23: Soichiro (1)

After making sure no one had seen them, Cloud and Kyoko returned to the group, who gave them a strange look, at least all but Miku, Saeko and Shizuka, who seemed to have realized what had happened.

Kyoko blushed slightly because she noticed the smiles on her teammates' faces.

"What happened?" - Saya asked as she looked closely at the blond - "Did you have a problem with my mother, perhaps?"

"Not in the slightest, we already made the situation clear" - Cloud answered as he shook his head - "Anyway, I tried to talk to her to get our weapons back, but she refused for fear that you would come with us."

Saya frowned slightly before shaking her head - "I understand..."

"What are we going to do now?" - Kohta asked with a frown, after all, when he went along with Saya to get the weapons, they received the same answer.

"I'm going to try to do it personally when I go to get my personal weapon" - Cloud answered while folding his arms.

"Personal weapon?" - Kohta repeated with mild interest.

"I spend most of my time in this place, that's why I keep my weapons here" - replied Cloud while shaking his head - "Anyway, I need to contact my subordinates, so I'm going to leave for a few minutes."

"Ok" - nodded Saya as she thought about her next steps now that her mother was opposing their wish to leave this place - "I guess we'll have to wait for Cloud to come back to get weapons, so we can train with them a bit"

* * * * *

[It's good to hear your voice, Oyabun.]

"Yeah, yeah, I just want to know how the overall situation is" - Cloud said while clicking his tongue.

[Everything is under control, just as you said, our men have retrieved all the food from the surrounding area]

"I guess there are no problems because the prostitutes are doing a good job" - Cloud said while shaking his head. Yes, he had prostitutes under his hand like every self-respecting criminal boss.

[Yes, but our working conditions are still maintained, in other words, death for those who hurt them].

"It's the only way to keep our girls happy and making more money" - Cloud replied as he clicked his tongue - "How are the kids?"

[They're happy, though they're asking for you]

Cloud was silent as a small smile appeared over his lips - "I see, I promise them I'll be back soon, that's why I want you to keep the order."

[Understood, though I have a slight problem, and that is that our facility is not going to hold all the survivors we have taken under our wings]

"It's simple, we have to find a new place, I'll call you with new instructions when I decide what our new base of operations will be" - Cloud replied while shaking his head, although he had to admit that this man was an excellent subordinate. He not only followed orders to the letter, but he was also smart enough to be able to anticipate some of his orders.

[Roger that, I'll have everything ready to move our civilians when I give the command.]

Cloud cut the call, only to feel a glare behind him - "I didn't expect you to come see me personally, Yuriko, not when we decided that we wouldn't interact anymore to prevent further trouble."

Yuriko simply kept silent as she looked at the blond with a frown - "I didn't expect you to move so fast."

"It's better to do it while we still have the chance" - Cloud replied simply - "Not to mention that this place won't last for long."

"Are you cursing us?" - Yuriko asked with a frown.

"Not in the least, it's a hunch" - answered Cloud while shrugging his shoulders - "That's why I recommend you to prepare yourself as well, and while we're at it, I'd like you to return our weapons"

"You're not taking my daughter" - Yuriko said while frowning.

Cloud let out a sigh as he grabbed the bridge of his nose because he could tell that this woman wasn't being honest, at least not completely. Yes, she wanted to keep her daughter in this mansion so that she would continue to be safe, but he could tell something else.

"Why don't you just admit that you don't want me to leave?" - Cloud asked as he gave her an annoyed look - "Being a Tsundere doesn't suit you, Yuriko."

Yuriko simply frowned before walking to the blond's side - "I'm not going to let you leave along with my daughter."

"You finally admit it" - Cloud muttered as he clicked his tongue, though his expression changed as he watched people begin to gather at the entrance. He watched carefully, noticing how the gates opened, revealing a tough looking man walking in front of a huge group of armed men - "I guess this is why he hadn't called me..."

Cloud watched silently as the man walked towards the mansion, only to notice how this man was looking at him calculatingly.

"Tch" - Cloud again clicked his tongue, though he had to admit this was why he respected the man. He was strong, cold, and a good leader, good qualities for a survivor who wanted to control his own destiny, though there was something else, Cloud could notice something inside Soichiro's eyes, something he seemed to be hiding from the rest, even from his wife - "Am I overthinking this?"

Cloud was silent for a few seconds before frowning as he watched the group of soldiers at the end start dragging a cage - "I see, I guess he got bored with being a good guy, and now he wants to bring some order to those fools?"

The blond slowly moved his gaze to a group of survivors being led by a woman who seemed to be inciting them to shout against the mansion's owner.

"I guess even in the apocalypse there are people who don't understand that greed can cause their death" - Cloud said while clicking his tongue - "Let's see how they're going to react now that Soichiro got bored with their shit."

And just as he had thought, the moment he saw how Soichiro walked towards the cage that had imprisoned one of those things.

The leader of the mansion ordered to open it and stood in front of it, only to cut the monster without much trouble, and causing the survivors who hadn't seen blood so far, to let out a scream of terror, some even started to vomit at such a disturbing scene.

Cloud again clicked his tongue because this was just what he thought, those useless people had been lucky enough to be rescued before things got out of control, that's why they were so entitled, but that didn't matter now, for the rest of the survivors, among them those who saw their loved ones turn into those things, this group was nothing more than a bunch of clowns.

After making sure to give his condolences to the woman of the man transformed into a monster, he walked towards the entrance of his home, where Yuriko was waiting for him.

Soichiro nodded with a small smile before casting a glance up to the second floor, in the direction where the blond was standing.

Yuriko noticed this as her face paled, more so when she noticed how her husband was glaring at the blond and telling him to go to his office.

Cloud simply nodded before walking, after all, it was better to sort everything out before things got even more complicated.

Yuriko stood in the doorway, confused before running after her husband.

"Are you going to my father's?" - Saya asked as she watched Cloud walk past her.

"Yes, though if you wish, I can go after you" - Cloud answered a small smile, after all, this girl hadn't seen her father in two days.

"No, I can wait" - replied Saya as she shook her head - "Call me when you're done."

"Ok" - nodded Cloud as he continued walking towards the Yakuza leader's office, only to notice how Yuriko was outside with a frown on her face, and a bit worried - "Are you that messed up?"

"And from what I see, you're extremely relaxed" - Yuriko replied with a frown - "Come, Soichiro is waiting for us, and I honestly expect the worst."

"We have to accept the result of our actions" - Cloud said simply, not because he wasn't worried, but because what they had already done, wasn't going to change no matter how much they denied it or wished for it.

Yuriko let out a sigh before knocking on the door.

"Come in."

The two entered the office, noticing how Soichiro was sitting in front of his desk, going through all the documents his subordinates had handed him. Slowly, he looked up and motioned for the two to sit across from him.

Cloud followed the Yakuza leader's instructions while Yuriko looked like she was about to panic.

"I'm going to get right to the point," Soichiro said as he looked at the two in front of him, "I know what you've been doing behind my back."