Underling
Title: Underling
(or, The Idea Just Wouldn't Leave Me Alone)
Pairing: Hoshino-Makio friendship (sort of), hinted Makio/Sakurakouji
Rating: PG? (There's swearing though. They are yakuza after all.)
Notes: Post-series and post-Makio graduates from that second school he went to
Life as Sakaki Makio was good.
He was the mighty leader of one Japan's, even Asia's, most notorious mafias. If Mikio's soft, but threatening, voice couldn't convince another gang of something, Makio's fists always could. His men were loyal in their demeanor, swift in their actions and fierce with their assignments. He had finally graduated from high school after his second try at it and sometimes even found time to meet up with old friends. Most importantly, Sakurakouji had always been willing to support and help Makio with his school work ("I'm only a phone call away! Don't hesitate, okay?" "...You're serious?").
However, amist all the positives in his life, there was one thorn in Makio's side.
"Catching the operator of this little casino is proving to be quite... difficult. He's a slippery bastard. Whenever we're just about to catch him, he packs up the operation and moves it some where else. By the time the information on the location gets to us, he's gotten paranoid and started the process of moving already. Because his operation is so small, he's able to do so very quickly."
The little casino in question had been popping up in some clubs and lounges in the Kantou Fang's territory - no one else was supposed to do illegal gambling like this. The other gangs knew this, but Makio was smart enough to know it wasn't one of the larger gangs. Real yakuza wouldn't run away. They would stay and fight and try to steal the territory from Makio. But this little casino guy... it was obvious that he was a civilian. He was a complete coward and when threatened with action from the Kantou Fang, he packed up and moved to a different location. It wasn't that the little casino was taking a lot of business, it was the principle. Makio was being snubbed by a guy who wouldn't even face him! The matter had to be dealt with before the other gangs got word of it, or at least starting considering as serious news.
"The problem is our people."
Makio looked up, "'Our people', Mikio?"
"They're too blatant." He saunted further into the room with his perpetual smirk, "They dress like yakuza, and even if they didn't, they carry themselves like it. The information takes too long to get to us because the clients at the clubs and lounges don't want to talk to such obvious yakuza."
"So we need to be more undercover..."
Makio surveyed the group of yakuza in the meeting room, trying to imagine them in something other than designers suits, flashy shirts and expensive jewelry. Something more undercover... khakis? Maybe a pastel sweater?... Gas station sunglasses hooked in their shirt collar, perhaps?...
Slamming his fist down onto the table, Makio couldn't help but yell, "Ah! This is fucked!"
"I know exactly what needs to be done, brother."
Makio glanced at Mikio, and if anything, his smirk had become even creepier.
- - - - - - - -
It had been a long time since Makio has worn his hair down and a plain white button down shirt. Mikio had been firm in making Makio leave behind everything expensive, except for a few key items that would help gain him entrance to the little casino - a Rolex watch, gold ring on his right pointer finger and italian shoes. Mikio had claimed it was the style of 'relaxed wealth'; Makio just felt weird. He had to make small talk with nobodies in the bar so he'd be noticed by the casino guys, try not to yell and be violent like the yakuza boss was and casually show off his watch, ring and shoes. It took a good two hours before a waiter appeared beside Makio, whispering to him that if he'd like, a space in the VIP bar would be made for him - Makio accepted and found the VIP bar to be a much different scene. Whereas the main bar was filled with mostly younger people, the VIP had more middle aged people (some of which Makio was certain were yakuza from other gangs). Occasionally, people would come out of one of the VIP rooms in various states of woe and happiness. As much as Makio wanted to storm into the room and kick some ass, he forced himself to be patient. Mikio told him explicitly what needed to happen, and as Mikio's plans had never failed before, he was willing to do what his little brother told him to for now. Makio talked with the older guys at the bar, trying to figure out exactly how long he'd have to sit around before some one clued him in on the casino in the VIP room. He didn't have to wait long though before the door came crashing open and a body was thrown through the doorway. A waiter happened to be in a lucky spot and was able to catch the person before they fell. From the VIP room, out came four guys, who were obvious trying very hard to dress as the stereotypical yakuza. Key word: trying. It was easy to pick out these kind of guys, all their stuff was knock-offs of expensive brands and they talked big, but rarely did anything they talked about.
"You think we wouldn't fucking notice that the Blackjack was rigged? We weren't born yesterday!"
"Give us our money back, brat!"
The waiter, realizing what was going on, moved out of the way, to behind the bar. The person who had been thrown through the doorway, staggered to his feet, but could barely keep his balance. Seeing this as his opportunity to (1) beat up some fake-yakuza and (2) beat up the guy running the casino, Makio got up from his barstool and approached the fight.
"Hey," two of the fake-yakuza turned their attention to Makio, "Where did you get your shirts? Your grandmother's attic!?"
Kicking one in the stomach and punching the other into the wall, Makio took them out. Before the other two were able to react, Makio picked one up and dropped him, hard, onto a table and the 'leader' of the group was tossed over the bar, taking several glasses and bottles with him.
"And now for you, little dealer."
Makio couldn't help but grin. Oh, he was going to enjoy this. After hours of sitting around, waiting for this moment, he was going to make the most out of every punch.
That's what he thought. Until the dealer looked up and Makio's arm turned into a noodle before it got even halfway to the dealer's face.
"H-H-Hoshino, is that fuckin' you?!"
"Eh? Sakaki?"
The two regarded each other silently for a minute before Makio came back to himself, "What are you doing here?!"
"Umm," Hoshino surveyed the mass chaos of the former-bar around him, not quite sure if he wanted to tell Makio, "...Dealing... Blackjack?"
"You. You're on my turf!"
"Eh, turf?"
Makio grabbed Hoshino's shoulders, "You can't just go around doing this kind of shit! If I was any other yakuza you'd be dead right now!"
The color drained from Hoshino's face, "Dead? Seriously?"
Makio smacked Hoshino upside the head before dragging him out of the VIP bar. He walked right through the regular bar, members of the Kantou Fang getting up and following him out to where Makio's car was waiting. He pushed Hoshino into the back seat before getting in himself.
The drive back to Makio's house was silent. Neither of them talking. Makio's pondering what he was going to do with his former-classmate and Hoshino thinking about how he should have looked into this illegal gambling stuff more thoroughly before he'd started up.
Considering there had technically been a job, the headquarters was fairly quiet. A few guys were awake for guard duty, one in the kitchen making something and a few more watching a movie. Dragging Hoshino by his upper arm, Makio led him through the house to his office, where he let go of Hoshino to go sit down.
Taking out a cigarette and lighting it, he asked, "Are you really so stupid to think that you can just open up shop where ever you want? There are rules about this kind of stuff."
"I only... meant to do it once. Honestly. But people are so easy to trick and cajole into betting more. I didn't think it would be a big deal..."
"It's a huge deal. Do you realize how long I've been trying to find you? I'd come up with a whole plan of how to make you suffer, but then I find out it's you, and my plan is useless. What the fuck am I supposed to do with you? Fuck, Hoshino."
Hoshino didn't say anything. He just kept standing in front of Makio's desk, like a student before the principal, waiting to be punished.
"If word gets out that you were running a casino on my turf, I caught you and then let you go - I'd be asking, begging to be destroyed."
The room was tense. Makio trying to figure out a solution that wasn't killing Hoshino, and Hoshino waiting to get shot in the back of the head. Neither of them expected the door to open and having Sakurakouji come bouncing in wearing his pajamas.
"Hoshino! How are you? It's been so long!"
As to be expected, Hoshino was confused. He really hadn't thought that any one had kept in touch with their 27-year-old-yakuza-boss-classmate, but here stood the undeniable evidence that, at the least, Sakurakouji had kept in touch. (Probably, very close touch from the look of things.)
Makio, on the other hand, was mortified.
"Um, hi, Sakurakouji. Uh, what are you doing here?"
Sakurakouji smiled, "Oh, me? I was-"
"INTERIOR DECORATOR."
Hoshino and Sakurakouji both turned to regard Makio and asked, "What?"
"I hired him!" Makio had to think fast to keep face in front of Hoshino (wait, why Hoshino?) and it was a slow and painful process of shoving his foot into his mouth, "The stuff here! It's old!! Uh, uh, Sakurakouji is our interior decorator!!"
"Didn't you say at graduation that you wanted to study literature?"
"Um," Makio was winking at Sakurakouji, it looked almost painful the way he was doing it, "well... plans... changed?"
"Ok... but why are you wearing pajamas?"
"24 HOURS A DAY JOB."
Sakurakouji laughed nervously and Hoshino looked at Makio, absolutely certain he was insane.
Makio got up from behind the desk, walked to where the pair was and started pushing Sakurakouji towards the door, "Don't you have a rug to measure? Or a vase to polish? Or some new drapes to sew? Don't you, Sakurakouji?"
Figuring this wasn't going to be easy, Sakurakouji braced himself against the doorway and said, "No. I need to make sure you don't do anything drastic to Hoshino."
Makio sighed, feeling like he'd already lost the fight with Sakurakouji and Hoshino shaking was audible. Makio gave up went back to sit at his desk.
"I'm not to kill you, Hoshino. I'm not that heartless."
The statement didn't seem to make Hoshino any more relaxed.
"And I won't get any one else to kill you. No killing, Hoshino. No killing."
Obviously, not very trusting of the yakuza, Hoshino turned to Sakurakouji, who'd planted himself in one of the large, fabric armchairs, silently asking him if Makio would keep his word about this.
Sakurakouji smiled, "Don't worry. Makki's a yakuza, but he doesn't go back on his word. You must remember at least that about him, right? Something will get worked out. Don't worry."
"There are only two options, Hoshino. One we have your death faked. It's a hassle and you'll have to leave the country and get a new name."
Makio looking at Hoshino, waiting for him to ask about the second option, but Hoshino seemed unable to do much of anything at the moment besides be on the brink of wetting himself.
"The other... The other option is that you join the Kantou Fang."
The other occupants of the room said nothing. Hoshino was still in shock over the whole matter and Sakurakouji didn't look pleased with idea of having Hoshino join the Kantou Fang.
"A back story can be easily made to make it seem like you'd been working for me from the very beginning. You would, however, be bound to the gang. You wouldn't be able to quit once this whole matter quieted down."
"Can I... can I have some time to think this over?"
Makio looked at his watch, 3:54am, "Sure. I want to sleep for a while anyways. The butler will show you to a guest room."
As if knowing he'd been mentioned, the elderly butler entered the room, bowed to Makio, and then motioned for Hoshino to follow him out, leaving Sakurakouji and Makio alone in the office.
Sakurakouji got up and moved to stand next to Makio's desk, "Do you really think it's a good idea? Having him join the gang?"
"Of course not! It's a horrible idea, I hate it. But there's not much that can be done." Makio stood up, turning towards Sakurakouji, "I hope to all hell he decides to have his death faked. It's his decision though. I'm going to bed."
Makio left the room from the door in the back, but it took Sakurakouji a moment to collect himself and leave as well.
- - - - - - - -
For Hoshino, morning came too quickly. His night had been spent lying awake in the bed, staring at the ceiling, contemplating his future. No matter which option he chose, he'd be giving everything up. Being a yakuza was no walk in the park - Hoshino had seen how Makio reacted when they were back in high school together and he'd been forced to reveal himself. But moving to a new country and starting his life over wasn't appealing either, especially since his english was limited to cursing and lines from movies.
The butler came to wake him up at 10am and didn't seem surprised to find that Hoshino was already awake. He was given some time to freshen up and then taken back to Makio's office where a table was set up and Makio was eating breakfast. There was an empty chair across from him, so Hoshino sat down.
"Help yourself."
A bowl of eggs and plate of toast were pushed towards Hoshino and the butler filled his glass with milk before leaving the room. The two ate in silence for several minutes - Hoshino was waiting for Makio to start the conversation and Makio didn't want to interrupt his breakfast for this conversation.
"From the bags under your eyes, I assume you didn't sleep well."
(Eating could only be used to stall something for so long.)
"Yeah. Well... you know."
"I know this is hard, Hoshino, but I don't like wasting time. What did you decide?"
Hoshino took a deep breath and repeated the words over to himself, like he'd been doing ever since he came to the decision. But getting them to come out of his mouth was harder than just thinking them to himself. These were his last precious moments as Hoshino Rikuo, he didn't them to end...
"Hoshino."
"I'll join the gang."
Makio regarded Hoshino before replying, "Are you sure? You have to realize that if you join the gang you'll be participating in every type of illegal activity you can think of. Also, I won't be your former class-mate. I'll be your Boss. There will be no special treatment. You'll be under the command and supervision of one of my lieutenants. I'll respect your choice, but I want to you know what it entails."
Even though he was in the process of handing his life over to Makio, Hoshino couldn't bring himself to look at Makio, "I know. I know, Sakaki. Either way, my life is basically ending. Having my death faked and changing my name and having to live in a different country... I couldn't stand the thought of it! I'm Japanese, Sakaki. Japan is my home. I can't go any where else. Even though I'll be a yakuza... I'll still be here. So... so I'll be okay."
"...Alright. Kuroi!"
From the back door, the older yakuza entered and bowed to Makio, "This is one we talked about, Boss?"
"Yes. You know what to do with him." Before Hoshino could freak out, Makio replied, "Appropriate clothing. For the record, Hoshino - when yakuza speak in vague terms, it doesn't always mean something illegal is going on. Go with Kuroi."
"Um, okay." Hoshino stood up and starting walking out of the room, but Makio called to him.
"Hoshino, now you're my underling."
Hoshino turned back, "Don't sound so proud, Saka-"
And before he could finish the name, Kuroi had smacked Hoshino over the head, told him "It's 'Boss' now and you'd better remember that" and pushed him out of the room and left himself.
Makio leaned back in chair and wasn't surprised when the front door to his office opened a quiet voice asked, "Is it over? Can I come in?"
"Yes, come in, Sakurakouji."
The younger smiled and closed the door before sitting himself across from Makio.
"Eh? Did you two eat all the toast, Makio?"
"Don't worry about it. Have some potatoes."
Sakurakouji pouted, "I wanted toast..."
- - - - - - 2 weeks later
In the grand scheme of the world, Hoshino was happy. Whereas Makio had told him he'd be participating in illegal activities, he'd later been told by Kuroi that new recruits, such as Hoshino, weren't given such important tasks for several months, even years, and that for the time being he'd be cleaning and cooking at the headquarters. It wasn't even the illegal parts of the headquarters. He cleaned in the living rooms, sitting rooms, the library (Master Mikio and Sakurakouji were the only ones he'd ever seen in there) and helped prepare the large-batch meals that the members of the gang ate. He found out that the higher ups (Makio The Boss, the younger Master Mikio and Sakurakouji when he was around) ate in the office and the right to cook for them was solely Kazu's. And even though the Boss had told Hoshino he'd get no special treatment, he knew otherwise. The Boss had never explicitly said, "This is Hoshino. We went to high school together for a year! Fuck with him and I'll beat in your face!" but everyone with any standing in the gang remembered him and knew that high school at St.Agnes was a precious memory to the Boss, so that kept him safe from the rough treatment and jobs he'd seen pushed onto the other new recruits.
He had quickly learned there were several things you never questioned; Like what that little storehouse in the corner of the compound was for, or why you could take the bottom out of the fireplace and there was a ladder. But his senpai had told him, very specifically, to never question Sakurakouji's privileges within the headquarters. Hoshino laughed at that and asked, "Is interior decorating that serious?" The senpai looked confused, and then replied, "Oh, yeaaaah, interior decorating. It's uh...well, The Boss is really into it... or something. Just... Just go with it, kid."
end
(or, The Idea Just Wouldn't Leave Me Alone)
Pairing: Hoshino-Makio friendship (sort of), hinted Makio/Sakurakouji
Rating: PG? (There's swearing though. They are yakuza after all.)
Notes: Post-series and post-Makio graduates from that second school he went to
Life as Sakaki Makio was good.
He was the mighty leader of one Japan's, even Asia's, most notorious mafias. If Mikio's soft, but threatening, voice couldn't convince another gang of something, Makio's fists always could. His men were loyal in their demeanor, swift in their actions and fierce with their assignments. He had finally graduated from high school after his second try at it and sometimes even found time to meet up with old friends. Most importantly, Sakurakouji had always been willing to support and help Makio with his school work ("I'm only a phone call away! Don't hesitate, okay?" "...You're serious?").
However, amist all the positives in his life, there was one thorn in Makio's side.
"Catching the operator of this little casino is proving to be quite... difficult. He's a slippery bastard. Whenever we're just about to catch him, he packs up the operation and moves it some where else. By the time the information on the location gets to us, he's gotten paranoid and started the process of moving already. Because his operation is so small, he's able to do so very quickly."
The little casino in question had been popping up in some clubs and lounges in the Kantou Fang's territory - no one else was supposed to do illegal gambling like this. The other gangs knew this, but Makio was smart enough to know it wasn't one of the larger gangs. Real yakuza wouldn't run away. They would stay and fight and try to steal the territory from Makio. But this little casino guy... it was obvious that he was a civilian. He was a complete coward and when threatened with action from the Kantou Fang, he packed up and moved to a different location. It wasn't that the little casino was taking a lot of business, it was the principle. Makio was being snubbed by a guy who wouldn't even face him! The matter had to be dealt with before the other gangs got word of it, or at least starting considering as serious news.
"The problem is our people."
Makio looked up, "'Our people', Mikio?"
"They're too blatant." He saunted further into the room with his perpetual smirk, "They dress like yakuza, and even if they didn't, they carry themselves like it. The information takes too long to get to us because the clients at the clubs and lounges don't want to talk to such obvious yakuza."
"So we need to be more undercover..."
Makio surveyed the group of yakuza in the meeting room, trying to imagine them in something other than designers suits, flashy shirts and expensive jewelry. Something more undercover... khakis? Maybe a pastel sweater?... Gas station sunglasses hooked in their shirt collar, perhaps?...
Slamming his fist down onto the table, Makio couldn't help but yell, "Ah! This is fucked!"
"I know exactly what needs to be done, brother."
Makio glanced at Mikio, and if anything, his smirk had become even creepier.
- - - - - - - -
It had been a long time since Makio has worn his hair down and a plain white button down shirt. Mikio had been firm in making Makio leave behind everything expensive, except for a few key items that would help gain him entrance to the little casino - a Rolex watch, gold ring on his right pointer finger and italian shoes. Mikio had claimed it was the style of 'relaxed wealth'; Makio just felt weird. He had to make small talk with nobodies in the bar so he'd be noticed by the casino guys, try not to yell and be violent like the yakuza boss was and casually show off his watch, ring and shoes. It took a good two hours before a waiter appeared beside Makio, whispering to him that if he'd like, a space in the VIP bar would be made for him - Makio accepted and found the VIP bar to be a much different scene. Whereas the main bar was filled with mostly younger people, the VIP had more middle aged people (some of which Makio was certain were yakuza from other gangs). Occasionally, people would come out of one of the VIP rooms in various states of woe and happiness. As much as Makio wanted to storm into the room and kick some ass, he forced himself to be patient. Mikio told him explicitly what needed to happen, and as Mikio's plans had never failed before, he was willing to do what his little brother told him to for now. Makio talked with the older guys at the bar, trying to figure out exactly how long he'd have to sit around before some one clued him in on the casino in the VIP room. He didn't have to wait long though before the door came crashing open and a body was thrown through the doorway. A waiter happened to be in a lucky spot and was able to catch the person before they fell. From the VIP room, out came four guys, who were obvious trying very hard to dress as the stereotypical yakuza. Key word: trying. It was easy to pick out these kind of guys, all their stuff was knock-offs of expensive brands and they talked big, but rarely did anything they talked about.
"You think we wouldn't fucking notice that the Blackjack was rigged? We weren't born yesterday!"
"Give us our money back, brat!"
The waiter, realizing what was going on, moved out of the way, to behind the bar. The person who had been thrown through the doorway, staggered to his feet, but could barely keep his balance. Seeing this as his opportunity to (1) beat up some fake-yakuza and (2) beat up the guy running the casino, Makio got up from his barstool and approached the fight.
"Hey," two of the fake-yakuza turned their attention to Makio, "Where did you get your shirts? Your grandmother's attic!?"
Kicking one in the stomach and punching the other into the wall, Makio took them out. Before the other two were able to react, Makio picked one up and dropped him, hard, onto a table and the 'leader' of the group was tossed over the bar, taking several glasses and bottles with him.
"And now for you, little dealer."
Makio couldn't help but grin. Oh, he was going to enjoy this. After hours of sitting around, waiting for this moment, he was going to make the most out of every punch.
That's what he thought. Until the dealer looked up and Makio's arm turned into a noodle before it got even halfway to the dealer's face.
"H-H-Hoshino, is that fuckin' you?!"
"Eh? Sakaki?"
The two regarded each other silently for a minute before Makio came back to himself, "What are you doing here?!"
"Umm," Hoshino surveyed the mass chaos of the former-bar around him, not quite sure if he wanted to tell Makio, "...Dealing... Blackjack?"
"You. You're on my turf!"
"Eh, turf?"
Makio grabbed Hoshino's shoulders, "You can't just go around doing this kind of shit! If I was any other yakuza you'd be dead right now!"
The color drained from Hoshino's face, "Dead? Seriously?"
Makio smacked Hoshino upside the head before dragging him out of the VIP bar. He walked right through the regular bar, members of the Kantou Fang getting up and following him out to where Makio's car was waiting. He pushed Hoshino into the back seat before getting in himself.
The drive back to Makio's house was silent. Neither of them talking. Makio's pondering what he was going to do with his former-classmate and Hoshino thinking about how he should have looked into this illegal gambling stuff more thoroughly before he'd started up.
Considering there had technically been a job, the headquarters was fairly quiet. A few guys were awake for guard duty, one in the kitchen making something and a few more watching a movie. Dragging Hoshino by his upper arm, Makio led him through the house to his office, where he let go of Hoshino to go sit down.
Taking out a cigarette and lighting it, he asked, "Are you really so stupid to think that you can just open up shop where ever you want? There are rules about this kind of stuff."
"I only... meant to do it once. Honestly. But people are so easy to trick and cajole into betting more. I didn't think it would be a big deal..."
"It's a huge deal. Do you realize how long I've been trying to find you? I'd come up with a whole plan of how to make you suffer, but then I find out it's you, and my plan is useless. What the fuck am I supposed to do with you? Fuck, Hoshino."
Hoshino didn't say anything. He just kept standing in front of Makio's desk, like a student before the principal, waiting to be punished.
"If word gets out that you were running a casino on my turf, I caught you and then let you go - I'd be asking, begging to be destroyed."
The room was tense. Makio trying to figure out a solution that wasn't killing Hoshino, and Hoshino waiting to get shot in the back of the head. Neither of them expected the door to open and having Sakurakouji come bouncing in wearing his pajamas.
"Hoshino! How are you? It's been so long!"
As to be expected, Hoshino was confused. He really hadn't thought that any one had kept in touch with their 27-year-old-yakuza-boss-classmate, but here stood the undeniable evidence that, at the least, Sakurakouji had kept in touch. (Probably, very close touch from the look of things.)
Makio, on the other hand, was mortified.
"Um, hi, Sakurakouji. Uh, what are you doing here?"
Sakurakouji smiled, "Oh, me? I was-"
"INTERIOR DECORATOR."
Hoshino and Sakurakouji both turned to regard Makio and asked, "What?"
"I hired him!" Makio had to think fast to keep face in front of Hoshino (wait, why Hoshino?) and it was a slow and painful process of shoving his foot into his mouth, "The stuff here! It's old!! Uh, uh, Sakurakouji is our interior decorator!!"
"Didn't you say at graduation that you wanted to study literature?"
"Um," Makio was winking at Sakurakouji, it looked almost painful the way he was doing it, "well... plans... changed?"
"Ok... but why are you wearing pajamas?"
"24 HOURS A DAY JOB."
Sakurakouji laughed nervously and Hoshino looked at Makio, absolutely certain he was insane.
Makio got up from behind the desk, walked to where the pair was and started pushing Sakurakouji towards the door, "Don't you have a rug to measure? Or a vase to polish? Or some new drapes to sew? Don't you, Sakurakouji?"
Figuring this wasn't going to be easy, Sakurakouji braced himself against the doorway and said, "No. I need to make sure you don't do anything drastic to Hoshino."
Makio sighed, feeling like he'd already lost the fight with Sakurakouji and Hoshino shaking was audible. Makio gave up went back to sit at his desk.
"I'm not to kill you, Hoshino. I'm not that heartless."
The statement didn't seem to make Hoshino any more relaxed.
"And I won't get any one else to kill you. No killing, Hoshino. No killing."
Obviously, not very trusting of the yakuza, Hoshino turned to Sakurakouji, who'd planted himself in one of the large, fabric armchairs, silently asking him if Makio would keep his word about this.
Sakurakouji smiled, "Don't worry. Makki's a yakuza, but he doesn't go back on his word. You must remember at least that about him, right? Something will get worked out. Don't worry."
"There are only two options, Hoshino. One we have your death faked. It's a hassle and you'll have to leave the country and get a new name."
Makio looking at Hoshino, waiting for him to ask about the second option, but Hoshino seemed unable to do much of anything at the moment besides be on the brink of wetting himself.
"The other... The other option is that you join the Kantou Fang."
The other occupants of the room said nothing. Hoshino was still in shock over the whole matter and Sakurakouji didn't look pleased with idea of having Hoshino join the Kantou Fang.
"A back story can be easily made to make it seem like you'd been working for me from the very beginning. You would, however, be bound to the gang. You wouldn't be able to quit once this whole matter quieted down."
"Can I... can I have some time to think this over?"
Makio looked at his watch, 3:54am, "Sure. I want to sleep for a while anyways. The butler will show you to a guest room."
As if knowing he'd been mentioned, the elderly butler entered the room, bowed to Makio, and then motioned for Hoshino to follow him out, leaving Sakurakouji and Makio alone in the office.
Sakurakouji got up and moved to stand next to Makio's desk, "Do you really think it's a good idea? Having him join the gang?"
"Of course not! It's a horrible idea, I hate it. But there's not much that can be done." Makio stood up, turning towards Sakurakouji, "I hope to all hell he decides to have his death faked. It's his decision though. I'm going to bed."
Makio left the room from the door in the back, but it took Sakurakouji a moment to collect himself and leave as well.
- - - - - - - -
For Hoshino, morning came too quickly. His night had been spent lying awake in the bed, staring at the ceiling, contemplating his future. No matter which option he chose, he'd be giving everything up. Being a yakuza was no walk in the park - Hoshino had seen how Makio reacted when they were back in high school together and he'd been forced to reveal himself. But moving to a new country and starting his life over wasn't appealing either, especially since his english was limited to cursing and lines from movies.
The butler came to wake him up at 10am and didn't seem surprised to find that Hoshino was already awake. He was given some time to freshen up and then taken back to Makio's office where a table was set up and Makio was eating breakfast. There was an empty chair across from him, so Hoshino sat down.
"Help yourself."
A bowl of eggs and plate of toast were pushed towards Hoshino and the butler filled his glass with milk before leaving the room. The two ate in silence for several minutes - Hoshino was waiting for Makio to start the conversation and Makio didn't want to interrupt his breakfast for this conversation.
"From the bags under your eyes, I assume you didn't sleep well."
(Eating could only be used to stall something for so long.)
"Yeah. Well... you know."
"I know this is hard, Hoshino, but I don't like wasting time. What did you decide?"
Hoshino took a deep breath and repeated the words over to himself, like he'd been doing ever since he came to the decision. But getting them to come out of his mouth was harder than just thinking them to himself. These were his last precious moments as Hoshino Rikuo, he didn't them to end...
"Hoshino."
"I'll join the gang."
Makio regarded Hoshino before replying, "Are you sure? You have to realize that if you join the gang you'll be participating in every type of illegal activity you can think of. Also, I won't be your former class-mate. I'll be your Boss. There will be no special treatment. You'll be under the command and supervision of one of my lieutenants. I'll respect your choice, but I want to you know what it entails."
Even though he was in the process of handing his life over to Makio, Hoshino couldn't bring himself to look at Makio, "I know. I know, Sakaki. Either way, my life is basically ending. Having my death faked and changing my name and having to live in a different country... I couldn't stand the thought of it! I'm Japanese, Sakaki. Japan is my home. I can't go any where else. Even though I'll be a yakuza... I'll still be here. So... so I'll be okay."
"...Alright. Kuroi!"
From the back door, the older yakuza entered and bowed to Makio, "This is one we talked about, Boss?"
"Yes. You know what to do with him." Before Hoshino could freak out, Makio replied, "Appropriate clothing. For the record, Hoshino - when yakuza speak in vague terms, it doesn't always mean something illegal is going on. Go with Kuroi."
"Um, okay." Hoshino stood up and starting walking out of the room, but Makio called to him.
"Hoshino, now you're my underling."
Hoshino turned back, "Don't sound so proud, Saka-"
And before he could finish the name, Kuroi had smacked Hoshino over the head, told him "It's 'Boss' now and you'd better remember that" and pushed him out of the room and left himself.
Makio leaned back in chair and wasn't surprised when the front door to his office opened a quiet voice asked, "Is it over? Can I come in?"
"Yes, come in, Sakurakouji."
The younger smiled and closed the door before sitting himself across from Makio.
"Eh? Did you two eat all the toast, Makio?"
"Don't worry about it. Have some potatoes."
Sakurakouji pouted, "I wanted toast..."
- - - - - - 2 weeks later
In the grand scheme of the world, Hoshino was happy. Whereas Makio had told him he'd be participating in illegal activities, he'd later been told by Kuroi that new recruits, such as Hoshino, weren't given such important tasks for several months, even years, and that for the time being he'd be cleaning and cooking at the headquarters. It wasn't even the illegal parts of the headquarters. He cleaned in the living rooms, sitting rooms, the library (Master Mikio and Sakurakouji were the only ones he'd ever seen in there) and helped prepare the large-batch meals that the members of the gang ate. He found out that the higher ups (Makio The Boss, the younger Master Mikio and Sakurakouji when he was around) ate in the office and the right to cook for them was solely Kazu's. And even though the Boss had told Hoshino he'd get no special treatment, he knew otherwise. The Boss had never explicitly said, "This is Hoshino. We went to high school together for a year! Fuck with him and I'll beat in your face!" but everyone with any standing in the gang remembered him and knew that high school at St.Agnes was a precious memory to the Boss, so that kept him safe from the rough treatment and jobs he'd seen pushed onto the other new recruits.
He had quickly learned there were several things you never questioned; Like what that little storehouse in the corner of the compound was for, or why you could take the bottom out of the fireplace and there was a ladder. But his senpai had told him, very specifically, to never question Sakurakouji's privileges within the headquarters. Hoshino laughed at that and asked, "Is interior decorating that serious?" The senpai looked confused, and then replied, "Oh, yeaaaah, interior decorating. It's uh...well, The Boss is really into it... or something. Just... Just go with it, kid."
end