A Bitter Grudge

Ryuji raced out of the building, diving into Awano’s car and giving him directions. The look on his boss’s face said everything, so Awano’s foot slammed on the gas as soon as the location became clear. He had never seen the infamous Yama Ryu so disturbed by something. It had to be important, enough so to leave the rest of his men behind in a rush.

The car barreled down the main street, leading farther away from Kakushicho and into the nearby business district of Shinjuku. All the while, Ryuji’s knees jittered at the thought of Shirokawa, beaten and bound as a hostage.

Capturing a yakuza clan’s officer meant war, but how they specifically targeted his closest friend was a personal grudge thrown back at Ryuji – for decimating them thirteen years ago.

It wasn’t long after he had first drunk from the saké cup and sworn up. Major clashes had been ongoing between Tenjou and Azumito, the call to war ignited when an attack on the Chairman came out of nowhere.

Ryuji could remember how bitter he felt. How helpless. They refused to take him until he had turned twenty. He had spent nearly three years as part of some street gang, toughening himself up in preparation for it. Many found him crazy, taking on bigger and bigger challenges, but he needed to develop boundless courage and temper his fists.

Biker chicken races, parkour from dodging the police, makeshift weaponry to even the odds – he absorbed it all for the day he would join in that war. That was where he could finally take revenge for failing the promise he made.

On the day he was sworn into the Shindo Family as some able pawn, Shirokawa came racing up to him, his buddy all through high school. He had apparently followed his tracks, kept watch of him, and made sure that his enemies didn’t get the jump from behind. He was there to continue their time from the colored gangs, and after a few months, they were sent to the front lines of Osaka to crash the Azumito Alliance’s headquarters.

The plan was initially a show of power for Shindo’s army, a flex that they shouldn’t be messed with. But when the initial call for retreat sounded, Ryuji walked forward. He had spied the culprit that had started the entire mess.

His feet bound forward. He grabbed any bit of furniture that wasn’t bolted to the ground and let loose. The sudden one-man assault sent a wave through both sides, and instantly, the Tenjou Clan officers knew that they had to ride that wave.

The brute strength of Ryuji gripped that officer by the head and created a person-shaped hole in the back wall.

An all-out charge by the Tenjou ensued.

Ryuji led a spear that stabbed deep into the Azumito Alliance, and he didn’t stop even as fierce blows left him bloody and bruised all over. The wail of something monstrous stampeded through the Azumito troops, forcing the head of the Alliance itself to abandon its stronghold.

To Ryuji, it had been a fit of rage and adrenaline that made him numb to everything until the battle was won. But to others, it was the start of a legend that descended upon his enemies and swallowed their home.

The Yama Ryu was engraved on his back not long after as a warning to the Azumito Alliance of that day.

And now, they had the courage to stand up to him once again.

The tattoo on Ryuji’s back seemed to growl along with the engine that took him forward. He was ready to unleash its full might once again.

“Here is good. Let me out. Go back to the others and tell them if I don’t come back, round up the rest of the families. I’m not going out without some collateral damage so be prepared to finish them off when weakened.”

Awano nervously braked as they approached a crowd of armed yakuza lined up in front of a building.

Without batting an eye, Ryuji climbed out of the car and closed the door, giving it a smack to signal Awano to drive off. He sauntered forward, the members of the Azumito Alliance giving him death glares while signaling him to ‘go ahead’.

Ryuji knew he was walking right into a trap.

“Come alone and surrender. Otherwise, we can’t guarantee his life.”

The Azumito Alliance expected him to give in. To pay for the crimes against them all those years ago. He couldn’t blame them. The grudge he held persisted even now, despite taking care of the one responsible.

No matter how many of them he toppled, he would raise his fists to fight more. The losing side would be even more bitter in comparison.

Too much time felt like it went by as he was ushered to the main office upstairs in that building. All the while, every goon gave off the impression that they were ready to sample dragon meat. Weapons smacked against palms like a drumroll before execution. The grins on their faces made Ryuji want to pull their tongues out.

“In here.”

Some grunt opened the door, revealing Shirokawa as he had been on the video call, barely holding onto consciousness. Ryuji’s first impulse was to pick him up, chair and all, and plow through the crowds, but a gun pressed against his friend’s head made him pause.

“Not so fast, Mr. Dragon. You wouldn’t want us to fire off prematurely.”

Ryuji eyed the body attached to the gun, an aged man well past his prime. He was the sort that commanded the fighters, not participated himself. That was clear when his eyes made subtle gestures for his men to cut off any escape route around Ryuji.

He was also the type to talk, using his smarts to weasel opportunities out of everyone that saw him. Ryuji wondered just how often someone wanted to punch that shriveled face in but was hopelessly bound by schemes.

“I’m sure you recognize my face, Yama Ryu. I have you to thank for taking out my kyoudai back then.”

His name was Godo Takashima, an officer for the Azumito Alliance longer than Ryuji’s career. He was their financial officer, taking care of the major businesses in the Kansai region. Money was his power, as evident by the family of thugs at his beck and call.

“So I take it that you’re gunning for mine in return? Kind of late to act on a grudge, don’t you think?”

Takashima smirked, the kind that one would see on a used-car salesman when given one inch.

“Is it now? The patriarch of the Tenjou Clan is on his deathbed, leaving all of you clawing at each other to see who comes out on top. All the while, the Yama Ryu perches on his roost, resting on his laurels. I think it’s the perfect time to snipe our competition where it hurts and stir up the whole succession.”

Ryuji’s fists clenched as he heard that. He had taken himself out of the running, not caring to be at the top. But that didn’t mean that he wasn’t a vital chess piece in the grand scheme. The Tenjou Clan wouldn’t be nearly as fearsome without the Yama Ryu, so having both him and a fellow officer held hostage certainly created a fuss.

Takashima drew a second gun, aiming it at Ryuji. It looked like he wanted to cut right to the chase.

“It’s easy. Come work for us. Times are changing, and there’s no reason for someone like you to languish on the streets, picking fights with thugs day in and day out. All the booze and women that Kansai can offer, right in your hands. All you have to do is walk out on your sworn brother. Simple as that.”

“And let you do what to Tokyo? Don’t think I’ve forgotten that you’re moving in on our territory!”

“Oh, that. Just a new business venture. I’ll let you know all about it when you come on board.”

Ryuji looked right at Shirokawa, whose eyes burned at him despite his head down. Who knew how far Takashima would go to settle that offer? Bound to the chair and looking down a barrel, there was not much that Shirokawa could do to sway Ryuji, save for a few twitches of the nose.

Seeing that, Ryuji walked forward, eyes honed on Takashima for his first move.

A shot fired. The bullet dented the ground right in front of Ryuji, who paused and looked down at it.

“Back off, Mr. Dragon. Not until I get your answer.”

“Fine. You want an answer? I’ll give you one.”

Ryuji turned toward Shirokawa, gritting his teeth hard while chambering a wide kick. Before anyone could react, he slammed his foot into the chair, launching his bound friend flying. All eyes widened at this unexpected action, Ryuji’s sworn brother smashing into the back wall like he had been forsaken.

But as Shirokawa touched the ground, free from his constraints, he immediately rolled to the side and into protective cover. Ryuji swung his fist right into the shocked mug of Takashima, a satisfying crunch before the body flew. The Azumito goons converged on their downed boss, putting themselves in the Yama Ryu’s line of fire while some dragged their boss away.

“TO HELL WITH AZUMITO!!!”

Ryuji roared as he slammed his fists into several of them, rhythmically bobbing around their amateurish attacks. He grabbed a goon and swung him like a rag doll into the others, before sending his makeshift weapon to bowl over more.

“SAVE SOME FOR ME!!!”

Suddenly, Shirokawa’s bruised face flew past Ryuji’s eyes. He had grabbed a chair and bashed one over the head, kicking another in the shin before bringing his knee into the man’s face.

The two of them perched back-to-back, sizing up whoever was left in the room. Less than ten remained of Takashima’s personal guard.

“That was one hell of a kick, Ryuji. If I didn’t know you, I could have sworn you’d send me right out that window.”

“Heh, had to break the chair off you. Knew you could take it, Shiroyan. You purposefully pretended to be hurt, didn’t you?”

The nose twitch that Shirokawa gave him had been a signal. The way he swished his jaw to do it was a tell that he was ready for a fight. All that he needed was to be released from his bindings.

Two men charged at Shirokawa, who they thought was the weaker link. But with a swift twirl of the chair in his hand, he smacked him both, then launched a roundhouse kick that sent blood spurting from their chests. The bloody shoe that landed hid a blade that was now extended, his last resort had Ryuji not come in time.

Ryuji charged like a beast as he palmed two men by the head, jumping up in the air before dramatically slamming them down. He turned and caught the attack of someone trying to throw a sofa at him, kicking him back before slamming the furniture on the downed man.

Had Takashima allowed for his men to carry firearms, the outcome of this fight would have been very different, but both Ryuji and Shirokawa knew. Men at the top tend to be paranoid. Only the boss would be allowed to carry in such close proximity. As such, they could charge full force once Takashima was out of the way. They laughed as the few remaining men tried to gain some leverage in the fight, but any attempt at grabbing the dropped guns was met with a boot to the face. Soon, the two sworn brothers were the only ones left standing.

“Heh, I still got it.” Shirokawa said, slumping against Ryuji at the conclusion.

“Got me worried for a moment. I was hoping that those years of pencil pushing didn’t blunt your tenacity from gang life.” Ryuji offered him a shoulder, feeling the damage that his friend endured to give him the chance for a turnaround.

“Hell if I can fight as damn well as you. I have to be smarter with my battles to compensate.”

Ryuji pulled out his phone, extending it to Shirokawa, who took it and immediately dialed up his family. There was certainly a lot to clean up, even more so now that an Azumito officer was responsible.

“They’ll be here in fifteen. That gives us plenty of time to finish up business.”

“Like chasing a drowned rat?”

“Something like that-”

Just then, Shirokawa’s eyes widened. Ryuji whipped around to see Takashima at the doorway, gun in hand and a vicious snarl under the bloody nose. Before he could react, a gunshot rang out.

“RYUJIIII!!!”

Feeling pain in his stomach, Ryuji’s hand was met with warm blood, his vision starting to black out as he dropped to his knees. He stared as Takashima bolted from the door, Shirokawa blocking his view of it as he hovered over him.

A teary-eyed Shirokawa put on a brave face as he watched over his friend.

“Shiroyan… you…”

That was all Ryuji could mutter before he fell unconscious.