Short Story 3: The Curino Mafia (Mafia AU Kem)

This is a story based on the Mafia version of Kem and Kemuji, where Kem is the Mafia boss instead of her brother Kev. Lots of action, gangster slang, maybe a hint of romance...? A bit of strong language, gun violence, and light gore in later parts.

Otherwise, enjoy the story!

└── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──┘└── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──┘└── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──┘

"Whaddya mean he 'bribed you outta it'? We don't talk these things out, they have a bounty on their damn head, do you understand me?"

Kem was at it again, yelling at her lackeys for doing something stupid. It was a common occurrence to have one of them screw up and walk into the room with their heads hanging low, like a dog who chewed up their owner's shoe, and then her yelling at them in both Italian and English, so frustrated that she couldn't pick between the two.

Kemika, her right hand man, watches her from a distance as she drinks a small glass of whiskey. As she does, she sees strong resemblance in character that reminds her of her last boss, Kem's father.

Korvin had long since retired from the job after his wife, and Kem's mother, fallen ill. 'She's not mentally stable', he said. He had left to take care of her, leaving Kem, the first of three children they had, as the boss of the entire syndicate.

Since then, Kem has always had a short temper.

After Kem finished chewing him out, she sat down in her seat, sighing heavily.

"Kem...."

"Yes boss?"

"...Hand me a glass too, would ya?"

She nods, and pours ice and whiskey into another short, clear glass and places it on the coaster next to Kem. Kem drinks it without hesitation.

"...Is this how you and Pops would talk to each other? About the Mafia with whiskey in one hand?"

Kemika sits back in her corner and looks out the window. "We rarely speak. Mostly because I didn't have much information about me. All I could say back then was...I got hurt while in the Yakuza in Japan, and I moved to Italy to live a more peaceful life..."

Kemika meant the eye patch that covered her badly damaged left eye. She never said what happened to her, just that she couldn't go back to Japan because of it. The only two things that reminded her of the traumatic event were the jacket she wore and the scar on her face.

Kem gets up.

"Where are you heading, boss?"

"I'm goin' ta bed...the boys are stressin' me the hell out...They're takin' their sweet time, and I'm gettin' angrier by the minute. I've had enough for today and I'm ready to crash and get some rest. See ya tomorrow, Kem..." Kem walks through the door to her office...and closes the door. Kemika watches the door until footsteps can't be heard.

Kemika sighed, and decided to do some extra paperwork for her boss before falling asleep at the desk after an hour of work.

...While she sleeps...a dream materializes. Her brother... Kento...it's that nightmare again... He's standing in a field of red flowers, calling her name. She can't move, no matter how hard she tries. Her brother's voice is distant, like he's underwater. She tries to scream, but no sound comes out. Suddenly, he turns and looks at her, and his face is full of sorrow.

She left him on his own...and if the Yakuza don't find her...they'll find him instead. She wants to return back to Japan...protect him from these guys, but...the traumatic experiences... She knows it's impossible. Her only option is to stay away and hope the Yakuza won't find her. But even then, she can't shake the fear that her loved one won't be safe.She has to make a hard decision: take the risk and try to go back to Japan and protect her loved one, or stay away and hope for the best. Whatever she decides, she will have to face the consequences.

Kento tries to walk towards her, but before she can hold onto his hand...black smoke snatches him away...and once again, she's devastated. She's paralyzed by fear and grief as she watches her loved one disappear...and then she wakes up abruptly... She quickly realizes it was only a dream, but it still leaves her with a heavy heart. She takes a deep breath and whispers his name, wishing she could hold onto him one last time. She gets out of the chair, straightens the paper on the desk, and finds something for breakfast...

She makes her way to the kitchen, trying to shake away the feeling of sadness. She takes a few moments to collect her thoughts, and then she moves on. She knows that the best way to honor her loved one's memory is to continue living her life and making the most of it.

A loud door slam. Kemika knew exactly who.

"Morning, boss."

"Good mornin', Kem." she replied, slumping into her chair with a sigh.

"Did you sleep well?"

"Not really...I was tossin' and turnin' all night. I don't think I can stay up another hour... " Kem replied. She looks at Kemika with a confused expression. "Why are ya here so early?"

"I stayed at the office today...I was too burned out to head home..." Kemika explained.

"Ya shouldn't have...mobsters find any way to try and get at competitors...Don't want ya to die on me...so head home today, got it?"

"Yeah boss...I understand..."

"Good. Now get ready ta help these dumbass goofballs for the day..." She sighed heavily and walked away.

Kemika put her breakfast on her plate. She ate in silence, her mind racing with the day's tasks. She wondered if she could handle this. Taking a deep breath, she got up to face the day. She puts on her coat and leaves the office to the hangout spots mafia members that work under her and the boss. She arrived at the spot and looked at them expressionlessly.

"Let's get to work boys. We have some debts to collect and some deals to make." The men nodded and began to disperse. She watched them go, her expression unwavering. She had a job to do and she was determined to see it through.

The Curino family. A powerful mafia clan had tasked her with collecting debts. In fact, extortion was the main income for the family, as they extorted people and their families for money. Kemika was used to it, as her past with the yakuza was similar in multiple ways... She had been trained to be ruthless and efficient in her job, and had become invaluable to the Curino family. Her loyalty to the family ran deep, and she would do anything to protect them and their interests. She was also known for her violent methods, and her reputation preceded her. She was feared by those who knew her, and respected by those she worked with. In the end, Kemika was the perfect enforcer for the Curino family. Her skills and experience made her an invaluable asset to the family, and she was often called upon to handle difficult or dangerous tasks. Her loyalty and willingness to do whatever was necessary to protect the family made her a legend in their circles.

After debt collection for the month, the boss counts her money. She seems content with how much she's being paid this time...Kemika looks over her shoulder, seeming indifferent to the situation...she had little to do with the income since she lives with her boss. Kemika turns away and resumes her duties from earlier. She had no interest in money, and was more interested in the idea of having a "family" who would give her a roof over her head and things to eat and drink. Her boss did not mind sharing her wealth, and Kemika was grateful for it. She knew the importance of money, but it was nothing compared to the value of having someone by her side who would take care of her. She was content with her life. She just hoped Kento could join her safe and sound...

"Kem, what're ya thinkin' about? Havin' a moment to yaself?"

"It's nothing. Just counting along with you."

Kem laughed in her thick Italian accent. "I'd appreciate that...I hate countin' twice. But seriously...you can talk with me...I'm not like my Pops and all...being all quiet with work and stuff...I'm open to listening and talking. So if you ever want to chat, I'm here. I'm not just ya boss, 'kay?"

She smiled, her eyes twinkling with warmth. "I'm always here if you need me." She gave her a warm pat on the back. Kemiko thought it was strange. She was never that caring or warm with anyone, not even her younger brothers, let alone her second in command... Kemiko could feel her heart swell, and for the first time, she felt truly appreciated. She smiled back, and felt a sense of belonging. "Thanks, boss..."

END OF PART 1