A Paper Tiger and His Army

Shindou Yasafumi reveled in a fight but only when he was in the lead. That was the whole reason that he swore into a family that was part of the renowned Tenjou Clan. Boasting a grizzly stature that exuded intimidation, his thirst for wanton violence was justified when it came to coercing more and more people into his fold. His bombastic actions made others follow or risk being harmed as well. That was especially convincing when he led frequent skirmishes with their Kansai neighbors.

The number of his underlings grew, and with time, he became a ‘patriarch’ through sheer forceful recruitment. His family of muscle expanded to be such a significant part of the Tenjou Clan that he was naturally nominated to be a lieutenant to oversee the growing clan roster.

For years after that, he eyed the top seat, watching as the Tenjou Clan grew in power under an aging chairman. Shindou felt that Honjou had lost the spark of making the clan flourish, particularly after his daughter’s untimely death.

The calls for the Chairman’s retirement grew more and more frequent as his health degraded. And every time, Shindou presented himself as the rightful one to lead next.

“A commander-in-chief to protect our turf.”

That was what Shindou saw himself as. Almost one-third of the Tenjou Clan’s headcount was recruited under his family. A majority saw him as a force that moved the interests of the clan in its favor, biting back anyone that dared to oppose it.

However, Chairman Honjou begged to differ.

“A chairman knows when not to fight. He is someone that people follow even in times of peace.”

Shindou found that belief to be absurd. The yakuza fought with others wherever they went. It didn’t come as any surprise since the public saw them as crooks ruling from the dark corners of society. They were under constant attack from the police, from the government, and even from non-yakuza friends and family. The very idea of peace in yakuza life was illegitimate.

“Illegitimacy, huh? Need I remind you that no one has given you the blessing as a patriarch. But needless to say, I am outvoiced and outnumbered by the loyal mob.”

In regard to traditions, Shindou was never bestowed with his own family, which the right was normally granted by an existing officer. Instead, the gang of recruits that Shindou gathered had propped him up, tearing down others that dared to say otherwise. Over time, people gave up and let the man head his unofficial family, a convenience allowed but lacking honor.

That meant Chairman Honjou would never count him among the candidates that would succeed him.

Shindou’s only chance at the top was to quiet all the naysayers, just like he had done before. The only person stopping him was a legend that had forcefully clawed up in power even faster than him.

Yamaoka Ryuji – the Yama Ryu.

Once a low-level member of the Shindou Family, the young Ryuji had been sent to the front lines in a war against the Azumito Alliance after they had murdered the chairman’s daughter. Though he recognized the prowess of the indomitable fighter, he hadn’t expected him to demolish the Azumito Alliance so quickly, leading the charge and gaining all the glory.

Glory that Shindou had hoped to capitalize on instead.

The Yama Ryu’s rise had cast a shadow upon Shindou, one that he spent many years trying to figure out how to escape from. But the legend’s name only spread further and further, making it near-impossible for Shindou to catch up. He especially felt bitter when his new recruits spoke of joining up because of Yama Ryu but settled for the Shindou Family after being rejected.

v

Shindou was sitting at a desk in the office of the Keio Plaza Hotel, trying to calm his nerves. Even wrapped in luxury, he could find no sense of serenity. After all, he had knowingly challenged that legend, thinking that he had the upper hand while he was injured.

“Damn that Takashima! He assured me that his fangs were clipped!”

When an officer of the Azumito Alliance had called for a meeting, he had expected a confrontation at first, a chance to beat down a long-standing rival of the Tenjou Clan. However, the first line of conversation had drastically taken him down a different path.

“I shot your dragon,” Takashima beamed victoriously.

Shindou was about to unsheathe his katana and cut the man down, but Takashima brought up a hand.

“But he is not defeated. Rather than finishing him off myself, why do you think I’ve come to your doorstep boasting about it?”

Shindou froze, analyzing his enemy’s statement. The look of sheer confidence on his face spoke volumes of some secret agenda that would benefit both parties. But try as he might, Shindou couldn’t make heads or tails as to why the Azumito officer would dare to enter the lion’s den with so little reinforcements.

“Think about it. The great Yama Ryu – getting offed by a stray bullet fired in desperation. That’s not how a legend should end. It would be mighty disappointing. A lot of lost opportunity there. That’s why the Tenjou Clan is trying so hard to cover up the incident. Now, if someone were to swoop in and beat him in public, wouldn’t that just make for a grand headline for whoever manages to do that?”

To add credibility to his story, Takashima threw down a folder of evidence – hospital admittance records and photos of Lieutenant Shirokawa escaping while cradling an unconscious Yama Ryu.

Shindou couldn’t believe his eyes. The very person that took away the fame meant for him was now incapacitated. Now was the time to move in on his territory.

“And what advantage do you have in goading me to take this bait?”

Takashima smirked, his intentions oozing from every pore of his face.

“As much as I want revenge on Yama Ryu for what he did years ago, having a target on my back by every member of the Tenjou Clan isn’t desirable. But if he happens to kick the bucket due to an internal struggle… well, let’s just say that leaves me open for some cordial alliances.”

Shindou read the intentions loud and clear. There was no way that he couldn’t. Beating the Yama Ryu would ensure his legitimacy as the next chairman. And given that Takashima was the most influential officer in the Azumito Alliance, the blessing of the second largest yakuza clan was high-potential collateral in pressuring the other Tenjou lieutenants into falling in line to his succession.

“Alright, boys. It’s time to finish the hunt.”

It took no time for Shindou to pull out his phone and order a raid of Yamaoka hangouts, hoping to find themselves a wounded dragon to skin.

In hindsight, Shindou regretted having fallen into that trap. His greed had now turned him into the prey. Reports of his captains getting trashed one after the other were flooding in. With each fight, he was more and more convinced that the Yama Ryu’s fangs were sharper than ever.

Shindou had no less than forty captains to deal with and a thousand more minions wearing his pin. And over the course of a week, the Yamaoka Family had sent each one of the captains to the hospital, along with hundreds of underlings. The Yama Ryu had become a man hellbent on revenge after word got out that Shindou had started a civil war for succession.

What remained of the Shindou Family was left cowering in the rampage, second-hand information of how the Yama Ryu was near untouchable no matter what they tried to do, even dodging bullets and traps in the process. Shindou felt as bare as the katana he left unsheathed.

Every bang of doors nearby and every set of footsteps below gave Shindou a streak of fear. He talked a big game, but only when the true players weren’t around.

Finally, the door burst open. The intimidating figure of a man in black with one leg held high as the wood tore off the hinges made Shindou swallow nervously.

“Yo, Shindou. I dealt with most of your toys. My crew is finishing up with the rest, all those still willing to kiss your boots. I think it’s time to knock them right off you, so they can see how shriveled your toes are.”

Shindou quickly pulled out a drawer from his desk, picking up a gun to fire. The Yama Ryu had been shot once. He could be shot again.

But the sight of Ryuji casually ducking past each bullet as he sauntered forward made Shindou’s chin quiver. Bullet after bullet unloaded with no success, until a jolting click of the trigger signaled no more. Shindou cursed at his empty magazine before slamming the worthless gun to the ground. Ryuji eyed him like a predator waiting for any further amusement before partaking in his prey.

“Damn you!”

Shindou stabbed his katana to the ground and gripped his desk, using his full strength to flip the entire thing forward. He moved to grab his katana and escape, until a dark shadow was cast over him.

Ryuji had hopped onto that overturned desk in midair, his ascent looking now like divine wrath due to the lights behind him. A knee right into the face was the next thing Shindou knew, and then, the solid wall behind him. He barely had a chance to exhale the breath that was blown right out of him before a hand was clamped against his throat.

“Quite the welcome you have for me. Not that I mind. Things are easier when you tell me exactly what you are thinking. So let me share a greeting from Morinaga and Awano, who you sent to the hospital.”

A sharp crack of bone went across the room, followed by another. A wave of pain erupted from both sides of Shindou. He looked down with bugged eyes at his horribly bent forearms.

“Since this isn’t a matter of honor, we can skip the yubikiri. An eye-for-an-eye suits this situation much better.”

Shindou let out a blood-curdling yell, face red, mouth foaming. In his panic, he was left with no option except for a headbutt, which Ryuji met with equal fervor. Shindou’s head flew back from the exchange, a trail of blood flowing between his eyes and down to his chin. He slunk to the ground, unable to muster up any more strength to oppose.

A foot stapled him to the ground.

“Shindou, why’d you do it? You knew that I didn’t give a shit about being Chairman. Was taking me down so important to you that you’d send my precious kyoudai to the hospital?”

Shindou didn’t answer. He simply returned a look of utter hatred and jealousy. Ryuji continued to stare at him, disgusted that he wasn’t even trying to make excuses for his actions. Finally, he felt like it was no longer worth his time. He needed to find Takashima and cut off anyone else trying to take advantage of Grace, now that this petty internal war was dealt with.

“Did you think that Shindou was the only one after you? Be thrilled. We hold the Yama Ryu in better regards than that.”

Ryuji turned around, all ears.

“Arabaki. What are you doing here?”

A man in his thirties with a gaudy red suit strolled in. He had the look of a pretty boy who was amused by nearly anything. That was certainly the case as he was seen dishing out money, buying up whatever property that smelled of profits. As such, he was the wealthiest lieutenant of the Tenjou Clan. Even now, he was watching the aftermath of an internal struggle like he was placing bets.

“Sniffing around, of course. Here we have two lieutenants taking each other out, rocking the ship that is the nation’s biggest yakuza organization. Why wouldn’t I be here to see it? Sounds like a match fight of the decade.”

“Heh, given your interests, I sense that you’re here for far more than just being an observer.”

A look of surprise blanketed Arabaki’s face.

“Oh? Found me out so easily?” he applauded half-heartedly. “I might as well cut to the chase then.”

Arabaki loosened his tie before tossing it aside. Undoing the buttons on his shirt, Ryuji had an inkling as to what would happen next. Yet, Ryuji didn’t recall Arabaki being a particularly strong fighter, so a strange vibe struck him as the top came off and Arabaki exposed his chest.

“…what the flipping hell is all that?!”

Rather than flesh, a myriad of mechanical parts criss-crossed his chest and arms, making him look part robot.