Page 3 of Bound By the Yakuza

My brother held up his hand to quiet me. “Where are you going?”

“Japan.”

“How long are you staying?” He didn’t miss a beat.

“I don’t know. Maybe forever.”

Aleksey blew out a long sigh. “Karina,” He said. “You’re my baby sister. I love you. I don’t want you to marry that creep either but,” He paused. “You’d run away from our family just to prove your point?”

My gaze hardened. “You know I would.” I hugged him tightly. “Please don’t tell anyone where I’m going.”

“Only if you promise me that you’ll keep in touch somehow. I won’t be able to sleep at night.”

I was silent.

Aleksey grabbed my shoulders, holding me at arm’s length. Our gray eyes locked together, the power of close siblings. “Promise me, Karina.”

“I promise,” I said after a beat. “I promise, but you need to be patient. I will contact you when I can. I’m leaving tonight.”

??

TATSUYA

“Listen. I really don’t feel like killing you tonight.”

Shibuya was filled with holiday shoppers. It was only November, but the streets were decked out in all their Christmas grandeur. Lights were strung along the streets and criss-crossed above us. I sat on a bench, with my back turned against the informant. He was a skinny, pale salary man dressed in a wool coat that hung off his narrow shoulders. I could hear him biting his fingernails and was thankful that I didn’t have to watch him while he stumbled over his words.

“Tatsuya-san,” He mumbled. “My information is good, I swear.”

I exhaled a long drag of smoke. “The only reason I haven’t killed you yet is because Himura-sama told me not to.” I gritted my teeth. Killing these gambling rats would be easier, even if we had to write off their account as a loss, at least I wouldn’t need to waste my time with their useless information.

The man made a stifled sound in his throat.

“Ok, tell me again. Slower.” I repeated. His Osaka accent was infuriating.

The man shifted and the plastic bag in his hands crinkled. He waited for a group of schoolgirls to pass us before speaking. “The Shimazu-kai, I think they know about me. This might be the last time I can speak to you in public. I feel like they’re watching me. They’ll kill me.” He choked.

“The information, Kawasaki.” I repeated. I didn’t want to hear his sob sorry another time tonight. At this point, I wished that the rival gang would kill him, but if they captured him, it might spell trouble for us.

“Yes, yes, I’m sorry.” He was bowing even though I couldn’t see him. Spineless bastard. “The Shimazu, they’re renting the basement of a shop on the edge of your territory. Gambling. Drinks. Girls. It’s filled every night with salary men.”

“And I suppose you’re one of their best customers?”

“No, no!” Kawasaki said. “Only one time,” He conceded. “But they aren’t shy. Their kamon is everywhere. As soon as I found out it was them, I contacted Himura-sama.” His voice trembled. “I hoped that this information would be enough to pay my debt.”

I rolled my eyes and flicked the cigarette away. My eyes trailed on a pair of women walking across the street. The weather was still warm enough for their legs to be bare, their skirts leaving little to the imagination. I watched them until they disappeared into the crowd.

The only thing more maddening than his voice was the information he was giving me, that he thought I should send me or the other shatei off to this godforsaken club without a stakeout or confirming the details at all. It was suspicious. He was desperate. He would turn on us for sure.

I looked down at the address in my hand. The informant had scribbled it on an empty cigarette back, cheap disgusting ones that he must have bought from a vending machine for a couple hundred yen. I closed my fist around the box, memorizing the address. It was only two blocks from our territory - territory that we had been defending against them since the death of Kenichi Himura’s father, the Kumicho who had founded our yakuza clan.

I stood and tossed the pack in the garbage. “I’ll be in touch.” I resisted the urge to look over my should at the rat-like man. “Don’t get any clever ideas, either. We own you until Himura-sama says so.” I strode off before he could waste his breath with another apologetic word. I made a mental note to make a surprise visit to his place tomorrow to ensure that he wasn’t two-timing us.

Kaoru was waiting with our bikes on the other side of the park. He was standing with his arms crossed over his chest, observing every face in the crowd. Our small gang’s situation in Shibuya was precarious as always, and it was dangerous for us to be scouting alone.

I didn’t say a word, clasping my hand on his shoulder. He let out a gasp, turning and holding a gun against my throat. I smirked. “Too late, friend.” I glanced down at my Glock pressing into his ribs.

Kaoru frowned furiously. “You shouldn’t do that, idiot. I could have killed you.”

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