The next day he felt horrible. Sleep was meant to make everything better, but it just made it a hundred times worse.
Was this how everything was going to be?KNOCK! KNOCK!That had him up on his feet.“Takashi”.It was Geiru.“What is it?” he asked.“Get off your lazy ass and let’s go”.“Where?”“Did you forget what happened yesterday? Get dressed let’s move”.Takashi dashed into the bathroom. Five minutes later he was dressed, and ready to meet with the leader of the gang.He opened his door to see Geiru standing there impatiently. “Done?”“Yes” he replied all smiles and she groaned.“Let’s go”.They were not at the stairs yet, when the woman of yesterday who approached them, appeared out of nowhere.“Good. You’re up”.“Problem?” Geiru asked.“No. Now if you’ll please follow me” she said walking, not waiting for them to catch up.They went down the stairs, and up the other stairs opposite it, leading to another part of the house.“Remember what I told you” the woman said flatly.“No” Takashi replied.“Do not stare” and she opened a door.Takashi and Geiru saw the bloody woman of yesterday all cleaned up, and she didn’t look that bad. She sat on the table, and the chair by her was turned to the window.“They’re here” Karou said.The chair turned slowly and both strangers came face to face with a woman. Not that old and not that young, and her face neutral.“Good morning” she said.“Morning” Geiru replied.“Cat got your tongue Fujiwara?” Sachi asked.“No” he replied.Karou gave him a side eye glance, and she was glaring.“So you are Takashi Fujiwara?” she asked not surprised. Like she could be doing anything else. Well she was the leader of a gang, so maybe she had much money to take from a neighborhood.“Yes” he replied.“Well Sachi told me you’re no fraud, but just know I’ll want a demonstration later on”.He nodded his head.“Good” and she stood up.Takashi’s eyes went wide, but he was subtle. No one seemed to notice, but Geiru was giving him a dirty look, and he could feel the anger radiating off her. But it wasn’t his fault. When the woman was just…“I’m Megumi Hirose leader of Phantom” she said rounding the table and in her hand was a gun. “What’s your name?”“Geiru”.“Well Geiru time for your initiation” and she twirled the gun, her finger in the trigger.She held it out for Geiru, and she took it easily which shocked Takashi.“Bring her in” Megumi said going back to her desk.The door opened and two men dragged a woman inside, who was struggling and trying to get away from the two men, but she was no match for both of them.She was forced to her knees before Geiru.“Before one joins Phantom they have to show that they can at least work a weapon, and know what to do with it. I don’t want crybabies in my gang”.Geiru stretched her hand and the barrel rested against the woman’s nose.She wouldn’t, would she? She could ask for Megumi to give her something else, couldn’t she?CLICK.“Please don’t…..I have a family and…..”BANG!!!The gun went off. Right between her eyes. Takashi didn’t know when he closed his eyes, when he did open his eyes, the woman was in the ground. A pool of blood underneath her and everywhere.“You aren’t a neat killer are you? Just look at my desk”.“Sorry” Geiru apologized.“If she knew she had a family then she should have stayed far away from gang business” Sachi chuckled.“Karou. Make sure my office gets cleaned, and send the body back to her gang”.Megumi looked at the two. “Welcome to Phantom. We’ll meet later to formally introduce you to the gang. You can leave for now”.Geiru walked out, and Takashi kept looking before he turned around and followed the woman, closing the door softly behind him.“So what now?” Sachi asked.“Send this body to her family” she told Karou.VVVVV
“You look pale” Geiru stated.They were both in her room and he was on her bed, while she paced.“Why wouldn’t I be?” he asked. “You just killed someone”.Geiru stopped pacing and turned to him. “That’s just how it is Takashi. If you couldn’t handle this, then you shouldn’t have accepted the offer”.“She was innocent! She had a family, and you just killed her. Is that why you joined a gang? To kill the innocent and put fear in their hearts?!”“Don’t talk like you know anything”.“Aren’t I right?”“Why I joined the gang is my business. I know I’m not innocent and neither was she. I made my choice and so did she. Too bad she was unlucky”.“How can you….”“You want your revenge don’t you? Shut up and act like it, instead of sitting here crying like a bitch. I will do my duty here and if you compromise my position, I will leave you to die”.Takashi shot her a dirty look.“Remember that” and she walked out of her own room.VVVVV
“So what do you think of the Takashi kid?” Megumi asked as her sister threw a full grown man of the mat.“Stop calling him a kid. You’re not that older than him”.“Where do you think he has been all this while?”“Well father always talked about Fujiwara, but he never mentioned that they had a son”.“And he just disappeared, then he appeared in a club wanting to be part of a gang”.“Maybe he was just there to party” her sister replied.Megumi watched as she flipped a woman over her shoulder, and held one arm, stepping on another hand and landing with both knees on her ribs. Her sister was really mean sometimes.A man snuck up behind and her, and put her in a chokehold. She could easily tap, but she wouldn’t. She flung her head back hitting him hard in the face, and threw her elbow and he released her.“Give them a break Sachi” Megumi said standing.Her sister stopped and turned to her. “We have new members to welcome”.“Don’t you think he’s kind of cute?” Sachi asked.Megumi walked away without replying.VVVVV
Megumi sat on her armchair like a queen, while the rest of the gang chatted aimlessly. She gave them a few more minutes before she rose. The room was silent that instant.“Some of you may know and others may not, but we have two new recruits”.She turned to the newbies and smiled. “Geiru and Takashi Fujiwara. You guys know the Fujiwara name, and you knew of his early demise. A real tragedy”.Takashi grit his teeth as she spoke. How could she just stand there and talk about his parents like she didn’t know her father killed them.“…..well the girl has proved her loyalties, but I’m still not sure about you Fujiwara” she said looking at him.He just stared back blankly. Trying not to show how much her stare scared him.“I don’t trust anyone and Fujiwara or not, I don’t trust you. We’re going somewhere tonight, and you will prove yourself that you are who you say you are”.“Sounds easy enough”.Megumi smirked at the reply.“Karou will follow you and once she finds out you’re a fake, the bullet through your brain will be your last thought”.Takashi gulped and she chuckled.“Move out!” she barked.“Why didn’t you just shut up?” Geiru asked.“Leader of Phantom or not I won’t let her push me down”.“You really don’t know how this works. Don’t go acting smart Takashi. It will be the end of you”.VVVVV
They were ushered into a car and they were off. The drive was really fast, but the others were unfazed and barely moved from their seats at the unnecessary speed. He needed to get his act together.Soon they stopped and his door opened from the outside.“Let’s go Fujiwara” Karou said.Takashi walked out and followed the girl. They walked up to the side of a building and climbed up the stairs, and went to the roof. “Get your stuff out and wait for my signal”.“What’s the signal?” Takashi asked.“You’ll see” she said.She got out her binoculars and looked to where the rest were.Megumi leaned against the car looking up at the sky.“It’s going to rain cats and dogs” she murmured.“You see it as rain, I see it as something ominous. Something is going to happen tonight. Don’t let your guard down”.“Do I ever?” she asked.They waited few more minutes, maybe an hour when they could hear tires screeching and see headlights. Megumi was unfazed and so was her sister. The rest of the gang though were tense.The doors opened and a lot of people stepped out. She didn’t care for any of them though. Her eyes were on only one person”.“What the fuck?!” a man yelled advancing towards Megumi. Her sister made a move to step in between them, but Megumi raised her hand.“What do you think you did to my members?!”“Send a message. Looks like you got it. My money!”“You will get it. No need to kill my members”.“You took a long time before I got it. Now I know not to loan you anymore. My money Makoto” she said her voice low.“And if I say no?” he smirked.Megumi craned her neck and there was a slap from the opposite gang.Makoto turned to inspect and at that moment, a member fell.“What the….Megumi!” he yelled.Another one fell.“Alright stop!”Megumi smirked and Sachi just glared at the man.He snapped his fingers, and a man walked up to him holding a briefcase which he opened.“Ten million” he said running a hand through his hair.Sachi took it still glaring.“Now tell me what you did to my men” he threatened.Megumi raised her hand so Sachi wouldn’t go berserk.“Who knows?”“You know you are really infuriating? Everyone in this knows you are just a daddy’s girl who has too much time on her hands. You are not fit to run a gang. You are not strong and wear a mask to cover up how terrified you are”.Megumi yawned. “Are you done?” she asked.He only grunted. “Even your mad sister would do a better job”.SMACK!Megumi didn’t flinch as her sister moved, and used the briefcase to hit him hard across the face, and he stumbled back.His gang already had their guns out, but he raised his hand.“You’ll regret that” he said lowly. It was funny how he wasn’t raising his voice anymore. “Move out!” she barked. “You should get that jaw checked out” Sachi winked and she followed her sister.She got into her car unbothered with her sister, and moved.“The kid did a god job” Megumi commented.“He’s no fraud then, and stop calling him a kid. You’re not that older than him”.“Whatever. I’ll kill that disgusting man one day”.“Why didn’t you just tell Karou to instruct Takashi to kill him then?” Sachi asked counting the money.“I like to play” she smirked. “Take us home. The boss needs something to drink”.VVVVV
This time he threw up longer. It would have been better if he was in his room, but Geiru had to talk and barely a few minutes in, he was puking his guts out.“I don’t see the big deal here Takashi” Geiru said sitting on her bed.“I killed two people today Geiru”.“I also did, but you don’t see me throwing up” she sneered.“I’m sorry. I forgot you were a murderer” he said flushing the toilet.“Megumi trusts you now and that is all that matters. You have to build your way up to her inner circle, and then strike like the snake on your back”.“What are you going to do all the time I’m climbing up the ladder?” he asked.“I will do what I’m meant to do. I’m a mole after all”.“Won’t it be dangerous?”“It will, unless you do what you’re meant to do”.“What?”“Get close to her. Make her trust you. She already congratulated you in front of everyone. In case you don’t know, that’s an honour”.“Explain to me what you’re going to do again?”“I will feed my gang information, so that they can always be a step ahead of phantom” she explained.“How are you going to do that?” she asked.“I’ll always be close to Megumi. She knows I’m good with money. She’ll give me jobs concerning that, when I’m not winning tournaments for her”. “And how long do you think it will take before she gets suspicious?”“Megumi is a lot of things, but she isn’t smart. She’s a daddy’s girl from the information I found, and she’s just acting tough. Her sister is the muscle and she’s the one who calls the shots”.“Well you are the mole. I will leave that all to you. But then, how will I get close to Megumi?” he asked.“Do I have to think for you Takashi? You’re good looking use that to your advantage”.“You want me to seduce her?!” he asked aghast.“You say that like it’s a bad thing. I saw the way you looked at her when you saw her” she said dryly.“That was because……it was all out there. How do you expect one not to stare at that?” he broke off into a low murmur.“Yeah” she said rolling her eyes. “She’s good looking and single. You have to make her trust you and she won’t suspect a thing, and overlook every little thing you do. What do you say?” she whispered.“Fine” he groaned. “Even though she’s old I’ll do it”.Megumi sat at the dining table alone and she liked it. She liked this little moments just to herself and her thoughts. Sometimes having the weight of a gang got to you that you could kill yourself, but one had to be strong and never show weakness. That was what her father told her.Remembering her father just filled her with rage. She would get her revenge very soon. Now that she had a very huge asset that no other gang had. Fujiwara Takashi and she smirked. She would be on top as always like it is meant to be.She stopped when she heard footsteps.Karou rushed in and she looked troubled. The face she had when there was bad news.“Tell me!” she demanded.“The warehouse blew up” she whispered.She watched as the fork bent in her boss’ hand. Her nose flared and she stood up.“How did that happen?!” she yelled.“I don’t know boss. Ms. Sachi called and she said as they arrived at the prem
Things had been quiet. A little bit too quiet and it was unnerving, but Megumi was enjoying the peace and quiet. Things were back to the way it was, and how things were meant to be. News must have spread about how she destroyed Red Dawn, and she was at the top again. Having all of them bow to her just like when her father was still here.She groaned at the thought. Remembering the day she lost her father.They would all pay.They were going to pay.She turned to her window and Kenji was by the pool. It’s like everyone hid until she beckoned, and she loved it. So much power at her disposal.She left her office and would just take a walk to clear her head. Not so far into her walk, she saw Takashi again.“Takashi” she called and the boy turned to her.“Good morning ma’am” he said.“Call me boss” she said. “Ma’am is just wrong coming from you” she smiled. “Again w
“I know your secret” Kenji said.“Excuse me?” Takashi asked not really trying to be surprised. Struggling to keep the neutral mask, and he hoped he wasn’t shaking the way he thought he was.“Like I said. I know your secret, Takashi Fujiwara” he leaned closer.“What secret?”“Do you really want me to say it out loud? I’m sure that Megumi would love to hear that”.Takashi let the fear take over just for a moment, but that was enough for Kenji. That proved him right.“That I’m sure you don’t want. You have no idea how this gang thing works, right?”He was silent and Kenji went ahead.“You haven’t seen someone beaten to a bloody pulp, or gunned down before you, or what was once a man left to bleed out? You really don’t know what you’re in for Fujiwara”.“What can you prove? Because I’m not sure you know what you’re talking about” he wasn’t going to admit to anything.“You may be right and you may also be wrong. Do you want to test if I know or not?”Taka
Takahiro glared at the bag he had been delivered. He had been informed by some incompetent idiot that told him he had a delivery, and now he was staring at a big duffle bag and if it wasn’t money in there, he didn’t care.“Open it” he told Jun.He was still angry that Megumi had gotten away, and he had lost more men to that annoying brat, who had the audacity to come to his club and shoot at him. He’d make her pay. But first he’d make the rest of his men pay the price first.Jun groaned in disgust.Pulling the zipper to the end, it was a bloody, gagged, bound and naked Geiru still breathing and seemed to be awake?Takahiro grimaced at the sight and turned around.It wasn’t at the state she was in. No! Far from that. Her being here meant she had failed and since she was here, Takashi was there and alone. And he could only guess the condition. He should probably ask her the state he was in, but he was sure she couldn’t remember anything.A number was performed on
She was in the car that day. By her father’s side. Always by her father’s side. That was why everyone knew her as daddy’s girl. No one had ever seen them without the other. So it only made sense that he always took her everywhere.To close of a deal, work, parties and handle business. He had told her that, “This will be your life one day. Better get used to it now”. And she was getting used to it, but always had a caretaker watching her. Bodyguard, but her father wanted her to see her as family. Karou’s mother at the time.During that time she had been unlucky to meet Takahiro. She didn’t like how the man looked at her, and how he looked at her father at the time. She didn’t know the meaning of sinister at the time, but she knew later that was what it was. He’d just stare at them for some time which scared her, and then smile.He reminded her of all the vultures she had seen on geography channels. Just waiting for their prey to die. She scared him, but her dad was there to
Months later…. Tokyo seemed to be the right place for him to be. No one knew his name, no one knew what he had done, and no one knew what he was capable off. He had stopped being bothered about what he did. Ever since he left and days went by, day by day the guilt lessened until it was nonexistent.But he wouldn’t forget about Geiru.He found a decent job and he didn’t have to worry about gangs anymore. “Can I get something to eat?” he looked up at the woman that had ordered.“What do you want?” he asked.“Are you on the menu?” she flirted leaning close.“No I am not. Please order something off the menu” he said. As a worker, he couldn’t be rude to the customers.He had received compliments, but she was different. She was really….how would he say? Forward. And she looked different anyway.“No need to be a spoilsport. I’ll have some pancakes” and she winked walking to her table.“Yeah Takashi don’t be a spoilsport. Maybe you wouldn’t be so stiff if you got with someone” h
She could still remember.How could she forget?Getting back home and she knew she was late. She couldn’t get in a taxi with how beaten up she was, and couldn’t risk being followed.Getting there the house was quiet, when she knew that celebrations over victory carried late into the night to the next morning. The problem, it was quiet and the lights were still on and the gate not fully closed.She already had one, problem now there was another. Had Red Dawn launched an attack? Because Takahiro wasn’t really dead like Megumi had claimed. Walking in, the first thing she saw the dead security guard.Looking down she didn’t see a wound. And he wasn’t the only dead one she saw. She took a gun out and approached the house cautiously, passing bodies as she walked by.What had happened?She walked in slowly the door was ajar, and she dropped her bag immediately looking at the bodies of her gang members. She approached forgetting about protection, that maybe the person responsible could still b
Today though Megumi was in the bathroom with him.“Can’t I have my privacy?” he groaned.“You will have nothing” she replied. “Now hurry”.“It’s not like I’m going anywhere” he said.“We are actually. I need my bike back”.“You couldn’t get a new one?” he teased.“You can’t really control an account when you’re dead Fujiwara. You’re smart so you should know that” she rest against the door.“I’m surprised you know that”.“Just get dressed before I shoot you”.And soon he was ready, her eyes not leaving his person not for a second. Not even as he dressed.“See something….”“If you think of completing that” she let the threat hang.“If you hurt me and end up killing me, how will I help you raise your gang to its former glory?”“I’ll find a way. I escaped death, didn’t I?”“Now get dressed” she barked.VVVVV“Where are you going?” Maya inquired.“Nosy” Karou played off as a cough.“We’re going to get things that we need” Megumi said passing the table they were all seated.“Alone?” Sachi a
Megumi kept a close eye on Hayata as her legs crossed the railing. Her sword out and pointed at him. She tried not to glance at her sister. She knew she was alive. She was just resting. Just like she did when they fought Takahiro.“We never did talk did we Meg” he said moving around on the waffle floor. “I saw you the first and only time I came to your mansion. You were so cute. All dressed pretty, and you had ribbons in your hair. I talked with Sachi and she hated me the minute she saw me” he sighed.“Maybe because I was the first child. Or maybe even in her imperfect world, she thought she had a little perfection and I ruined that” he smiled at her. “And now look at her” he gestured to her prone body. “So peaceful”.Megumi grit her teeth and stepped forward.“She isn’t dead though. You two are so attached……and as a big brother, I wouldn’t deprive you two the displeasure of not dying together”.Megumi attacked. Swinging her sword fast and Hayata dodged. They were on uneven ground, so
She still couldn’t move. She let herself be dragged quite easily. She still couldn’t do anything. He put her on the second floor, while he left to go get Megumi. She wasn’t sure if she still had anything on her. But even the idiot Takashi couldn’t kill her, she wouldn’t let this bastard do so.Eisuke watched from his position at the top. He had done what he was meant to. A bullet to the gas canisters on the ground floor. Just with a bullet, all the way from the third floor. Which was the top floor. He had seen the drama between both brothers? And now he was watching Hayata work.This was his domain.This was where he dominated.He sat where he perched and put both hands under his chin. Thinking. They were all dirty gangsters. Each and every one of them, but Hayata. What really separated both of the fields? Okay there were significant differences, but all of them in this room was as guilty as the other.He could end all of it here. There would be nothing linking him to their deaths, if
Eisuke laced his boots. He didn’t like his job, nothing would change that. But there was an advantage to it. He didn’t like gangsters. He hated them with everything he owned. They were just like parasites. Always multiplying. And if no one was going to take them out, he would.He jumped at every opportunity to do it. Even if the pay was below his quality.Gangs were just like predators. They lured you in with treats and a good time, and when they were done with you, could either keep you, or cast you away. He had lost his brother to those monsters. And Hayata might be screwed up in the head for wanting to kill his sisters, but that was his problem.Gangs were a problem with society that needed to be eradicated.He looked up and the assassin was in his face. He hadn’t heard him. Qualities for being an assassin. The name wasn’t just a name. He actually lived up to it.“So….what are you thinking about?” he asked meekly.Eisuke continued with his boots.The other man sat beside him. “This
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 ta
Hayata stood up from the occupied bed. He groaned cracking his neck, then stretched the remainder of his body to pop the knots. His partner still didn’t stir. He trudged to the bathroom and relieved himself. He came back out, walked to the wardrobe and got into his sweats.He took his headphones and his phone.“Nothing new” he murmured as he made his way up to the roof. A makeshift gym had been set up. He only left his humble abode when he needed to. He was a couch potato.The question, why didn’t he stay in a better place if he had that much money?He didn’t have an answer to that also.He dropped his phone close, and did his stretches.Then his normal workout. A thirty minute jog, then his sit-ups. Pushups. His lunges. His planks, skipping, then on to the heavy stuff. His pull-ups.His headphones had dropped to his neck. Perspiration had gathered on his forehead. He had his lips stretched with the effort.“How to die, A to Z”.“Asphyxia”.“Blunt trauma”.“Cardiac arrest”.He accompa
Sachi stood by the hanger doors, waiting patiently. Staring at the tip of her boots. She was patient even if her index finger kept tapping on her forearm. She was patient even if her shoulders were really tense. She was patient even if she was on high alert, and would pull out her gun in her pants at the slightest jump. “Why are you so jumpy?” Megumi was before her. “Don’t act like you aren’t feeling the same” she said. She had felt her coming, but couldn’t react because of her nerves. Was this how she was going to freeze when they came face-to-face with their big problem? Megumi got into the passenger’s seat, giving her sister time to calm down. She was the one driving, and wanted to leave in one-piece. Sachi leaned away from the hood and walked to her side. She opened the door and got in. “No security with you” her younger sister pointed out. “I thought you’d be too busy trying out some new Gucci product, or a new addition to your thousand pair of shoes”. Megumi laughed. “Isn’
Karou dropped her drink hard on the bar counter. Just because her boss was going through, well whatever she was going through, didn’t mean she would have to put off her duties by laying low. Money didn’t just fall from the sky for gangsters. This was a job, just like every other job.They didn’t get to just sustain themselves from protection money. They carried out jobs for pretty important people that couldn’t get their hands dirty. There was also illegal dealings. Arms and ammunitions, drugs, and important art pieces. The whole deal. And she was the one that handled all that. Why gangsters loved to close the deals in clubs, she would never know. But she did it. She wouldn’t take a car to attract too much attention to herself. She fill the bag with what they needed, like she always did. Get dressed, and take the entrance that was meant for her.Cars could be tailed. If she walked, she would see anyone coming. She had closed off the deal. Luckily they had a good dealer. The Mistr
Haru walked leisurely to his home. He had a long day, working for an unemotional, sadistic, and just a downright dark human being was tiring. And that was coming from him. A gangster who is meant to be used to all that. Things had changed since boss Megumi left for a better life with her man. Leaving her demented sister in charge. Well that was the rumor. That she had a few screws loose upstairs. Turned out she was. Her eyes were always blank, devoid of any time of emotion. Not at all like her younger sister. She had determination, and ruthlessness in there.Sachi was like a robot. Like a ghost. It was chilling. The only time she laughed was when one of them got hurt, or openly mocked them for their everyday choices. It was a pastime and a hobby for her. But he had been loyal to them. And he was willing to endure the weird woman.For the prestige. For the money. For the power.As he approached his home, he felt hot. It wasn’t that hot around this time, so he didn’t get why it was ho
It wasn’t easy being dead. When the world believed you were dead, you had to stay so. A new life was in order and she had taken Kenji’s offer. Getting off the helicopter as it landed and seeing Kenji in all of his handsome glory.She approached him and he spread his arms wide accepting her.She had killed Takahiro. What she had been chasing all her life and without that there was nothing else driving her. That was her sole purpose and now it was gone. The original gang was dead, but they had built it from the ground up, and Sachi was okay. She could lead it.Karou wasn’t happy and even wanted to come with her. But her duty first and foremost was to the gang, Phantom, just like her mother. Yes they had been lot of screaming and tears, and they didn’t want her to leave, but she had to.She just couldn’t do it. She had a new life now. As Lady Goya.“Are you ready Mrs. Goya?” he held his hand out for her to take.This question was one that would change her life for good. After this, no mo