewing, “Roar duties.”
It was something about the way that Kenji said it, that seemed off.
Did he just lie?
I let it go.
“Well from now on let’s make sure that he sees me first, and then handles any Roar duties.” I frowned. “In fact, that’s his first Roar duty.”
Kenji nodded. “Yes, Tora.”
Some of the Claws snickered.
Kenji glanced their way.
They returned to eating.
Yoichi finally sat next to Kaoru as he poured sake.
The door opened again.
Reo finally stepped in and his gaze swept across the table—the candles, the five colors of food, the Claws and Fangs eating together, and me on Kenji's lap. "What's this? A party without the Roar?"
I smirked. "Never without the Roar. Come sit down. I was waiting for you."
He walked toward us, and that's when I saw it. He moved too carefully as if every step caused him the highest level of pain. His jaw was tight and I was certain that he was gritting his teeth.
He’s definitely assessing how much weight to put on each side. He’s in an insane amount of pain.
A fresh bruise darkened his left temple, and his knuckles were wrapped in white tape that had already gone pink at the edges.
Oh Reo.
But it was his ribs that made my stomach clench.
The way he held his left arm slightly away from his body. The shallow breathing. Those ribs had already been bruised from Kenji a day ago. Whatever happened during their battle today had layered new damage on top of the old.
Fuck. I don’t want Reo going out again until he’s had time to heal.
I looked at Kenji as he ate.
Roar duties my ass.
That hadn't been about logistics. Kenji had given Reo time to strip off the Roar mask somewhere private. To sit alone with the pain for a few minutes and maybe even take some medicine before walking into a room full of people who needed him to look unbreakable.
You take care of them in ways they'll never know, don't you?
Reo pulled out the chair on Kenji's other side and lowered himself into it.
Slow.
Controlled.
His expression gave away nothing, but the exhale when his weight finally settled told me everything.
My heart broke for Reo, but I wouldn’t risk babying him in front of the Fangs and Claws. However, once it was just Reo and me in the room, I would hold him for a long time and tell him how much I loved him.
I swallowed. "I’m so glad you're here and fine. You’re a fucking, warrior, Reo."
A warm smile spread across his face. "Thank you, Nyomi. I believe a lot of it had to do with Hiroko’s knowledge and your blood’s protection."
Toma gulped a beer and then burped. “Yeah about that. We should get the Tiger’s blood on our weapons too.”
Aki pointed to me. “On my knives.”
“On my guns.” Yuki grabbed some roasted broccoli off his brothers plate.
“Enough with your demands. My Tiger’s blood is not a group resource.” Kenji sneered. “Be grateful for this meal tonight and shut the fuck up.”
They returned to eating.
I whispered to him, “I could do it though.”
Kenji rolled his eyes.
Meanwhile, Reo looked around the table with this hopeful expression that was so out of place on the Roar's face that I almost laughed. "A dinner welcoming us home? How exciting. Nyomi, anything with cheese on the table?”
“No cheese. I kept it traditional for you all today."
Reo actually looked sad. His shoulders slumped, and coming from a man who had probably walked through a war zone without flinching, the defeat over missing mac and cheese was almost too much.
“I’m sorry, Reo. I’ll remember next time.”
"What about more of the braised oxtails?" He asked it the way someone asks about a loved one's health. Hopeful and bracing for bad news at the same time.
“Oxtails?” I blinked.
“Yes.”
"Hold up.” I thought back to days ago. “You tried the oxtails that I made?"
"Of course."
"I burnt those."
"It didn't taste burnt to me," Reo said it with complete seriousness. "The whole pot was perfectly fine."
My mouth fell open. "I know you didn't sit there and eat an entire pot of burnt oxtails."
"I ate it all."
Yoichi spoke up from across the table. "And by himself. Wouldn't even share any of them with us."
“It’s my job only to taste the food.”
Everybody laughed. All of them—bruised, bandaged, and stitched continued to crack up and eat. The sound filled the room, and my chest felt a little lighter.
Kenji's chopsticks appeared in front of my face. A piece of steamed tofu sat between them, glistening with that dark glaze. "Open, Tora."
Smiling, I opened my mouth, and he placed the tofu on my tongue.
Mmmm.
The flavor hit me slow. It was warm and savory with this deep earthiness that spread across my palate and made my eyes close on their own.
Perfect.
The glaze was sweet at the edges, almost smoky, and the tofu itself was so crispy on the outside and soft within.
Chef Bunzō is not playing around.
I hummed against the taste.
Kenji's chest vibrated against my back. "When did you eat last?"
I thought about it. Really thought about it. There'd been the wine. The reading. The kitchen prep. The braiding session with Deja before that when I’d been so worried about Kenji and them. . .I didn’t think I even touched the plate Zo had made me. "Uh. . .I'm not sure."
He pursed his lips. His arm tightened around my waist. Another piece of tofu appeared in front of my lips. "Open."
I took it.
"Naughty Tiger."
I swallowed.
He leaned forward and brushed his lips against my ear. "Taking care of everyone and forgetting yourself."
“I promise to do better.”
Kenji fed me another piece. "You'll eat a full plate before we leave this table."
"Yes, baby."
The meal continued. We all were eating, talking, and mumbling with our mouths full. And even though they were big, strong, dangerous men who had just come back from a battle, they acted like boys at the table.
Nudging each other with their elbows.
Taking food from each other's plates with chopsticks and grinning when someone protested.
Frowning when someone stole their drink.
Laughing at jokes I couldn't quite hear.
I shook my head.
This damn Claws cocktail party is going to be a hot mess.
“Hold on. People are missing.” Kenji looked around the table carefully like he was counting people. "Where's Satoshi?"
Yoichi answered while chewing. "Satoshi is off with Nyomi's friend Zo.
It seems that Nyomi's grandmother had a special remedy for his water allergy.
It healed him. Instantly. And once you all gave the update that everything was fine, I made the decision to let him remain in his room, enjoying that relief. "
Hiro's face lit up with excitement. "Oh, I can't wait to meet my new Grandmother. She's sounding like a goddess too."
Laughter erupted around the table.
I frowned at him. "You're not going to meet my grandmother."
"I'm definitely going to meet her," Hiro winked. “I heard she makes great pie.”
“And this is why I’m not allowing you to come anywhere near her. You’ll be all up in her kitchen, begging.”
Kenji's voice cut through the conversation. "What about Rin?"
Kaoru answered.
In Japanese.
I frowned immediately and turned to look at him. "No, no, no. Speak in English so I can understand what you're saying. See, I knew that you knew something more and you just weren't telling me."
Kaoru kept speaking in Japanese while looking directly at Kenji.
Listening to the conversation, some of the men paused with their eating and looked up.
I frowned.
Damn it. What is he saying?!
I scanned the faces around the table, trying to decode their reactions. Toma's mouth was hanging open. Kaede's eyebrows had disappeared into his hairline. The twins were looking at each other with matching devilish grins.
Others widened their eyes like whatever Kaoru said was shocking or surprising.
Then, Kenji chuckled low in his chest, and I felt the vibration against my back.
"What did he say?” I turned to look at Kenji. "What's going on?"
"I have nothing to do with any of this," Kenji smiled.
"I want to know what Kaoru said."
"Tora, this is official Yakuza business."
I murmured, "Bullshit."
Hiro chuckled, “I’m just shocked that Rin swept. I didn’t even know he knew what a broom was.”
The twins laughed so loud they looked like they were about to choke.
Minutes later, Hiro poured me a cup of sake.
“Oh. Thanks.” I was about to grab it.
“Wait.”
I blinked. “Okay.”
Hiro rose from his seat and clinked his sake cup with his chopstick.
The sound rang out clear and sharp.
"Okay. Okay," Hiro said loudly. "You know what this moment is right now. You know what we do. This is when we honor all that fell."
Kenji put his chopsticks down. Everybody stopped eating, went quiet, and looked at him.
I put my gaze on Hiro too.
He cleared his throat. “First, we should thank Nyomi for the special meal.”
They all yelled out thank you.
Hiro pointed at Kenji. “Keep in mind that this is not the Claws cocktail party. That will be a separate event tomorrow or the day after and it will be big and wonderful."
The Fangs groaned loudly.
Yoichi shook his head. "Oh, okay. Okay. Enough with you."
Kaoru scowled. “Seriously. No one fucking cares.”
Kenji sighed behind me. "Hiro. Put this to rest and leave it alone. She’s going to give you all that damn party."
Hiro shrugged. “I just wanted that to be known. This is not the Claws’ Party. We’re getting signature drinks and soul food inspired dishes.”
Reo frowned. “It’s been confirmed. Continue.”
Many started laughing while others poured sake into cups.
Next, Hiro's face went serious in a way I'd never seen before. All the playfulness was gone, replaced by something heavy and sad. "We lost many today."
Hiroko’s face flashed in my head and my heart broke all over again.
Hiro sighed. "We lost an amazing woman. Hiroko. She was strong, beautiful, and kind. She shouldn't be gone, but. . ."
My chest tightened so hard I could barely breathe.
People around the table bowed their heads respectfully.