A Yakuza Life for Us

“Looks like contraband medical equipment from outside the country. And if our resident otaku friend has no clue what it is, then I’ll have to dig into it more.”

Ryuji’s gaze shot over to an intellectual man in a sleek suit, his black hair neatly trimmed and pulled back. A thumb rested against his cheek as his eyes ran over the strange devices that were retrieved by Ryuji’s family. His charismatic face spoke of a different type of yakuza than Ryuji, a tactician rather than a spearhead.

“Medical equipment? That’s a strange thing to be lugging around in secret, isn’t it, kyoudai?”

The man that Ryuji was ‘brothers’ with in the Tenjou Clan looked up at him with a thin smile and narrowed gaze that spoke otherwise. That was all Ryuji needed to get how serious the situation was. His longtime friend named Shirokawa Yukinori, who he called ‘Shiroyan’ casually, saw much more of the ongoings of the underworld than he ever could.

Of course, now was not the time to be acting casual. Ryuji looked around as several others mumbled various comments of discontent. It was a meeting of all the Tenjou Clan officers, which meant that Ryuji’s recent discovery warranted such attention. As an officer himself, he couldn’t brush away the concerns that had arisen.

The Tenjou organization had over thirty thousand members, with a hierarchy of ten lieutenants under the Chairman to recognize issues and maintain order. Each officer was head of their own family, appointing captains to supervise the rest of the pack as needed. It was a structure not unlike that of a large company, albeit one that dealt with unsavory practices as a norm.

In the case of Ryuji, his Yamaoka family made up just under a hundred members. He didn’t really feel the need to grow it more beyond that, as his main task was to maintain order within Kakushicho. The lawless red-light district was shrouded in the presence of Yama Ryu watching the area. This title alone made the standard troublemaker scarce. Yet, the importance of this location was tied to the Tenjou Clan’s rise to power. Many considered it to be the ‘heart’ of the organization.

Shirokawa was another lieutenant, directly working under the Chairman. His clean-cut appearance made him look far less yakuza than CEO of some prominent company, which was purposeful as the Tenjou Clan had branched out to legitimate businesses, including real estate and public facilities. However, he unquestionably had a mean streak. One person that had jokingly called him ‘Shiroyuki-Hime’ to his face was found with his front teeth yanked out. Ryuji knew that, just like him, Shiroyan kept his true strength under disguise.

Ryuji eyed the back of the room as an argument grew heated.

“And distributed by those Azumito pests to boot! I say that this is an open declaration of pushing into our territories. We can’t sit still and let any of them set foot here!”

“They couldn’t do it through booze and women, so now they are going for trendy tech stuff? Hah! What bullshit! I say let them try! Our boys on the ground will make it rough for them all the same!”

“Hey, settle down. Would you be causing a scene like this if the Chairman was here? First thing’s first. We find out what their game is. Then, we’ll know how much manpower is needed to snuff out any fires they are trying to start. Think a little before acting, why don’t you?”

With an organization this big, each officer specialized in different areas, often butting heads with each other over personal ideals.

Yasafumi Shindo was the type to use force as a first measure. He talked with a gruff tone that complemented the angry face upon a shaved head. He had a large build, imposing to many as he made himself big at every opportunity. Naturally, his family was eager to flex the fact that they had the largest roster, calling themselves ‘Tenjou’s strong army’ to wage war against the competition.

Across from him, Shuji Arabaki was a suave man who looked as rich as he was, primarily due to his involvement in gambling, alcohol, and women. The way his suit fit perfectly and how the scent of cologne lingered where he sat showed that ‘tons of money can buy anything’ was his philosophy. A virtual monopoly of the nightlife in Tokyo was well in his grasp, funding any ventures that he found amusement in.

Sure enough, these two were the definition of what many yakuza were known for traditionally. As such, they were eager to demonstrate their prominence with the Chairman’s current absence.

The empty seat that was on everyone’s mind had been vacant for several months now, the current Chairman, Kazuhito Honjou, becoming bedridden from old age. As such, competition amongst fellow officers had grown fiercer.

That even extended to Rentaro Samukawa, a lieutenant that was personally brought up by the Chairman, who now acted as his mentor’s voice of reason during such meetings. Said person’s gaze darted from the brewing argument back towards the front of the room while spreading his arms out like offering a solution. He was the textbook competent secretary that pitched the goals of his founder.

“As our kyoudai, Shirokawa, noted, a paper trail has been left behind by the Azumito Alliance, one that we cannot ignore. Medical equipment is held under strenuous constraints, and its distribution would damage our investments in the medical sector, many that the Chairman personally acquired over the years. If they are seeking to damage our reputation, then appropriate actions must be taken.”

Shirokawa nodded, taking a deep breath as he tossed the equipment aside and stood up.

“As this has to do with my sector, I’ll take responsibility for the investigation. As such, we shall withhold further action until after more is known about their intentions. At that time, I may need to call upon your help. Agreed?”

A round of satisfactory cries sounded across the room, bows in respect to the absent chairman. Afterward, the lieutenants rose and shuffled out of the boardroom, leaving only Ryuji and Shirokawa behind. Several moments of silence happened before the air of formality had dispersed.

“I wish you’d learn to recognize how important some of these issues can become, Ryuji.”

“Sorry that I don’t really care to get myself involved in 4D chess with the others. There’s no ambition in me beyond what these fists butt heads with. Tact has never been a strong point of mine.”

Shirokawa got up and walked over to Ryuji, placing a hand on his shoulder, a somber look on his face.

“You know, the Boss would be sad to hear you say that. He’s always had high hopes for you. Ever since that time-”

“He’ll always have my loyalty, Shiroyan. But I broke the one promise that meant everything to me. It’ll never feel right to move on like that was nothing and become someone that I’m not. I’d rather step aside and let someone who wants it to take it.”

Shirokawa recoiled, knowing that he hit a long-standing nerve. He sighed at the fact that time hadn’t healed the one thing he hoped would.

Ryuji looked toward the lone chair at the very end, the Chairman’s seat. Then, he looked up at Shirokawa.

“I would rather you take it.”

Shirokawa broke into a chuckle, pulling back before slapping Ryuji on the back.

“Me? Be the next chairman? It’s going to take a lot more than owning a few of the Boss’s side hustles to get others to recognize me. But thanks for the sentiments, especially coming from the renowned Yama Ryu. How about I buy you a drink for buttering me up?”

“Sure, I wouldn’t mind that.”

“Hell yeah! Just let me dump this on my boys, and I’ll meet you at our normal spot.”

v

The sound of clinking ice was a welcome break to Ryuji’s routine. There were few things that relieved him as much as a glass of whiskey did, the rich smoothness washing back into his throat before a slight burn tickled his stomach. He had come to depend upon it, even when it was a drink alone to ward off reality. The world would slow down around him as if giving him a moment to catch up.

A hand touched his shoulder, grounding him back to his surroundings. The face of his longtime friend, Shirokawa, beamed a smile, a stiff drink in his hand as well.

The wail of bad karaoke echoed in the background, likely from another customer. A faint trace of cigar smoke swept across his nose. Ryuji looked down and took another sip, hoping to drown it out again. He was at the edge of a buzz, giving into the feeling of it. When his current drink was empty, he tapped a finger on the counter to call for the bar mama.

“Another Yamazaki on the rocks?” a lady just past her prime beamed at him, the wrinkles above her cheeks showing off decades of service. It had a motherly charm to it, particularly when paired with the way she wiped the glasses dry.

Ryuji nodded and watched as ice bounced into two more glasses and a deep brown liquid was poured, mesmerized by how the light sparkled off the rocks. It felt made especially for them with her gentle touch. When they were set down with a clunk, the two brothers-in-arms grabbed them and clinked the glasses with a “kanpai” before taking a hearty sip.

No words needed to be exchanged as they knew the inner workings of each other’s role. As best friends for nearly two decades, even moments of silence were precious. They could relax in good company, not having to worry about business and keeping up appearances. It was simply Ryuji and Shiroyan, not fellow officers of the Tenjou Clan.

“Say, Shiroyan. Ozaki’s been running his mouth again and calling you ‘Snow White’ to his boys. Think it’s time to finally ditch our favorite kouhai from school and show him who’s boss?”

Shirokawa shot him a weird look, the drink frozen before his lips.

“So what? You’re giving me permission to string him by the balls until it’s etched permanently in his mind like the last one?”

“If only he were that simple. You know as well as I do that he likes a little pain. Not sure that’s the kind of play you want to go along with.”

Ryuji winced at the thought of it, the aftermath of the one time he floored Ozaki for a slip up. He proudly came back for more.

“Everyone deals with shit in different ways. Ozaki just carries some unique preferences. Come to think of it, is he still into that cartoon fantasy stuff back when we were in school?”

“That doofus hasn’t changed a bit. Even after swearing under me. You’d think that the underworld would make him shift gears, but I guess that bombastic personality makes him approachable to his underlings.”

“It balances out people shitting their pants in your presence.”

“I don’t intend to scare people. At least, not ones with no intention to cross me,” Ryuji said, almost pouting.

“Your title precedes you. They see you as nothing else but the yakuza that took revenge on the Azumito Alliance, leading to your meteoric rise. Kind of hard to make a different impression after that, except for the ones that already knew you.”

Shirokawa finished his drink and rose from his seat, slinging his coat around him to call it an evening. After straightening the front, he turned back to Ryuji.

“Not that you’re taking measures to make anyone see you any differently. I can’t even pay you back for carrying me all the way to owning a family for myself. Wish you’d be just a bit greedier.”

“Ten grand in drinks isn’t being greedy enough, Shiroyan?”

“You know what I mean, asshole.”

Shirokawa headed for the door, but before stepping out, he turned back once again.

“Can I count on you when I find the culprit?”

“Partners in crime, until the end.” Ryuji said, not even turning from the bar, his glass raised to the sky instead.

“Until the end.”