20
The meeting of the four dons was in progress, with the room heavily guarded by their respective security personnel.
Despite holding similar ranks, they couldn't fully trust one another. Seated around a small table, the security stood outside the room to afford their bosses some privacy, as the upcoming discussion was not meant for their ears.
The four men sat, an oppressive silence hanging in the air as they assessed each other.
Each exuded an air of sophistication, despite the repugnant nature of their occupations. It was the man who spoke first, not dressed in the usual fancy suit, but rather covered in tattoos and scars, with a missing finger on his left hand.
Wearing a singlet adorned with jewelry, one glance was enough to recognize the dangerous aura that surrounded him. This was Akujin, the leader of the Yakuza.
Akujin's eyes were lifeless, a predictable consequence of the countless lives he had taken.
The darkness cloaked the other dons, leaving only their suits discernible.
"The Oni man, why hasn't he been eliminated?" This question initiated the conversation.
Raised on the streets, Akujin understood the workings of the underworld.
He had earned his title as Oyabun not by chance, but through relentless killing, until there was no one left to kill.
One fateful day, three men approached him, offering assistance in expanding the Yakuza's influence in Japan.
Akujin accepted their offer, thus becoming one of the four dons.
"Akujin, what's on your mind?" the interrupted man inquired.
The other two dons silently observed the unfolding interaction.
"Why don't you allow me to handle this?" Akujin proposed, sensing their disagreement even without seeing their faces.
"I'm afraid we cannot permit that," the man responded.
"And how do you intend to stop me?" Akujin's question escalated the tension.
If the Oni man was considered fearsome, it was only because one had never encountered Akujin's katana.
Akujin was a formidable monster, a force that had to be contained.
Even without their influence, it could be argued that he would have attained the same level of control, but with an even bloodier approach.
Thus, they kept him on their side, knowing that he wouldn't be an easy enemy to handle.
This was one of the reasons why the four dons were feared, as people assumed they were just as monstrous as Akujin.
However, their origins remained unknown, although their accents hinted that they were not from Japan.
Being foreigners, they sought to challenge the unspoken rule that forbade foreign assassins from operating on Japanese soil.
Akujin understood their motives, as they intended to exploit the Oni man as an excuse to further strengthen their grip on Japanese territory. This was something that Akujin could not allow.
"I will handle this kid called Oni, and I promise not to kill a few people along the way," Akujin stated in a nonchalant tone.
"A few people? Akujin, you've killed over five hundred people," the man pointed out. Cleaning up after him took a toll on them, and they couldn't continue doing so indefinitely.
Akujin remained silent in response, knowing that it was merely a formality to ask for their permission.
They had two choices: give him what he wanted or allow him to do as he pleased. It was an illusion of control that they had to grasp.
"We will give you a week to resolve this situation before he can claim any more lives," the man conceded.
As soon as this agreement was reached, Akujin excused himself from the meeting.
"Are you certain that was a wise decision, Gerard? We could have opened the borders and expanded our influence in this country. Then, we wouldn't need individuals like him," a deep voice spoke from the shadows.
"Akujin may be a monster, but he lacks intelligence. We have managed to gain control over the Yakuza, but Akujin is a man we must allow to unleash his wild side occasionally to keep him satisfied," Gerard explained.
His resistance to Akujin's request to hunt the Oni was all part of a strategy to make Akujin desire it even more, as his pride was now at stake. And there is nothing more valuable to a man than his pride.
-
The girls returned from class, engaged in conversation amongst themselves.
However, upon entering the house, they were greeted by a sight that left them astonished.
Kenzo had not only tidied up the entire house, but there was also a captivating aroma wafting through the air, tickling their noses.
"W-What is this scent!?" Yuki exclaimed, hurriedly dropping her books and rushing into the kitchen, followed closely by the other two. They were met with the sight of a spotless kitchen, where Kenzo had diligently scrubbed away any traces of flour and oil splatters on the cooker.
"Wow," Hitomi couldn't help but gasp in amazement.
"T-This is so amazing!" Yuki exclaimed in disbelief, as she indulged in a taste of the food that had been prepared.
She couldn't even identify what it was, but it tasted heavenly.
Mizumi began to realize that this man must possess value beyond his good looks, but she soon noticed that he was nowhere to be found since their arrival.
"Where is he?" Mizumi questioned, drawing the attention of the other ladies.
"Don't tell me he left..." Hitomi muttered.
-
Kenzo stepped outside to get some fresh air, feeling restless from being cooped up for too long.
Besides, he needed to familiarize himself with his surroundings, creating a mental map of the area in case of any emergencies.
Although the chances of the people after him finding him here were incredibly low, he couldn't completely rule out that possibility.
Having bought a change of clothes, Kenzo was able to blend in and move through the streets unnoticed, wearing a hoodie to conceal his appearance.
As he observed his surroundings, he noticed that there was a higher number of women than men in this area, which wasn't surprising.
Additionally, he realized that most of the residents were students.
However, Kenzo was aware that he couldn't stay in this place indefinitely. He knew that the day he decided to leave would also be the day he had to confront and potentially harm the very ladies who had saved him.