J'ai du mal à y croire
"Aniki."
Tagami turned his head and took the paper out of Fukuoka's hand (given name: Takuya) expecting a warrant from the police but turned out confused to see a "wanted" flier. "I thought we established that I am here to make money, not to do work."
"More than several of the clients from our district have been sending this forward. I have been rejecting them for quite some time now but since they are so determined to get this someplace, you may as well have a look at it and decline on your own announcement."
"Hmm!" Tagami removed his hat and tossed it away, letting it frisbee somewhere across the lounge, and then shrugged off his coat. Fukuoka took it to hang while Tagami inspected the flier. "The search for the kidnapper of an American?"
Fukuoka sighed and nodded, straightening Tagami's coat while it hung. "You should make that announcement as soon as you can or this will continue to flood our priorities."
"I'm curious. Why are our clients expressing concern over a missing American? I am surprised we did not get fingers pointed at us instead."
"One of the popular prostitutes has been spreading this around. She is friends with the American's family and she is helping pass out leaflets, promising that she will get us to help."
Tagami smiled and rubbed his lip, cocking his head to the side. "That is bold of her to promise."
Fukuoka rolled his eyes to the side and folded his arms, shifting all of his weight onto his right leg. "She encountered a number of us on the street earlier with the Americans, requesting to meet with someone higher up in our organization. We knew who they were so we said no. I myself told them to get lost."
"The person who was kidnapped, who was it?"
Fukuoka scowled, looking disappointed. "Surely you're not taking this seriously."
"Does that mean you didn't ask?"
A pause. "No, I did not ask."
Tagami glanced up from the flier, grinning. "You said the prostitute was here earlier with the family? Who is she? Where are they now?"
"They are still outside but I think the strumpet has departed," Fukuoka grumbled. "You didn't see them on the way here?"
"No. If they came up to you why hadn't they approached me?"
"I told them not to."
"You are too strict, my friend." Tagami smiled and clapped Fukuoka's shoulder. "Come, Fuu-kun! You are coming down with me to speak with them and you will apologize for your rudeness. Tell Satoh, Nagata and Kato to join us, and then tell them to ready more men around the wards. We will be going to Shibuya."
Fukuoka sighed and retrieved Tagami's coat again, opening it up for him to slide his arms through. "Yes."
-
When they had approached, it was not precisely an alarming site but still an intimidating one. Tagami strode over with a listless expression, flanked by his men with Kato and Nagata to his right, and Fukuoka and Satoh to his left. Despite the cold no hats were worn; they wanted to be seen.
Edith and Wayne Sheldon came across street Yakuza on a daily basis having lived in Tokyo for so long, but even with so many sights and encounters, they weren't sure which was more unnerving: many Yakuza or few. Many of them meant something was going on but few of them meant that something was going on secretly.
As soon as Tagami held his hand out for a shake, he smiled. The Sheldons were slightly taken aback but they went with it, taking turns with shaking his hand as they bowed, nearly doubled over. Tagami was charmed right away.
"I would like to speak with you regarding the fliers you have passed out. Tell me, please, how do you work?"
Wayne blinked and immediately became nervous behind his glasses, mouth beginning to feel a bit dry. "We are both already past fifty-five years old; we do not work anymore. I used to be a driving instructor, and my wife was a singer and an actress."
"Ah," Tagami nodded, keeping up the smile. He looked at Edith and asked her as fondly and lightly as possible, "Do you still sing?"
Edith shook her head quickly. "Goodness, no.."
"Eeh," Wayne stammered out, looking down at the thick stack of fliers , "Ah.."
"Please call me Masanari," Tagami bowed his head. His employees frowned at the thought of his given name being tossed around like salad.
"Masanari-sa--"
"Just Masanari." An invisible knife cut another smile onto Tagami's face. "As retirees you are of no threat to me, but we must keep this matter, ah, cloak and dagger as they say. Please, come join us in our bar." He made gestures towards the according people, "This is Kato, this is Satoh, and this is Fukuoka. If I am not mistaken, Fukuoka has not behaved well to you, so he must apologize."
"Oh! Oh no," Edith put her hands up to her chest, shaking her head quickly.
Wayne held onto his wife in both protection and fear, "We don't need that. We just want help to find our younger daughter--"
"Younger daughter? You are her parents, I see. How old is she? How many siblings does she have?"
"She's twenty-eight.. Her older sister is thirty-six." Wayne swallowed. "We have a picture of her."
"A picture would be most helpful. And you have one of the kidnapper," Tagami stuck two fingers in his pocket and tugged out the folded flier just a little bit, to demonstrate his attention to the situation.
-
"So," Tagami allowed the Sheldons into the bar first. "Take a good look around. These are the men that will be helping you find your daughter and her kidnapper. Do you understand?" Tagami placed his hands on the couple's shoulders and hissed "Tss!" for attention. Everyone in the bar looked up. Speaking to them quietly, he told the American couple, "Hold up one of your fliers and let them pass it around."
Edith nodded and took one of the papers, shakily holding it out to the closest man in the bar. He was apathetic until Tagami held up his pinky finger, wiggling it, tacitly and successfully planting his threat.
He spoke loud and clearly in Japanese: "If you find this man, handle him. You are to assist this couple in recovering their daughter, ask no questions."
While he spoke, the Sheldons found themselves in fearful awe of the company around them. Despite the fact that every man wore a suit, the hierarchy was clear in both seating arrangement and physical characteristics. Those higher in rank and favor sat at the bar or close to it, while the others with scars and missing fingers sat around. More than a quarter of the people in the room seemed to be chain smokers given the filled ashtrays, and if anyone sat a certain way, the tattoos could be seen peeking out above their collars. Other than that, they looked relatively normal.
"Come now, to my office. We'll make more copies of your leaflets and we'll go to hand these out." Tagami pat their arms cheerfully and walked the Sheldons through the congregation. The couple was amazed at how the men got out of the way just for him.
Once inside the office (or rather, lounge), Tagami made a gesture for Kato to shut the door. Satoh took one of the fliers and immediately went to make copies. Tagami took a seat on one end of one of the couches and motioned for the Sheldons to join him. Edith sat opposite and Wayne sat in the middle.
Tagami crossed his legs, clasping his hands together. "Please forgive me for asking so late, but what are your names?"
"My name is Wayne Sheldon," Wayne nodded, "and this is my wife, Edith."
Tagami raised his brows, pleased for some reason. "Ah. And your daughter's name is?"
"Fiona. Her older sister's name is Colleen.." Edith trailed off, cautious and worried if she had given away unnecessary information.
"What pretty names." Tagami nodded and smiled, trying to get the two to relax with approval. "Do you all live in Tokyo?"
"No, s--Masanari," Edith smiled weakly. "Colleen lives with her husband and our grandchildren in New Zealand. Wayne and I are the only ones who can be here for Fiona.."
"How is Fiona connected to, ah.." Tagami tapped his pocket, trying to recall the kidnapper's name. "Makoto?"
"They were dating each other," Wayne admitted sadly, looking down as Edith held his hand. "He visited our house and we let them alone. Next thing, we heard Fiona screaming and we when to check what was going on, they were gone."
Edith shriveled up slightly. "We went to Makoto's apartment to see if he had taken her there, but there was nothing unusual. His passport and wallet were still there, it was as though he simply disappeared with nothing but the clothes on his back and our daughter.."
"When did that happen?" Tagami asked.
"Three months ago," Edith rubbed her nose, glancing away.
Tagami shot Fukuoka a look. Fukuoka looked away. "I am deeply sorry for such a delayed reaction."
"We understand." Wayne smiled weakly, nodding. "Oh! I'm sorry, I almost forgot.. At my old age.." He reached into his coat and slowly slid out two bottles of sake, holding them out carefully. "Please."
"No, Wayne." Tagami shook his head and held a hand up. "We do not want any gifts. We do not want anything for this."
"Oh, please, Masanari," Wayne swallowed thickly, pleading, "My daughter told me that in Japan, when we meet people who are friends, we are supposed to take them a gift."
Tagami paused and smiled again, delighted. "In that case, we will have to accept." He snapped his fingers, prompting Kato and Fukuoka to each take a bottle and put it away.
"Ah..." Edith watched, still nervous.
"Do you plan on distributing our fliers?" Wayne asked, patting his own chest, as though it would help him breathe better.
"No." Tagami shook his head. "The fliers are not our business, but we will take you to our areas and you can deliver them yourself. We will escort you two to the Shibuya crossing. If any police ask what you are doing, you must tell them that you are doing a job for us and that you are there with our blessing."
The old couple nodded. "What about the Yakuza in other districts? That is, if it would be possible..."
"It is possible. I will inform my network." Tagami nodded reassuringly. "They will keep their eyes peeled. I have to say that it will be difficult to get anywhere without a passport and the general contents of a wallet, but I anticipate that he has been using saved or stolen cash to get by. I would even guess he went for cosmetic surgery to escape getting caught."
"Will he be found?" Edith asked quietly, worriedly.
"You will know when he is. If we find him we will take care of him." Tagami grinned. "Your next meeting with Makoto will be in a hospital."
-
Two black cars took the Sheldons to Shibuya crossing. The Yakuza waited while they got out and handed away their fliers, and at one point a group of young men had shoved past them without showing any concern for the papers. Satoh got out of the car and followed them. A few minutes later, they returned to the Sheldons, apologizing and asking for leaflets. Wayne and Edith lingered there until all of the copies of their fliers were gone, and were able to return after a mere hour's time.
On the ride back, the Sheldons spent another hour with Tagami before finally asking, "Why are you doing this?"
The boss struck a blank look and could only smile and laugh sheepishly before answering.
"i have never had a daughter but i do have a family whom i would do the exact same for."
Tagami turned his head and took the paper out of Fukuoka's hand (given name: Takuya) expecting a warrant from the police but turned out confused to see a "wanted" flier. "I thought we established that I am here to make money, not to do work."
"More than several of the clients from our district have been sending this forward. I have been rejecting them for quite some time now but since they are so determined to get this someplace, you may as well have a look at it and decline on your own announcement."
"Hmm!" Tagami removed his hat and tossed it away, letting it frisbee somewhere across the lounge, and then shrugged off his coat. Fukuoka took it to hang while Tagami inspected the flier. "The search for the kidnapper of an American?"
Fukuoka sighed and nodded, straightening Tagami's coat while it hung. "You should make that announcement as soon as you can or this will continue to flood our priorities."
"I'm curious. Why are our clients expressing concern over a missing American? I am surprised we did not get fingers pointed at us instead."
"One of the popular prostitutes has been spreading this around. She is friends with the American's family and she is helping pass out leaflets, promising that she will get us to help."
Tagami smiled and rubbed his lip, cocking his head to the side. "That is bold of her to promise."
Fukuoka rolled his eyes to the side and folded his arms, shifting all of his weight onto his right leg. "She encountered a number of us on the street earlier with the Americans, requesting to meet with someone higher up in our organization. We knew who they were so we said no. I myself told them to get lost."
"The person who was kidnapped, who was it?"
Fukuoka scowled, looking disappointed. "Surely you're not taking this seriously."
"Does that mean you didn't ask?"
A pause. "No, I did not ask."
Tagami glanced up from the flier, grinning. "You said the prostitute was here earlier with the family? Who is she? Where are they now?"
"They are still outside but I think the strumpet has departed," Fukuoka grumbled. "You didn't see them on the way here?"
"No. If they came up to you why hadn't they approached me?"
"I told them not to."
"You are too strict, my friend." Tagami smiled and clapped Fukuoka's shoulder. "Come, Fuu-kun! You are coming down with me to speak with them and you will apologize for your rudeness. Tell Satoh, Nagata and Kato to join us, and then tell them to ready more men around the wards. We will be going to Shibuya."
Fukuoka sighed and retrieved Tagami's coat again, opening it up for him to slide his arms through. "Yes."
-
When they had approached, it was not precisely an alarming site but still an intimidating one. Tagami strode over with a listless expression, flanked by his men with Kato and Nagata to his right, and Fukuoka and Satoh to his left. Despite the cold no hats were worn; they wanted to be seen.
Edith and Wayne Sheldon came across street Yakuza on a daily basis having lived in Tokyo for so long, but even with so many sights and encounters, they weren't sure which was more unnerving: many Yakuza or few. Many of them meant something was going on but few of them meant that something was going on secretly.
As soon as Tagami held his hand out for a shake, he smiled. The Sheldons were slightly taken aback but they went with it, taking turns with shaking his hand as they bowed, nearly doubled over. Tagami was charmed right away.
"I would like to speak with you regarding the fliers you have passed out. Tell me, please, how do you work?"
Wayne blinked and immediately became nervous behind his glasses, mouth beginning to feel a bit dry. "We are both already past fifty-five years old; we do not work anymore. I used to be a driving instructor, and my wife was a singer and an actress."
"Ah," Tagami nodded, keeping up the smile. He looked at Edith and asked her as fondly and lightly as possible, "Do you still sing?"
Edith shook her head quickly. "Goodness, no.."
"Eeh," Wayne stammered out, looking down at the thick stack of fliers , "Ah.."
"Please call me Masanari," Tagami bowed his head. His employees frowned at the thought of his given name being tossed around like salad.
"Masanari-sa--"
"Just Masanari." An invisible knife cut another smile onto Tagami's face. "As retirees you are of no threat to me, but we must keep this matter, ah, cloak and dagger as they say. Please, come join us in our bar." He made gestures towards the according people, "This is Kato, this is Satoh, and this is Fukuoka. If I am not mistaken, Fukuoka has not behaved well to you, so he must apologize."
"Oh! Oh no," Edith put her hands up to her chest, shaking her head quickly.
Wayne held onto his wife in both protection and fear, "We don't need that. We just want help to find our younger daughter--"
"Younger daughter? You are her parents, I see. How old is she? How many siblings does she have?"
"She's twenty-eight.. Her older sister is thirty-six." Wayne swallowed. "We have a picture of her."
"A picture would be most helpful. And you have one of the kidnapper," Tagami stuck two fingers in his pocket and tugged out the folded flier just a little bit, to demonstrate his attention to the situation.
-
"So," Tagami allowed the Sheldons into the bar first. "Take a good look around. These are the men that will be helping you find your daughter and her kidnapper. Do you understand?" Tagami placed his hands on the couple's shoulders and hissed "Tss!" for attention. Everyone in the bar looked up. Speaking to them quietly, he told the American couple, "Hold up one of your fliers and let them pass it around."
Edith nodded and took one of the papers, shakily holding it out to the closest man in the bar. He was apathetic until Tagami held up his pinky finger, wiggling it, tacitly and successfully planting his threat.
He spoke loud and clearly in Japanese: "If you find this man, handle him. You are to assist this couple in recovering their daughter, ask no questions."
While he spoke, the Sheldons found themselves in fearful awe of the company around them. Despite the fact that every man wore a suit, the hierarchy was clear in both seating arrangement and physical characteristics. Those higher in rank and favor sat at the bar or close to it, while the others with scars and missing fingers sat around. More than a quarter of the people in the room seemed to be chain smokers given the filled ashtrays, and if anyone sat a certain way, the tattoos could be seen peeking out above their collars. Other than that, they looked relatively normal.
"Come now, to my office. We'll make more copies of your leaflets and we'll go to hand these out." Tagami pat their arms cheerfully and walked the Sheldons through the congregation. The couple was amazed at how the men got out of the way just for him.
Once inside the office (or rather, lounge), Tagami made a gesture for Kato to shut the door. Satoh took one of the fliers and immediately went to make copies. Tagami took a seat on one end of one of the couches and motioned for the Sheldons to join him. Edith sat opposite and Wayne sat in the middle.
Tagami crossed his legs, clasping his hands together. "Please forgive me for asking so late, but what are your names?"
"My name is Wayne Sheldon," Wayne nodded, "and this is my wife, Edith."
Tagami raised his brows, pleased for some reason. "Ah. And your daughter's name is?"
"Fiona. Her older sister's name is Colleen.." Edith trailed off, cautious and worried if she had given away unnecessary information.
"What pretty names." Tagami nodded and smiled, trying to get the two to relax with approval. "Do you all live in Tokyo?"
"No, s--Masanari," Edith smiled weakly. "Colleen lives with her husband and our grandchildren in New Zealand. Wayne and I are the only ones who can be here for Fiona.."
"How is Fiona connected to, ah.." Tagami tapped his pocket, trying to recall the kidnapper's name. "Makoto?"
"They were dating each other," Wayne admitted sadly, looking down as Edith held his hand. "He visited our house and we let them alone. Next thing, we heard Fiona screaming and we when to check what was going on, they were gone."
Edith shriveled up slightly. "We went to Makoto's apartment to see if he had taken her there, but there was nothing unusual. His passport and wallet were still there, it was as though he simply disappeared with nothing but the clothes on his back and our daughter.."
"When did that happen?" Tagami asked.
"Three months ago," Edith rubbed her nose, glancing away.
Tagami shot Fukuoka a look. Fukuoka looked away. "I am deeply sorry for such a delayed reaction."
"We understand." Wayne smiled weakly, nodding. "Oh! I'm sorry, I almost forgot.. At my old age.." He reached into his coat and slowly slid out two bottles of sake, holding them out carefully. "Please."
"No, Wayne." Tagami shook his head and held a hand up. "We do not want any gifts. We do not want anything for this."
"Oh, please, Masanari," Wayne swallowed thickly, pleading, "My daughter told me that in Japan, when we meet people who are friends, we are supposed to take them a gift."
Tagami paused and smiled again, delighted. "In that case, we will have to accept." He snapped his fingers, prompting Kato and Fukuoka to each take a bottle and put it away.
"Ah..." Edith watched, still nervous.
"Do you plan on distributing our fliers?" Wayne asked, patting his own chest, as though it would help him breathe better.
"No." Tagami shook his head. "The fliers are not our business, but we will take you to our areas and you can deliver them yourself. We will escort you two to the Shibuya crossing. If any police ask what you are doing, you must tell them that you are doing a job for us and that you are there with our blessing."
The old couple nodded. "What about the Yakuza in other districts? That is, if it would be possible..."
"It is possible. I will inform my network." Tagami nodded reassuringly. "They will keep their eyes peeled. I have to say that it will be difficult to get anywhere without a passport and the general contents of a wallet, but I anticipate that he has been using saved or stolen cash to get by. I would even guess he went for cosmetic surgery to escape getting caught."
"Will he be found?" Edith asked quietly, worriedly.
"You will know when he is. If we find him we will take care of him." Tagami grinned. "Your next meeting with Makoto will be in a hospital."
-
Two black cars took the Sheldons to Shibuya crossing. The Yakuza waited while they got out and handed away their fliers, and at one point a group of young men had shoved past them without showing any concern for the papers. Satoh got out of the car and followed them. A few minutes later, they returned to the Sheldons, apologizing and asking for leaflets. Wayne and Edith lingered there until all of the copies of their fliers were gone, and were able to return after a mere hour's time.
On the ride back, the Sheldons spent another hour with Tagami before finally asking, "Why are you doing this?"
The boss struck a blank look and could only smile and laugh sheepishly before answering.
"i have never had a daughter but i do have a family whom i would do the exact same for."