#mywiting

April 29, 2003

Minoru sat staring at the empty conference table, a long forgotten tumbler of scotch near his right hand that tapped impatiently on the wooden surface.   Minoru was a man that thrived on plans and contingency plans to those plans.  He didn’t like when things didn’t follow their expected path.  Not only had things veered off course, but they had taken twists and turns he hadn’t even considered.  That was what had Minoru in such a foul mood. He prided himself on seeing what no one else did, and the last few months had proven him fallible. 

Since Los Ingobernables had come into their lives Minoru was learning some valuable lessons.  Lessons that tasted like bitter crow at the moment, but he knew they were going to help him become a stronger leader at the end of it all.   He just had to push back at the sting to his pride look at things from an outsider’s perspective. 

The bonds of trust were still tenuous at best between the Guns and Ingos, but they were slowly forming.   The two groups worked rather well together when they weren’t trying to kill each other.   The fact that there hadn’t been any major bloodshed was being counted as a victory in Minoru’s book.  Especially considering more than half of his kobun had wanted to murder Evil over the course of their weapons training.   Minoru was positive the feeling was mutual. 

Taka was very good at what he did, but when it came to Bushi and his intelligence gathering skill the Guns always seemed a step behind, a fact the Ingos delighted in.   It rankled thinking you were the best only to discover you weren’t.   Rather than letting his shortcomings bring him down he was honing his skills, shadowing Bushi on the daily and trying to soak in every bit of knowledge the masked man had.   Minoru had been concerned as Bushi hadn’t seemed willing to share the secrets of his trade, but over the past week or so he had begrudgingly started sharing tidbits with Taka.  

Aside from Evil’s training and Taka’s shadowing of Bushi, Minoru hadn’t seen hide nor hair of the other Ingobernables brethren.   In fact, until a few hours ago he hadn’t heard so much as a peep.   The phone call from Naito had been the precursor for the council meeting Minoru had called.  The reason he was sitting in this empty conference room stewing at being one step behind yet again.   He shouldn’t be receiving news second hand.  How did the Ingos always manage to get one foot up on them?

It was a solemn group who filed into the room one by one, their moods a direct reflection of their boss’s.  They didn’t know what had him in a snarl, but his tone had made it clear he wasn’t to be trifled with. 

“Does anyone care to fill me in on why Tetsuya Naito has to call me to impart information?” Minoru growled flashing a murderous glance around the table, watching as eyes lowered from his and bodies shifted uncomfortably before pinning his glare on Taka.  

Taka shriveled beneath Minoru’s censure, sinking back in his chair and swallowing hard.  

“Tell me Taka, what is Naito coming to tell me?” Minoru asked coldly. 

“I…I don’t know sir.”  Taka said softly lowering his head in shame.  

“Anybody?” Minoru asked turning his sharp eyes on the rest of his kobun.  “Does anybody in this fucking room know anything?”   Rising to his feet and slamming his palms down on the table with a resounding smack as nobody spoke up. 

“Tranquillo Minoru,” Naito’s voice from the doorway had them all spinning towards the sound finding the Los Ingobernables leader leaning insolently against the frame.

“How the fuck do you always get in my goddamn house?”  Minoru shouted throwing his hands up in exasperation. 

“And I will not tranquillo” He spat as he sat back in his seat.  “Not when I’m always in the fucking dark.”

Naito sniffed and cast a disparaging look at the assembled men, making his way to the end of the table and taking a seat, throwing his feet up on the polished surface.

“Yes.  Once again it seems it falls to us to fill you in.”  Naito said with a frown.  “Your lack of….diligence for want of a better word, is troubling my comrades.”  He stared dispassionately at Minoru.  “They’re beginning to question our alliance.   Wondering what you bring to the table?” 

Minoru stayed quiet though he wanted to defend his men.  At this moment he couldn’t.  What had they provided to benefit the Ingos? 

“Evil seems to think we’re doing all the work and you’re getting all the benefit.”  Naito continued.  “He makes a valid point.  And now our families are oh so conveniently bound together.” 

Lance shot to his feet with a growl, sneering at Naito.

“You morons are the ones that insisted on the fucking marriages!” 

“Lance sit down and shut up!  This isn’t the time.” Minoru barked staring down the larger man until he slid back into his seat. 

Naito smirked and nodded in concession to Lance with a slight bow of his head.  

“We came to you because you showed promise.”  Naito said looking around the room.  “I still think you have promise.  My boys are a little more impatient than I am, but they’ll come around.  We are family after all.”  His tooth filled grin earned a snarl from Davey. 

“In case you haven’t noticed we’re in the middle of a fucking war!”  Davey exploded.  “Can you quit wasting time with your bullshit?” 

As Naito stared impassively back at him Davey’s fist clenched, itching to bury themselves in his smug face.  Seeing things quickly escalating Minoru stepped in. 

“Davey’s correct.  Time is of the essence.  We don’t have time for your little games.” Minoru said through gritted teeth.  “Now, did you come here to flagellate us for our shortcomings or do you actually have something to say?” 

Stretching languidly just to irk Minoru’s already frayed temper, Naito slowly lowered his feet to the ground in a big show before getting serious.  

“Chaos imploded two days ago.”  He began ignoring the outbursts the announcement brought.   “Civil war within.  Several high ranking members broke rank and joined up with Bullet Club.  Including Okada’s right hand man Gedo.  Which means you have been given the gift of time.” 

Naito watched their reactions, ranging from utter disbelief to spat curses, Taichi and Kanemaru immediately huddling together and whispering fervently. 

“How do you figure we have more time?”  Zack spoke up.  “The time to strike is now.  While they’re distracted by their own drama we take them down.” 

Naito stared blandly at him before closing his eyes and rubbing his temples and giving an annoyed sigh. 

“Nooo.”  He said drawing out the vowels.  “What you do is sit back, let them fuck each other up and then pick up the pieces.  There’s no sense wasting firepower on them when they can do it themselves.” 

Loud rumblings filled the room, voices throwing their opinions around, talking over each other and quickly escalating to a cacophony of noise.

‘I said what I needed to say.  I have places to be.”  Naito said rising from his seat and heading towards the door.  He paused at the doorway looking back over the room.  “You’re time is running short on providing some benefit to the Ingobernables.  I suggest you start making yourselves useful or we may have to rethink this business arrangement. Things can always happen to sever familial ties.”  

Silence descended as Naito made his proclamation and left, tension in the air as they tried to process both his news and ultimatum. 

“He’s not wrong.”  Desperado said after a few minutes of quiet.  “We’ve done fuck all to benefit the Ingos.  Besides pay them for some guns.”  He shrugged.  “Since Iizuka got shot we’ve been holed up like a bunch of pussies and running around with our tails between our legs.   We’re not living up to what we are.  What we can be.” 

“I don’t blame them one bit for being aggravated with us.”   Kanemaru seconded.  “We let this setback throw us off and have let Los Ingos dictate everything since they showed up.  We need to stop being pushovers and bring something to the damn table.” 

Uncomfortable silence filled the room, everyone looking around not wanting to acknowledge the truth in Despy and Kanemaru’s words, but unable to deny them.  

“I agree with Naito.”  Taichi finally said garnering everyone’s attention.  “We let Bullet Club and Chaos destroy each other and then we come in and clean up the scraps.” 

Minoru sat back listening to the various arguments being thrown about the room, both in favor of Taichi’s recommendation and against, siphoning through the logistics as he considered every angle.  Holding a hand up he brought silence to the room, commanding their attention. 

“For now we’re going to wait.” Minoru declared.  “We’re going to watch and wait.”

Protests immediately sprang from those in contention, Lance’s voice the loudest as he bitched about sitting back and doing nothing.  

“We’re not doing nothing.”  Minoru said sharply.  “We’re going to learn, we’re going to figure out every nuance of this war and we’re going to strike when the time is right.  Naito has a point.  There is no sense in risking our lives and wasting our reserves when they can do it themselves.  When they’re at their weakest we will take them both out and take over their territories. Maybe Taka can redeem himself and get some actual intel for a change.” 

“In the meantime, we need to pull our heads out of our asses and start showing what Suzuki Gun is all about.” 

May 17, 2003

The sleek red Ferrari Spider glided to a stop in front of a dilapidated building, the occupants peering out the front windshield doubtfully. 

“You sure this is the right place?”  Minoru asked skeptically from the passenger’s seat.   Sliding his sunglasses back up into his hair Minoru looked over at the driver’s seat where Kanemaru was leaning over the steering wheel peering at what was supposed to be the headquarters for Los Ingobernables.  

With a frown Kanemaru pulled out his phone, double checking the address Hiromu had texted.  Given this was their first visit to LIJ territory he was concerned they had the wrong place.  This certainly didn’t look like the home front of a very successful arms group. 

“That’s the address they gave us.” Kanemaru confirmed. 

Slowly the two men exited the low slung vehicle, Kanemaru making his way to Minoru’s side as they hesitated until the door was pushed open.

“You boys going to stand out here all day or you coming in?”  Bushi asked holding the door open expectantly. 

Walking into the building Minoru looked at the run down cheap furniture littering the small office space making no effort to hide his distaste at the dirty surroundings. 

“I really don’t think anyone is going to want to break in here,” Kanemaru said jokingly as Bushi latched five different deadbolts across the door they had just walked through. 

“You never know.”  Bushi said with a shrug.  “Course leaving that fancy car out there I don’t think they’ll bother with our humble abode.”  

“Shit!”  Kanemaru moaned looking at his brand new car through the window.  “Nobody better touch my fucking car.”  

 “Follow me.”  Bushi said ignoring Kanemaru’s whining.  Both Minoru and Kanemaru looked around in confusion as they didn’t see anywhere to follow him to.  That was until Bushi pushed a hidden button that made the shelving unit on the wall slide out of out of the way revealing a hidden door.  Pulling out a key he opened the door and motioned for Minoru and Kanemaru to proceed him.

Kanemaru had to swallow back his feelings of claustrophobia as they ended up in a room no larger than an elevator and Bushi closed the door behind them.   Through the walls they could hear the shelves slide back into place before Bushi pressed a code into the keypad on the opening another sliding door.  

Kanemaru gladly hurried out of the small space finding a long dark hallway with no end in sight. 

“Is all this really necessary?”  Minoru asked as Bushi lead them down the hall, motion sensitive lights flickering on every so often to illuminate their path.  “It seems a bit paranoid.” 

Bushi stopped, turning around to look at the two men. 

“We have the one thing that everyone wants.  We are the only ones with access to that thing. I’d say it’s very necessary.”  Bushi responded seriously.

Minoru conceded with a nod and they resumed walking.   He supposed he could see their point.  Guns were so heavily outlawed it was nearly impossible to get them in Japan.  At this point, LIJ were the only source for distribution.   Minoru could only imagine how many people wanted to get their hands on what the Ingos had.  And what they were willing to do to get them. 

They walked for at least ten minutes, taking so many twists and turns and going through so many doorways that Minoru knew there wasn’t a chance he would be able to make it through here on his own.   He supposed that was LIJ’s intention as well.  Despite the budding relationship between the two factions, trust was still hard to come by.   For the past several weeks the families had been working closely together.   The Guns arms shipment had been smuggled in and Evil had worked closely with each member until they were proficient to his standards with each weapon, but the Ingos were still wary on this new alliance and some of them weren’t shy in letting the Guns know their feelings.  

Expecting yet another door leading down yet another hallway Minoru and Kanemaru were surprised when Bushi led them up a staircase that opened into an opulent sitting room littered with leather couches and marble flooring that was more in line with their expectations for the LIJ headquarters.  

Bushi asked leading them over to the full sized bar along the back while where a pretty Japanese girl was leaning against the counter. 

“Get them some drinks,” Bushi told the girl, swatting her on the behind and making her yelp as she scurried around the bar.   

“That’s Masae.  She’s Hiromu’s…friend.”  Bushi explained vaguely waving his hand towards the girl who was quickly filling the requested drinks for Minoru and Kanemaru.  

“I thought Hiromu liked men?”  Minoru asked thinking back to their encounters with the strange man.   He had gotten the distinct impression Hiromu had a thing for Taka. 

“Hiromu likes everything.”  Bushi said with a laugh.  “He doesn’t discriminate.” 

“So you put Hiromu’s girl to work?”  Kanemaru asked looking over at Masae with interest. 

“Bitch needs to earn her keep somehow,” Bushi responded with a lift of one shoulder. 

“Fuck you Bushi.”  Masae snapped pushing the two drinks across the counter and glaring at Bushi. 

“Don’t worry sweetheart. I’ll get my turn.”  Bushi smirked.  “Hiromu’s gonna get bored like he always does and then you’re fair game.”  

Leading them through another doorway Bushi gave them a mini tour pointing out the offices and introducing them to various employees of the family.   They stumbled across Hiromu and Naito in the game room, in the middle of a rousing street race on one of the systems. 

“Your woman is getting a bit comfortable Hiromu,” Bushi said as he poked his head through the door as he was leading Kanemaru and Minoru down towards their meeting room.  

“I’m almost done with her.”  Hiromu replied absently not taking his focus off the TV.  “Be patient Bushi-san.” 

“We’ll be there in two minutes.”  Naito promised. 

Their journey continued, Bushi seemingly following pulsing music coming from the end of the hallway.  Knocking loudly on the door Bushi yelled for Evil and Sanada before continuing on his way, leading Minoru and Kanemaru towards LIJ’s meeting room.

Minoru pulled up short causing Kanemaru to bump into his back when Bushi pushed open the door and they found it already occupied.   A stern looking man with a goatee and shoulder length black hair with the sides shaved stared back at them appraisingly.

“Minoru, Kanemaru…meet Shingo.”  Bushi said without elaboration.

“Who the fuck is Shingo?”   Kanemaru asked, his hand trailing nervously to his waistband, finger itching for his trigger.  This was a surprise and he did not like surprises. 

“Shingo is our brother and if you pull on him you will both die.”  Bushi warned.

“You didn’t tell us there was another member of your family.”  Minoru said lowly through clenched teeth warily keeping his eye on the man who hadn’t moved a muscle since they walked in. 

“There’s a lot we don’t tell you.” Bushi said flatly pushing past them into the room, taking the seat next to Shingo.  “Shingo has been in the States taking care of some business for us.  He’s home now, so get used to him.”  

Minoru and Kanemaru shuffled in, taking seats at the opposite side of the table.  Inwardly Minoru was seething at the blatant disrespect to Ingobernables were showing him and his family.  Shingo grinned at them as they sat, eyeing them challengingly making them groan as the rest of the Ingobernables filtered in.  

It was a question asked between them often.

“Why do you want me? I’m a failure. I’m no good at being good and I’m worse at being evil.”

“Why do you want me? I’m a short, scruffy, specky git. I was born to die and I couldn’t even do that properly.”

Each time the question is answered with love and reassurance, but all too often, it’s not enough.

“I want you because you see the real me. You see what I really am and you don’t let me get away with things.”

“I want you because you’re the only person who’s never expected anything of me. you hate my popularity almost as much as I do.”

“You see that I’m awful.”

“You see that I don’t deserve the admiration I get.”

I’ve waited for this. He tried to make the words ring true. In one sense, they were.

He had been raised his whole life knowing that the Crown Contest was his destiny, that when his father, King Dyran ‘Obsidian’ Wicksted died, he and his brothers would have to battle it out to inherit the throne of Avillea. He just never imagined that it was going to happen so soon. He had thought he had years left yet.

He stared at his reflection hopelessly in the blackened glass and smoothed away imaginary wrinkles on his best tunic. His eldest brother, Dorian, would go to the announcement ceremony in a regal crimson, Davon knew, always eager to look the part. Delphin, the middle brother, favoured jewel bright tones, usually, bedecked with a string of favours from his latest romantic conquests. Davon himself had opted for black. Dour, perhaps, but sturdy, sensible, the responsible choice, he thought.

He realised his hands had balled themselves into fists at his sides and, blowing out a slow breath, he deliberately released them again.

I cannot show weakness now. Weakness is a king’s only crime. It had been his father’s platitude, and one that Obsidian had lived up to. Hard and strong, a weapon wielded against the nations seeking to restrain them. He has left mighty big boots to fill...

Not that Davon was a king yet, of course, but if  faltered now, if he fell--if he let their opinion of him as too young, too inexperience, too weak, fester and take hold, he never would be. 

He met his own gaze in the reflection and willed those deep, earthy brown eyes to hold steady. The next few days were crucial. For one of the Wicksted brothers there would be the victor’s crown, and a far too early pyre for the other two. 

I cannot fail now. 

He ignored the small voice at the back of his head, asking him if he even wanted to be king. He didn’t have a choice. Avillea needed him now more than ever.

A knock at the door disturbed him from his reverie, and as he called sharply for them to enter, he found the servant bringing him his competitor’s sash, ready for the ceremony. He swallowed and then beckoned them forwards to fasten it.

It all comes down to this. This is what I’ve been waiting for.

The servant stepped back to regard his handiwork, smoothing the sash flat as it lay across Davon’s chest.

“Are you ready, your grace?” he asked quietly. It was an impertinent question from a subordinate, and for a moment, Davon wasn’t sure what to say.

How could he be ready to stand in front of the eyes of half his kingdom and announce that he was going to try to slay his brothers? That they were going to try and slay him.

His Kingdom. The words had come instinctively, and Davon hadn’t realised that he had thought them until a full moment later. They tightened in his gut now, clenching in his jaw.

Yes. Avillea is mine. The certainty hit him like a wave.