Full Circle Moment

Surely the third time's a charm, eh?

Looking up towards me at the balcony, I caught a glimpse of his cold eyes that said relatively nothing, but behind them, was a small smile. Excitement. That of one that children have when they see something for the first time.

"So, you went to the dock. Quite the scene. We do honest work at Osaka Industries. It wasn't so long ago, I was working the docks too, me myself, I was planting Yuzu trees. Now we have one of the biggest farms in Japan. The wonders of Kami-sama. Come, join us." He reached his hand out to me.

"How did you know?" Should I really even ask? It was almost like he was baiting me to go there. The strange part is not that I went, but that Rin happened to be there too. Maybe he anticipated that too. It still doesn't explain why he came here. He had a business to run.

"Of course I followed you there," he paused, "No, I'm only joking. Don't take it so seriously. It was an honest guest, and I suppose I guessed correctly. The closer you are to Rin, the easier it is for me. Well, as for why I'm here-"

"Get your hand off me!" A bodyguard stepped forward, but Shindo-sama waved it off. I guess he does still command respect, eh.

"What? A father's love for his child isn't sufficient enough? You would think so at least. If not you won't accept my love, then accept a command for the man you work for. We have work to do. The fun has only begun. We don't have too much time until the press arrives."

She stepped back a few meters, creating some distance between her, the three bodyguards and her father. Even I keep referring to him as that. Even if it's only in title. Not even that really.

"What was that anyway? Your little speech. Why even say something so outlandish and get people in a frenzy over something that's in a trial run?" she blurted, with her arms crossed. It's like she's a kid in front of him again. Well, she's his daughter to some extent. I don't know. I still don't understand their twisted family dynamics. I wonder if I'll ever meet her mo-

"A trial run? Far from that. We have much to discuss. It's time I filled you in. Come on. The car is waiting outside."

"Why would I believe you? After all you've done to keep me locked out of the family situation. You know, I saw my actual father not too long ago. He ran away in shame just like Mom did. I bet she's with him now."

"You haven't lost your sense of humor. This doesn't concern him. He's not a part of the business anymore. What you do with him is of no concern or consequence to me. Let's go." He started to turn around, "Oh, you too. You're coming as well. And why should you believe me? Because you know me. You know I value business and family and when the two mix it's my obligation that I see it through. It's about time you know the truth about our family and the Yuzu tree."

"What?"

"The Yuzu tree. I know that's what you've been doing all this time. Trying to find it. It's time I show you."

That really got to her. I don't think she, nor I, ever factored that into our plan. That he'd just up and take us right to where it is we wanted to go. "What's with all this? First you announce to the world that you have the cure to blindness and after all this sabotage-"

"Sabotage? When did I ever sabotage you?" He asked. Plainly. Calmly. And with all the reason in the world. I don't know much, but if anything, he's let her go on about her life, actually without the slightest interference. At least to my knowledge.

"Go on. Think about it real well. When have I told you to stop doing this? When did I make you become a part of the business? When did I tell you who to date, what to be, where to go to school? Don't shift the bitterness you have towards that an excuse of a mother onto me. I didn't tell your sister to partner up with every guy you wanted to be with-"

"You know about that..."

"Of course I do. And it hurt me to see that happen, but it had to happen. You are your own person. I can't fight battles you don't want to end. Which is why I never thought you were ready until you met him." He looked towards me. "I suppose I knew this would happen. Which is why I told you to recruit him in the first place. You're not as much of an idiot as you let on."

"Me? I think so. I'm 50/50. I have potential. At least it's what they used to say at the University."

"Jokes, you two. Do you not want to see what you've been looking for?"

"Not like this. I'll find it myself." she said, trailing off while looking past him. "Besides the press came here looking for you, not me. You're quite the man of the hour, father."

"Shit. Satori-san, Mochida-san, start the car. Don't let them come one inch near this door."

They nodded and sprinted away. "You two. Let's go. There isn't much time to waste."

"Why the rush? The tree isn't going anywhere. We have time. Sit. Let's talk about this."

"In the car, we can. Not under these circumstances."

"Seriously, man, what's the ru-"

"Do not address me as such. There are reasons for everything, ones that I'm sure you will be interested in hearing."

"And if we refuse to go?" I direct towards him. This is all too strange. It really is starting to feel like someone else is behind this. You would think the CEO of one of the biggest companies in the world wouldn't care about a little press. Then again, the guy did just admit to having the cure to blindness. I'd want to interview him too. 

This isn't going to go too good. I found a piece of paper in my pocket from when I tore off the address out of the folder. Ritsika and Ridge will be back later. They'll see it. I put a little note on it and let it fall behind my back, making sure to step on it quickly. 

"Then I have no choice..." In that moment, the bodyguard that was left pulled out a matte-black .44 handgun right between the barrel of my eyes.

"Father stop! We'll go, we'll go. Shin, don't be so rash. I'm sure we'll get the answers we want."

"Don't be rash? He pulled a gun on me. What's next? No. I'm not going. He needs me more than we need him."

He smiled at that one. I too, have bullets in the chamber.

"Very well. After all, you're not entirely wrong."

Dudt.Ddt.Ddt

"SHIN-"

"Relax. They are just sleeping bullets. He'll be fine..."

Phew, I think I heard him say they weren't real. It definitely feels like it...oh...aaaaahhhhh...I cant..."

***

"There's a lot of reasons for that. For why your mother left, why you're in this car now."

"You left me no choice."

"You didn't have to come."

"You say these things as if you didn't coerce me to come. There was no way I was going to let you just take Shin to god knows where."

"So, it was a choice that you came here."

What twisted logic. Wait is this a dream. I feel myself moving but I'm not moving myself if that makes sense. Like I'm being moved. I put my right hand over my eye, pull my eyelid open and force my eye to wake up. No, this was real. Turning my head rather slowly, I could only make out that outside we were passing a river and a few patty fields inside of a relatively smaller city. I believe one of the signs had said Ishinomori. 

How long had I been out? I can only really remember talking to Rin's dad from the balcony...he wanted to take us away...oh. We are away. He actually shot me! I would've went compliantly, it was just a bluff! He didn't have to shoot me, or his bodyguard. At the very least, Rin can stop the hope. It seems like that his last string of faith that she would've had, has ran out. But it still doesn't explain the desperateness? Why go to all these len-

"You're awake. It's only been an hour. The effects of the drugs aren't that strong. It's only supposed to keep you out for a short period of time. For a horse, it would only be 15 minutes. 7 if we were to inject this into a large cat, like a lion or tiger. Something of that nature."

"Ughh," I could only rub my head, "Yeah...Very useful information. Clearly, you're desperate."

Rin was sitting next to me, and I didn't notice it before, but her hand was right on top of mine. He was facing the two of us in leather seat, with one left empty next to him. I always wondered what it would be like sitting in a car where the passengers faced each other. Who knew that this would be the way I experienced it. By way of kidnapping.

Okay, this is definitely kidnapping:

A.) Yes

B.) No

C.) It's a grey area

I really hope nobody chose C...

I could tell she was worried, but she remained bold-faced in front of him. After all, we got this far in our plan. Might as well see it through.

"Desperate? Never. Nervous? That depends."

That's shocking because the two usually go hand and hand. Pretty sure the only people who would kidnap someone either are wanting something out of desperation or of interest. Either way, you can only look it at from a position of weakness.

"Depends on what? On what we do?" Rin asked.

"It has nothing to do with you and everything to do with the government." He refuted rather dismissively. Maybe it's a ruse. 

"The government? What do they have to do with anything?"

He uncrossed his legs and rubbed his forehead rather lightly. You could tell, even if it was very faint, that he was serious. 

"10 years ago, is when Osaka Industries seriously started to boom. Me and my former business partner had predicted it would take about 5 years of serious investment in the fruit sector until we could make a serious play on the market."

"And how did you get the funding? Surely, gaining the capital to be able to invest in such a large and wide-ranged sector of the economy requires money."

He smiled. "It does. Regrettably, a mistake I often admit to my colleagues, is that we turned to the Yakuza."

"The Yakuza? Why? Why get the family involved in such risky business if you predicted the outcome?"

"A prediction is simply that. The market can change. A society could collapse. Not too many people had seen the collapse of the Soviet Union, 30 years back. Nor of Rome. Or kingdoms of Ghana before they fell. But someone did and planned for it."

"Meaning what?"

"Meaning that if we could use the Yakuza to gain the capital we needed, we could seriously purchase large stocks in some of the venture companies coming up, use what we already had in our farming abilities and monopolize them. Becoming a force to which, to this day, the government relies on for major import and export across a wide range of categories . What would happen if all of that were to go away?"

What he's implying is interesting. It's nothing that's super illegal but if what he's alluding at is true...even so, why tell us? Once again, has he already believed himself to have won? That isn't wise. 

"Go away? As in what? The business fails?"

"Not even to that aspect-"

"I don't really care about your scheme. Why was it a mistake to work with the Yakuza?"

He looked at me fondly it seemed like with this question. "Hm? Because. The Yakuza will work with anyone with the right motive behind it, so long as it suits their interests."

"Including the government."

"Precisely.

"So?"

"So, it means that the Yazuka had also been hired by the government. You see, the State is only in control so long as it is. It's antithetical to the idea of a State to have ruling powers within its own state, and if they do, certainly they are pawns to be used by the state itself."

Basically, controlled opposition. You manufacture the choices people have to make the illusion of choice seem relevant enough to where they feel like what they are doing is not controlled. It would be the worst nightmare of a government if said group wanted to do as they please.

"Gangs, Political parties, Companies are all used by the State to gain the leverage over the mass population, but I return to my point, the one you rejected. What if that changed? Or maybe it already has. Osaka Industries has started to rule over many major sectors that go beyond the things we export and import, technically speaking. It was a mistake because it allowed for espionage. It was an advantage because we could see what could be done without said government, while at the same time using their resources to our benefit. Education, Finance, Laws, Food Policy all became slowly influenced by what we said or wanted to be done. There isn't much we don't know, but there was plenty that they didn't know. Until a couple of years ago."

If he is telling us this, it must mean he's found a way to branch off outside of the Japanese government. Which would be crazy. 

"So, I wasn't crazy to wonder why someone like Tony is a part of Osaka Industries."

"We know there are people who have ties to the Yakuza, the Japanese government, etc. That was never the issue. Two years ago, out of the blue, I received a call that I was going to be getting a visit from the Emperor and I should be prepared. After all, we have insiders as well. Well, this was okay. I could prepare. If you weren't aware, the Emperor, well I am sure you are aware that he is a figurehead leader. Nonetheless, he is a man who believes deeply in the way of the Japanese. He approaches me, greets me, congratulates me on the hard work I have done to build Osaka Industries and simultaneously asks if I want to build land. Naturally as a businessman, I say on what terms and what is the reason that the government would get involved. He assures me there will be no government interference on the condition that they get 45% of all sales that happen. There isn't a single person who is well adapt in this field who wouldn't immediately jump to skepticism. It's lunacy. I rejected. Mistake number 2."

"It wasn't that that ultimately shocked me. It was the next thing."

This feels like a movie. I'm on the edge of my seat entertained like he isn't telling me his plan to rise to world domination. How silly of me. Truly though, it makes one think. We might've been too naïve. 

"We know that the property you own is that of the Original Yuzu Tree and would like to offer the opportunity to allow Osaka Industries to manufacture medicine to the world from the tree to ascend Japan to Superpower of the world." Were his words verbatim. How did he know? If they knew, why hadn't they taken it under their control earlier? What made Osaka so unique that the government couldn't do it themselves? And then it hit me. Our family has had this property for generations. I was only given access to it by father after I had proved to him that I could work the land. Forcing us to live in poverty for years as a means of control and proof of hard work. It was then that I swore that I would never be owned again. It is a spiritually protected land."

"We didn't grow up rich, but we always had that land to work. I remember my earliest days being with my father, like he was his, as I was with Rin, on the Yuzu fields. Working day in, day out." He paused to look at her for a moment. It's so hard to tell if what he feels for her is contempt, indifference, or affection. "It almost felt like a birthright. It was the only thing he ever talked about or ever seemed to have an interest in. A daily part of our lives it was and it wasn't until after I had Rin did he tell me the truth."

"The truth?" she asked. Why was he telling us this?

"Long down the line, the government, emperors, kings have been trying to get their hands on this land, in Northern Hokkaido, but for some reason there were always obstacles. It's not a secret to them, where the Yuzu tree is, but it's never been able to be taken away from our family. We all know of the myth of the Seven Trees and how it came to be but not much is known after the fact."

I, for one, don't know. It's only ever been told to us about how it came to be in Japan.

"Well, the original human who interacted with the demi-god, planted 6 seeds, including the Yuzu seed, around the world, sealing each one of their abilities within the tree, separating them and from then on, allowing pain, suffering and conflict as we know it today, in order to allow humans to truly grow." She continued, "It is said that one day there will be a person to return and gather all the seeds and try to mold humanity to their liking."

"But was that really prosperity? People being cured from anything that could've caused them damage or pain? It's false peace, if anything." I mean, one has to think. There's repercussions with everything. Let's say it's real and all the seeds are collected. Who's to say that'll actually happen.

"It doesn't matter," he interjected, "People having the ability to live far outweighs any sort of idealism that you ha-"

"I think you are the one with idealism. These type of things happen so we can keep moving forward. To the things we never had. Not to actually get them."

"Even so, life rules all. The family had been passed down this land for generations and generations, untouched and without strife, protected by the spirit of the original planter of the seed. It was only then, did the story my father had told me all that time ago make sense." He paused, looking out the window. Reminiscing, I imagine. He's pretty old so he may have forgot to be honest. "One day, there will be a person who is of origin of the original planter of the Yuzu seed who will come back to Japan after their centuries and centuries of travel to reclaim the Yuzu seed and unite it with the rest of them around the world and this land will be protected until they return."

"...is what he told me. He said he had a dream. So did his father. And my grandfather's father did as well. And he told me one day I too will have the same dream about the person who will come back one day, and I did. 25 years ago. Do you know what I saw?"

"I saw a woman, in a central market, selling Yuzus with a stand for hours until a man came up and approached it and asked, "Do you think the perfect fruit exists?" and they looked exactly like you two."

Definitely, it was chilling. Instantly, I got a really bad headache and it kept pounding on my head like broken glass. It wouldn't stop.

"We're all here because we believe in fate-"

"No, you kidnapped us. Ughhhhh..." I said, pressing my fingers on my temple. Still, through it all, she never let go of my hand. The warmth I felt. But what a way to spin a kidnapping. Ughhhhh

"...and I believe you are the one, I've been looking for and I'm here to make you a deal."

***

I don't see a sign of struggle. Rin and Shin must be gone off to who knows where. I'm always left to clean up his mess. The house is clean, in the same condition as I left it when me and...Ritsika, I believe her name is, had left this morning. She wasn't much company. Shin told me to watch out for and make sure she's okay, which is unusual of him but she didn't say much the entire time. We just went out, drove around. Had a look around the city. Killing time and mainly to get her out of the house in the event that he came by. If they're not here, I assume so. Oh, what's this. A folded up piece of paper was literally right in front of me, with light lettering on the inside as I opened it. Ha, everything that girl said has come true.

"Ritsika!" I called out to her, no response.

Looking around the apartment, I turned around towards the balcony where I guessed she would probably be.

Opening the sliding door, I found her reading a book in a chair with her feet hanging over the railing. A fashion magazine.

"Ritsika, we have to go."

"Why? I'm tired of being left behind. If you don't mind, can you leave me here?"

"I can't do that, because we're going back to Kochi and Rin tells me there's something only you can do."

She put down her magazine and for the first time, looked at me with something other sadness in her eye.

"What does she need me to do?"

***