Koji - The White Dragon - 3. Chapter 3

Chapter 3: the Family Name carries Weight

I - A Little Brother

“Why do you always stare at this painting?”

Andre Lacome stared at the canvas on the wall, captivated by the depiction of a woman stoking a charcoal stove. A modern house loomed behind her. She sat on a small stool, holding a fan, a red cloth tying her silky black hair back. A soft sheen of sweat coated her forehead, wisps of her hair clinging to her skin. The pot on the charcoal stove boiling away. She was smiling, her gaze on three children playing a ball game in the grassy patch away from her.

“Do you know why she’s cooking with the charcoal stove?” Andre asked. “She has a modern house. Clearly she’s able to cook using a gas stove or even electricity.”

“She’s broke?”

Andre glanced at his younger brother, Henri, and grinned.

“Does she look broke to you?” Andre asked. “Her gaze is full of joy. The painter captured her in a moment of happiness.”

Henri folded his arms against his chest.

“You spend too much time staring at paintings. I might need to get you out of this place by force. Find you a real man to look at.”

Andre only smiled at his brother’s comment.

Henri was impatient with the arts, never had the time to sit and brood over a painting or a piece of music.

“What brings you home?” Andre asked Henri, not moving away from the painting.

“Can’t your brother visit home when he wants?” Henri asked. “I haven’t seen your face in weeks.”

“Henri.”

“See, I knew that was coming,” Henri said with a delighted laugh.

“Henri.” He mimicked Andre. “That tone, like you’re admonishing a school boy. You would have fit right in teaching at the lycée Louis le Grand.”

“Do you want me to punish you?” Andre asked, his tone bored, used to his brother’s commentary.

“How delicious would that be,” Henri grinned and jumped back when Andre glanced at him. “Okay, hide that scowl, it’s damaging to my heart.”

Andre gave a sigh and turned away from the painting, only to have Henri grab his right arm.

“I’m sorry. I’ll be serious,” Henri said, leading Andre to an armchair in the large living room of their family home. “Sit, sit, this will be easier if you’re sitting.”

“I’m afraid to ask what’s going on,” Andre said, settling into the comfortable armchair.

Henri didn’t laugh this time, or try to joke. Instead, he paced the length of the coffee table, his fingers clenched into fists, and then he let out a short breath. Sitting on the edge of the couch opposite Andre, he took in a deep breath.

“How bad?” Andre asked, meeting his brother’s gaze.

“Come on,” Henri sighed, with a frown. “Why do you always do that?”

Andre scoffed.

“I’ve cleaned up your messes your whole life, Henri. On a scale of one to ten, one being mild, ten being fuck-ups of the highest proportions, tell me what we’re dealing with.”

“Twenty?” Henri mumbled and buried his face into his hands.

“Twenty,” Andre closed his eyes. “Did you kill someone?”

“Nothing like that,” Henri said, lifting his head to look at him. “Seriously, Andre. Why would you imagine something like that of me?”

“Twenty?”

“Okay, fine, maybe I’m exaggerating a little,” Henri shook his head. “No one is murdered.”

“Then what is the trouble?” Andre asked. “Tell me fast, Henri. I have a contractor meeting in thirty minutes.”

“Do you remember the Asian we met at Maman’s tea party?” Henri asked. “Three months ago, he was going on about shipping and how it was the big business to be in now.”

“How much are you in?” Andre asked.

“I invested in the shipping company legitimately. Twenty percent, nothing huge and we’re not the only partners. The money is not the problem, Andre.”

“But it is the root of the problem. The easiest way is to let the investment go, cut all ties, and walk away.”

“What if there are crimes involved?”

“The same option applies,” Andre said. “As long as your conscience is clear.”

Henri wiped a trembling hand down his face.

“It’s not. I don’t care about the money, but—”

“What?”

“On my last business trip, there was a woman I met at a club in Kyoto. She was beautiful, Andre. So beautiful, but in trouble.”

“That’s how you love them,” Andre said.

“She’s going to die if we don’t help.”

“Now you are being dramatic, Henri.”

“I’m not,” Henri snapped, glaring at Andre. “You weren’t there. You didn’t see her eyes. How frightened she looked. She managed to convince me to get her out of the club. I thought we would have a good time and I would fly out, leave her money. I didn’t anticipate how important she was to the Asian. He caught us on the way out of the club. He stopped us and his men dragged her away—”

“Are we having this discussion over a paid date?”

“That’s not the point,” Henri snapped. “Whether I paid her or not is a non-issue. She might die, you—”

“You went back for her,” Andre said in realization.

“After I got to my hotel room, I couldn’t get her out of my mind. I couldn’t just leave a frightened woman alone. What kind of man do you think I am?”

“Foolish and soft-hearted,” Andre said, with a sigh. “The Asian wasn’t friendly to start with. I’m sure he didn’t take interference lying down.”

Henri got to his feet and sunk fingers into his dark curly hair.

Andre watched his brother pace around the couch, fingers in his hair. Henri had taken so many of their mother’s traits. It was uncanny.

“You’re right. I went back to the club. Dressed her in men’s clothes and smuggled her out,” Henri said, after a few minutes of pacing. “I took her to my hotel room, and gave her money. She thanked me, said she had a daughter named Sakura. She wanted to go back to her. We had sex, and when I was leaving, I told her she could go to the authorities, if she needed help.”

Andre closed his eyes, afraid of the rest of this story.

“I was a successful hero. She was out of a bad life. I left her happy,” Henri continued. “Then, last night I get a frantic call from my staff in Kyoto. The Japanese authorities are looking for me.”

“Why?”

Henri shuddered.

“They found five children in a warehouse in Kobe owned under my firm’s name. I’m apparently funding child trafficking. I swear to God, Andre. I have never seen the deed to that warehouse. I have never signed any ownership papers—”

Henri shook his head.

“Child trafficking, fuck, I would never—”

“I know, Henri.”

“Who would do this to me? If this gets out, HLCapitol is done. We can’t handle that kind of negative backlash. Child trafficking….”

Henri came around to sit the couch.

“I saved a woman, and ended up a culprit. Hikaru, my business manager in Kyoto, says investigations have started digging into the investment firm and our clients. I’m to be brought in for questioning on sight. I can’t afford this kind of trouble. What are we going to do?”

“You stay hidden here at Villa Lacome,” Andre said. “The moment they arrest you, life gets harder for both of us. So, lay low.”

“What about business?”

“Run it from here.” Andre raised his arms indicating the great big house they both called home since birth.

“Maman and I will kill each other. You know we fight over everything. I hate when she meddles, and she can’t help herself. I can’t stand it, Andre. We love each other best when we are apart.”

Andre sighed.

“Maman is in The States for three months.”

Relief flooded Henri, his shoulders visibly relaxing.

“You should have said that from the start. I will come to stay. Then what?”

“I’ll go to Japan,” Andre said. “I’ll sort this out. Once I do, Henri, you have a promise to make me.”

Henri rubbed his eyes, frustration clear on his face.

“I’m not moving back here. You know Maman drives me crazy. You’ll end up checking me into a mental hospital. Don’t try to cut off my freedoms.”

“Then stop jumping into business with people you don’t know.”

“How the hell am I supposed to make money then?” Henri asked, eyes wide in shock.

“Responsibly,” Andre snapped and got to his feet. “Last time was a diva in Czech Republic and her manager, now a hostess in Japan and her deadly pimp? What is his name? You didn't mention it.”

“Daye Chang,” Henri said with a shudder. “Runs the club from an office in the basement of his building.”

“Wonderful,” Andre pointed a finger at Henri. “Stay put, and send your power of attorney to Luc. No going out, no more damsels to save, and for fucks sake, don’t go out.”

“I came to you, didn’t I?” Henri bargained, as Andre started to leave. “I didn’t let it fester. We have the Lacome name on the line, here. I should get points for recognizing that and coming to you.”

“No points,” Andre glared at his brother. “Maybe we should marry you off to Lisbeth next door. She still fancies herself in love with you. You should try falling in love with her. Save her from a lifetime of pining after you.”

“That’s mean,” Henri gaped. “She’s in her fifties and spends all her time in Wellingtons and overalls. She told me once that she gets an orgasm watching her grapes grow.”

“No wonder she makes good wine, you can decant it together,” Andre said.

Henri picked up a vase from the nearest stool and hurled it at Andre.

“That’s Maman’s favorite,” Andre called back when the vase crashed on the ground.

He couldn’t help the smile when Henri cursed royally.

Andre headed outside the villa, and stood in the parking lot staring at the black car waiting for him.

Henri, Andre thought, shaking his head. Was this all he had in the world?

Fixing Henri’s fuck-ups and holding the family business together. How wonderful it must be for Henri to have someone to run to this way. Why didn’t Andre have someone he could go to, and lay all his weight down, feel at ease?

Andre looked up at the clear blue sky, and took in a deep breath.

Was it winter in Japan? He couldn’t remember. Living here spoiled him for any other place. He had never understood why anyone would go looking for trouble as often as Henri did.

“Child trafficking,” Andre murmured. “Maybe I should just hand him over to them?”

“Then you would have your Maman crying day and night over her baby in prison,” Luc said, beside him.

Andre turned to face his best friend and lawyer.

“You heard?”

“Hard not to,” Luc chuckled. “Henri’s narration dramatics have not changed. I was still in your study when he started. I called his firm’s lawyers. I have everything we need.”

“Thankfully, you are here,” Andre said, heading for the black car. “First we meet the contractors, business must carry on. I still need to feed him, pay the bills for the estate. Then we plan for Kyoto, and this Daye Chang.”

Luc walked around the car, and joined Andre in the backseat.

“Are you sure you can handle Asian underground business?” Luc asked, when the driver drove out of the Villa compound. “Henri might be clueless, but you’re not. This sounds very dangerous.”

“They dared drag a Lacome into their dirt. I won’t have it. No one is arresting my little brother on child trafficking charges,” Andre snapped. “They’ll have to kill me first, Luc.”

“I was afraid you’d say that,” Luc said, settling into his seat.

***

II - Arriving in Kyoto

“Five families received good news when investigators rescued their children from a black market cartel. After weeks of a harrowing ordeal, the five children were found in a warehouse in Kobe owned by a French Investment firm…investigators are hard at work identifying the faceless villain behind their kidnapping.”

“Faceless villain,” Andre scoffed, and scrolled down the screen skimming the article. “At least they have kept Henri’s name out of the press, as well as the firm.”

“Not for long,” Luc said. “Everyone involved is waiting for hard evidence, and then they will jump at getting the Lacome name involved. We need to be a step ahead.”

“What hard evidence?” Andre turned off his tablet and handed it to Luc. “My brother is a crazy coward. Saving women because he wants to feel like a knight. When real trouble starts though, he runs home. He doesn't have the character to deal with kidnapping children. Fools.”

“I don’t think you should visit Henri’s offices,” Luc said.

Andre adjusted the hat he wore, and brought his camera up to capture a pair of Maiko crossing a picturesque bridge in full costume. He took several pictures, and when they noticed him, they stopped and smiled in his direction.

“Look at that, such beauty,” Andre said, thanking them with a wave. They hurried off, and he studied the pictures. Kyoto was stunning. “Henri always knows the best places to visit. Why he also finds the ugliness, I don’t know.”

“Are you listening to me?”

“Yes, Luc. No visiting the offices, lest they pick me up too,” Andre said, looking around the streets. “You go visit this Hikaru. I’ll explore. Who knows what else is hiding here that could help us.”

Luc narrowed his gaze, studying him.

“I’m worried about you, Andre. You should take a real vacation after this. You barely rest anymore.”

Andre grinned and patted Luc’s shoulder.

“Go on now, the faster we leave this place, the better for you to nag me less.”

Luc chuckled and left him with a short wave.

Alone, Andre walked to the bridge the two women had used earlier and stood watching the river flowing. The waters moving in gentle waves, the buildings on each side heavy with history. Who could imagine underneath this beautiful setting, men like Daye Chang dared run a dark and terrible business.

Well, if he could not visit HL Capitol, then he would discover what type of club Daye Chang owned. Maybe he would find a handsome date for the night. Some hours steeped in senseless pleasure would surely make him look more relaxed.

Alleviate Luc’s concerns, Andre thought with a smile.

****

III - Human Nature

In a boardroom in Ginza, fifteen floors above ground, Koji swiveled his chair from side to side in boredom. He sat in the corner of the boardroom, right by the windows, his elbows braced on a small table set before him.

To his right, twelve people: ten men and two women, sat around an oval table, each one at the top of their potential. With Tama at the head of the table. His big brother sat listening to reports and proposals from various business ventures under the Sukiyama name. So many ventures, so many problems, Koji wondered how Tama could keep track of it all.

Yet, he seemed to know what was going on in each topic. His brother was truly great when it came to business.

Koji sat back and stared at the ceiling. The lights went off and he sat up straight to find a presentation starting on the wall opposite. Koji reached up to remove the enhanced earbuds in his ears. Holding them in his hands, he took in a deep breath, as the room came alive in his head.

A jumble of thoughts filled his brain, and he closed his eyes and forced his brain to concentrate on sorting it out.

Tama called the board members people he could rely on.

Listening to their private thoughts and ideas, Koji wondered how Tama could rely on these people.

Ambition fueled all of them, such blinding ambition it bordered on obsession.

Their insane need to gain more, and more, such deep hunger for wealth, power, recognition, the more gained, the more the need grew. The level of dedication to Sukiyama Group was different. Some needed the recognition of the name. Others used the name as a way to build their own companies…their own wealth.

This wasn’t the first time Koji had done this for Tama.

But every time he did, it left him with a bad taste in his mouth.

How could Tama entrust their family’s business to these people with their blind ambition?

Once, he had asked Tama why loyalty was so easy to buy in this world.

‘Everyone has a price to pay for what they want to gain, for what they desire. The price can be time, loyalty, dedication…. Work for me, I’ll pay you this much. You can achieve your goal and fulfill your desires e.t.c. I’m only able to take advantage of this need to gain until the need reaches the limit,’ Tama explained. ‘When the limit is at overcapacity, people take two routes: one is to walk away from the position This is easiest, as all we need to do is replace them with someone with the same hunger. The second choice is scarier as it taught me that humans turn into beasts. If this happens at Sukiyama, the only thing I can do is slay the beasts, and protect what belongs to the family.’

Koji smirked at the memory of that explanation and clenched his fists when he connected with dark intent. At first, he couldn’t tell whom it belonged to, but the anger filled the room, such hatred toward Tama, and…him.

Koji felt shocked.

Nausea grew, Koji leaned his elbows on the table and he opened his eyes to look at the board members. Staring at each one, searching…then a woman’s voice filled his head.

‘Once this is over, they won’t dare hurt my family. They’ll have what they want, and I can leave for good.’

Koji focused on the only two women in the room.

‘Why they want the painter is a mystery, the kid looks like a wimp. Oh well, as long as my son is safe, I don’t care. The Aoyagi Family will move out of the country and start a new.’

Koji couldn’t help the gasp. He hid the sound with a cough, and the fear that filled Teri Aoyagi grew as she nervously gave him a glance. Now that he knew the darkness belonged to her, all he could read was her anger, her awful intent. Whatever she was planning felt malicious, that it was directed at him, made him feel even worse.

Unable to stay, Koji got to his feet and hurried out of the boardroom, rushing straight to Tama’s office on the same floor. Pushing the ear buds into his ears, he turned them on, and hurried to the balcony, standing outside in the air. A cool breeze swept away Terri’s dark thoughts.

Moments like this, he craved the lush silence of his family home.

The office door opened, and Tama hurried in, coming to the balcony.

“Who is it?”

Koji glanced at his brother.

“Is this any different from what Saya has me doing at night? Why are you always so mad when I go help her team out?”

“Because her missions are dangerous,” Tama said with impatience. “There are weapons involved, you turn reckless, and could get shot. Then what the hell would I do, Koji?”

“This is no better,” Koji said, taking in a deep breath. The air not as fresh as home. “Those people who work for you, none of them are good.”

“No one is entirely good, Koji.”

Koji sighed and wiped a hand down his face. Removing his dark glasses, he met his brother’s gaze.

Tama never flinched at the sight of his eyes.

Never, not once, Koji thought, taking comfort in that at least.

“Teri Aoyagi,” Koji said. “She’s so worried about someone she refers to as ‘they’. She’s thinking too loud. Her anger towards our family is sickening. She thinks me a wimp.”

“You’re not,” Tama stated.

“I want to go home now,” Koji said. “Don’t make me stay here longer.”

“I better find you home,” Tama said, moving closer to take the dark glasses from Koji’s hand. With care, Tama fitted them over Koji’s eyes, and pressed a soft kiss on Koji’s forehead. “I’ll worry if you’re not home.”

“I’ll be there.” Koji promised, right after he spoke to the woman who knew his mother.

“Alright,” Tama stepped back, and gave him a slight smile. “Ogun will be with you.”

“As always,” Koji said, watching his brother head out. “Don’t be too hard on that woman. She worried for her son.”

“She’s been plotting to hurt you, that’s all I care about,” Tama said, his tone hard.

Koji shook his head at his brother’s attitude. Glancing at his wristwatch, Koji smiled, thinking he had plenty of time to get to Kamakura, then head home. Tama and Saya would never know he was off the schedule.

Excitement coursing through him, Koji hurried into Tama’s office, got his jacket and headed out too. Ogun caught up with him at the elevators.

“Do you have her address?” Koji asked, as they rode down to ground floor.

“Yes.”

“And her number?” Koji asked. “In case she’s gone grocery shopping or something. What do you think she’ll like? Should I get her tea? Or flowers? She must be Saya’s age—”

Koji broke off thinking about Saya Matsumoto. The woman could not be compared to any other woman on the planet.

He shuddered.

“Let’s not think about Saya,” Koji murmured as the elevator doors opened. “Ogun, you have a mother, don’t you? What does she like?”

“Scarves, home appliances, flowers, tea,” Ogun said, a smile gracing his lips.

“Can we get them all?” Koji asked. “We don’t know what she prefers. To be on the safe side.”

“That’s called pouring money on the streets for no reason,” Ogun said, as they crossed the lobby to the exit doors. “How about a nice package of fragrant tea?”

“Will that be enough?” Koji asked, following Ogun out the swinging doors into the cool day. It was only mid-morning, and everyone was busy at work. “What if she refuses to talk to me because she hates the scent we get? Won’t that be—”

Koji broke off when Ogun suddenly grabbed his shoulders and pushed him to the ground. Glass shattered and that was when the gunshots registered. A series of them, directed toward them. Screams erupted, and building security flooded out. The surprise of the attack set Koji off balance, he could barely think. His left leg stung, and there were too many people around him. More explosions, screams, glass crashing—

“We need to get back,” Ogun said, helping Koji up, his arm tight around Koji’s waist.

The security team shielded them as they raced back into the building.

Koji gripped Ogun’s arm as they moved.

Ogun gave him no chance to hesitate, practically dragging him across the lobby to the VIP elevators. Koji took in a ragged breath when the elevator doors closed and the elevator started up. The silence in the elevator after the explosion of weapons downstairs was surreal.

Koji leaned on the wall, shocked.

When the doors opened, it was to find Tama waiting. He looked frantic with worry.

Tama rushed to Koji, and helped him out of the elevator, taking him straight to his office.

“Are you hurt?” Tama asked, pushing him into the closest chair. “Koji? Anything hurting?”

“Someone was shooting at us downstairs,” Koji said, the statement sounding hollow to him. “I—Why?”

“Shit, there’s blood on your leg,” Tama cursed and immediately started to roll up Koji’s trousers. “It looks like a scrape. A bullet scraped your leg.”

Koji stared at the line of red on his left leg wondering why the pain had not registered yet.

Ogun appeared with a first aid kit, and Tama insisted on treating the scrape himself.

Tama remained silent through the process, but Koji could see the closed off expression on his brother's face didn’t bode well for him. His brother was angry. So angry, his hands were shaking as they placed a bandage on Koji’s leg.

“Don’t overreact,” Koji said, when Tama finished. “I’m sure this is nothing.”

“Ogun, take him home,” Tama said, closing the first aid box and getting to his feet. “No stopovers.”

“Come on,” Koji jumped to his feet, wincing at the sting of pain that sliced through him. “Don’t do this, Tama. Please.”

“Someone just tried to kill you,” Tama snapped, taking Koji’s left hand. He led him to a secondary exit in his office that opened into a stairwell leading to the roof. “I need you at home, where no one can reach you.”

Koji tried to shake off his brother’s hold, but the man seemed possessed with superhuman strength. The struggle was futile. Behind him was Ogun his hand firmly on Koji’s back, helping Tama. They reached the roof just as a helicopter landed.

Koji cursed.

“This damn family name is a burden. I swear, Tama, keeping me locked up is called abuse, not protection.”

“Fight me all you want, I can take it. I’m not going to let them take you away from me,” Tama warned.

He pushed Koji into Ogun’s arms, and Koji was left with no choice but to let Ogun lead him to the waiting helicopter. In minutes, he was strapped in and the helicopter hovered above Tama, whipping his hair into a mad frenzy.

The fierce anger in Tama’s eyes made Koji worry that his brother would never allow him the freedom to be out here again.

“I’m sorry,” Ogun said into his ear, and Koji turned to face him. “The woman in Kamakura—”

“I’ll find another way to see her,” Koji said, his fists clenched with determination. “I won’t be stuck at home forever. Surely even Tama knows that.”

Ogun sighed and Koji ignored him, settling into his seat as the helicopter flew them to his gilded cage.

***

IV - The Head of the Sukiyama Clan

“You’re as evil as they are,” the accusation was full of pain. “You spend all your time protecting your family, but when it comes down to it, you’re no different from the bastards blackmailing me.”

“Is that why you betrayed us?” Tama asked, his tone cold.

His dark gaze hard as he stared at the elegant woman standing in his office. He wanted to rip out her throat. How dare she provide a way in for his enemies?

Darkness boiled under his skin. She wasn’t wrong. He could be as deadly as Takino Yuki. However, reigning in his savage tendencies, he decided control would be to his advantage. He needed her cooperation. Otherwise, the culprits behind the shoot out downstairs would go free. Still, there was a limit to his kindness too. Thinking about the scrape on Koji’s leg, he swallowed down bile.

Taking in a deep breath, Tama put his hands in his pockets.

“You know what to expect from the Sukiyama Group. As of this moment, you are expelled from the board. All assets afforded to you by the company reclaimed. You’re a traitor, Teri Aoyagi. I will make sure you’re well and truly branded as such.”

“Monster,” Teri screamed. “Don’t leave me without a way out. You’re destroying my family.”

Tama took in her accusations.

Her beautiful face, cold and calculating. She wasn’t innocent. He wondered how he hadn’t seen it before. She had known how to hide her treachery. He had missed something with this woman. He could not afford to miss it again with the others.

Turning away from her shrieks, he ordered, “Get her off my property.”

His security wasted no time. By the time Tama reclaimed his chair behind the large desk by the windows, the room was empty except for one man.

Shou Kazama.

Ogun and Shou both grew up at the estate. Shou lost his mother in the deadly raid at the Sukiyama Estate twelve years ago. Ogun lost his father.

Tama trusted them with his family because they understood him.

Tama picked up the pictures on his desk. Shou had found them in Teri's office. They were of Koji coming in and out of the Shisei Gallery in Hamamatsu. It was sometimes too easy to follow Koji, thanks to his love of reinvented kimonos and yukatas. Tama had a dozen pictures of Koji in all kinds of kimono tops worn over faded jeans, ripped jeans, paint-stained jeans.

Lord, his little brother was a fashion statement.

“She handed them Koji’s routes to the Shisei Gallery from the company’s building. The times he visits the gallery. How long he stays on Wednesdays, and if he comes to see you, what would be written on your schedule,” Shou said into the ensuing silence. “Their plan might have worked had Ogun not been with him. I ordered the estate’s security to stop Koji from leaving.”

“They are called Plexus, their ties to the black market are deep,” Shou Kazama said. “Koji’s art has become popular. They might have wanted to take him for his art, or to leverage him against you. Plexus was blackmailing Teri, threatening her family, so that she would get the information they needed.”

“My family’s safety comes first,” Tama reiterated. “She should have approached me before the situation got to this. She’s a liability now. I expect you to manage the fallout with board members and the staff.”

“Yes, of course,” Shou said with a nod. “We’ll run new investigations into the board members. This will not happen again.”

“I’m concerned it happened at all,” Tama sighed. “Plexus is bold. Takino Yuki must be pouring money into their activities. We need to work harder with our own investigation into Yuki. Twelve years, and still nothing. It’s disheartening. As for Koji, stop all his visits to the gallery. Divert all shipments to the estate, have him check them there and return them.”

“But Sir—,” Shou started.

“No arguments,” Tama said. “Koji stays safe. Too many people think they can get to him. That woman you just took away was very close to handing him over to Plexus. We need to be careful.”

Shou frowned, clearly wanting to argue.

Tama understood his reluctance.

Koji was going to get difficult about this decision. They were all in for a strenuous couple of weeks. Koji could get very creative in his escapes.

“I’ll talk to him,” Tama promised. “I’ll make him understand.”

“He’ll listen but will definitely act to the opposite of what you say,” Shou said. “Ogun might really quit this time.”

Ogun was Koji’s primary bodyguard. He was the one who oversaw Koji’s safety, so they ended up spending a lot of time together.

“Let me handle it,” Tama insisted. “For now, clean up this mess. The board will be nervous, let’s get to reassuring them.”

When Shou left, Tama let out a huge sigh and walked to the bar in the corner. He poured himself a glass of whiskey and took a healthy sip, welcoming the burn.

Twelve years of dealing with betrayals and it still left a bad taste in his mouth.

How many more would come?

Placing the glass on the smooth counter, he reached up to loosen his tie and walked to the floor length windows. The city continued its afternoon. Ignorant of the many intrigues happening behind closed doors. Hands in his pockets, Tama took in the busy scene below and allowed it to calm him.

He was going to need a clear head tonight.

Koji was not going to be happy about the new rules. Their relationship was reaching new heights of conflict. Tama was finding it harder to keep the secrets of their past hidden. Koji’s questions about their parents were relentless. Questions that required answers Tama wasn’t ready to give yet.

Tama couldn’t help wishing Koji were still fourteen. Those days, the only thing they argued about was mud tracks in the house, untidy bedrooms, and doing homework. Oh yes, and trimming hair. Koji had an extreme aversion to scissors. It was a fight getting his hair trimmed.

Such mundane arguments, Tama missed them.

Now Koji was twenty, almost twenty-one. He wanted to get out of the estate more. He wanted to find out why their parents died. He spent his time training with deadly weapons in the basement. Swords, daggers, guns, Tama barely saw the young boy he had protected for most of his life. How could he make Koji understand that he was the most important piece on the board? If anyone dared hurt Koji, a monster would be born.

Closing his eyes, memories that haunted his dreams filled his mind and he opened his eyes fast.

Maybe he was wrong in keeping the truth of that night from Koji.

Saya was forbidden from telling Koji the truth. Since, Tama was now the Seiryu Spirit’s guardian, Saya followed Tama’s wishes. The only thing they had decided to tell Koji was that Takino Yuki murdered their parents. Keeping the rest a secret, remained a heavy burden. One that got harder each time Koji asked why Yuki would kill their parents.

Why Yuki was free? Why Koji couldn't remember their mother? Tama worried about that last bit most. He worried what would happen to Koji if he remembered their mother's death.

Letting another sigh escape, Tama suddenly felt like heading home. He needed to see Koji to reassure himself that they had survived another day.

***

V – The Devil & the Grim

Exhausted, Koji fell asleep on the couch in the living room while he waited for Tama. When he woke up, it was to find Tama sitting on the edge of the coffee table watching him.

Koji couldn’t help noting the dark circles under Tama’s eyes. His brother wasn’t sleeping again.

“You should rest,” Koji said, closing his eyes. “You look like you’re hauling the weight of the world.”

“I am. Is your leg hurting?” Tama asked.

Koji opened his eyes to meet his brother’s gaze, and wondered. Beyond this estate, where people had freedom, did they also get big brothers who were obsessed with safety?

“My leg is fine. I waited for you here because I’m afraid of what you’re going to do. Ogun says I shouldn’t go to the gallery anymore,” Koji said. “We’ve been through this before. You promised you would not tie me up, Nii-san.”

“Today was a hard day, Koji,” Tama said. “Aoyagi helped Plexus find your schedule. They had a plan to grab you. When it looked impossible, they tried to kill you. That this happened at all is enough to make me worry. Can’t you be good?”

“I want a life out there,” Koji complained, sitting up to face his brother. “Do you think it’s fair for you to keep me here this way? It feels like a bad joke.”

“This is no joke, Koji,” Tama snapped. “Your life was in danger today, that’s all I know. It still is, so yes, your gallery visits are cancelled.”

“Cancelled?” Koji scoffed. “Am I acting in some bad television show so that you cancel my appearances?”

“Joke all you want. My decision is final. Ogun will arrange to bring the shipments here. You can make your selections that way.”

“No.” Koji refused to allow this tyranny back.

It was ridiculous shipping crates all the way to the secluded island they called a home, and then flying them to the Shisei.

“You’ve clearly gone insane. I feel like this is hell and you’re the devil devising new ways to torture me.”

“I’ll be anything to ensure your safety,” Tama stated. “Don’t give Ogun a hard time about this. Stay within the estate, Koji.”

“How long will you imprison me this time?” Koji asked.

Koji moved to stand up, but his head spun, and the living room danced. He paused, feeling dizzy. Tama got to his feet and came to help him, but Koji waved him off. He didn’t want his big brother’s comfort today. Tama ignored his protests and simply took his right upper arm, helping Koji to his feet.

“I don’t do this to punish you,” Tama said, letting go of Koji’s arm when Koji jerked away.

Tama sat on the couch.

“Koji, having you hurt, kidnapped, or killed is a constant nightmare for me. I will do anything, anything, to keep you out of harm’s way. So, I can take you hating me if it means nothing happens to you.”

Koji closed his eyes, biting his lip.

What was he supposed to do with a comment like that?

Giving Tama a sour look, he turned and left the living room. He was going to sleep more. Obviously, the opportunity to talk to that woman in Kamakura was lost. Once Tama started a lock down, it would likely last a month.

Koji didn’t hate his brother, but the urge to lash out was growing too fast.

Soon, Koji thought, this estate was going to turn him into a crazy human beastie.

***

“I’m the devil to him,” Tama said to Saya when he found her resting at the kitchen table. “Can you imagine that comparison? Does he mean we’re in hell?”

“He’s angry,” Saya soothed.

She sipped on green tea. Each sip she took with a grimace, and that brought a smile to the young woman leaning on the counter watching her. Her name was Tomoyo.

Tama felt his heart squeeze at the sight of her, and once again thanked the lucky stars that had brought her into their lives. He didn’t know what he would do without her.

As though sensing his thoughts, Tomoyo looked at him, treating him to a wide smile. She set his heart to dancing.

“Don’t think too hard, Tama,” Saya was saying. “Koji is just upset. He will get over it.”

“Listen to Saya. She’s the grim to Koji. So, the grim and the devil in the same house, what an interesting time we should be having,” Tomoyo said, with a twinkle in her eyes. “How close was it, Tama?”

“Aoyagi handed them Koji’s schedule. Detailed chunks of how long Koji stays in the corporate building to the times Koji visits the gallery. The gun shots left me breathless, for a moment, I thought they got him.”

“Aoyagi must have someone in the security team to even know Koji visited you at the offices today,” Saya said. “We could have a mole on our side as well. Have they checked the teams thoroughly?”

“Ogun checked and cleared this side,” Tama said. “The schedule wasn’t accurate, but made from observing Koji. We’ve made his presence at the gallery too much of a routine. It has to stop now.”

“Don’t ground him here,” Tomoyo said, shaking her head.

She came to sit at the kitchen table too. Picking up the sake bottle on a tray, she poured some into Tama’s cup.

“Tama, please give Koji space, he’s chafing as it is. You’ll be making life difficult for everyone.”

“What am I to do?” Tama asked, tossing back the shot of sake first. “Koji can’t be running around Ginza.”

“Have him out elsewhere,” Saya said then.

Her comment had Tama narrowing his gaze in suspicion.

Saya’s suggestions were always full of mischief. Shaking his head, Tama pointed a finger at her.

"You are not going to talk me out of my decision. Koji needs to stay safe in this estate, where no one can find him. That’s final.”

***

***