73 – Joey
of the weekend.
We all sat in Yuka’s room, eating while we discussed the itinerary for the rest of
“I have another three meetings tomorrow, plus one on Sunday. Then we are right to go home.”
Alex shoveled noodles into his mouth, nodding,
“Thank fuck. I fucking hate Nevada.” I frowned and looked at him, and his chopsticks hung in the air, noodles and sauce dripping from them. “What?”
“Why do you hate Nevada?”
I turned and looked at Yuka. “He hasn’t told you how he started working for me, has he?”
“No, Yuka.” Alex said and I looked back to him. “She doesn’t need to know.”
“Yes, Alex. She does.” Yuka replied. “You are a couple. Things shouldn’t be left in the dark. You have and you need to let her know that, in case something ever happens.”
1 reputation in the clans,
I could see annoyance on Alex’s face, but in the end, he sighed and put his chopsticks down and folded his arms across his chest, leaning back in his chair. I swear, if it had been anyone other than Yuka, Alex would have probably launched across the table and throttled them by now,
“It’s okay. He doesn’t have to tell me.” I said, trying to diffuse the situation, but Alex grumbled.
“No, he’s right.” Sighing, he leaned forward and pushed his box of food away and reached for the bottle of sake, pouring himself another drink. “When I was about twenty–three or so, maybe older, Ollie and I used to live here, in Nevada. It was the furthest place we could get to, with the little money we had. I made us money to live off, by fighting in the underground boxing rings.”
I watched as he picked up the glass of sake and knocked it back in one gulp. He grimaced and continued. “One night, after at really lucrative fight, Ollie and I were on our way back to the little apartment we shared, when some assholes tried to jump us for my winnings.”
Alex’s gaze lifted to Yuka.
“Sorry.”
“No, it’s fine. Keep going.”
He sighed and poured another shot, downing it again and grimaced. “I put their leader in the hospital.”
“Oh my god.”
I knew, to get as far as he had in the Takada clan, Alex would have had to bust some heads, but to hear that he had once been. quite violent suddenly had me feeling ill. I watched as he wrestled with the retelling of the story, and I almost told him he didn’t have to finish the tale, but it was Yuka who continued.
“That leader, was my youngest brother, Akito.” He said and I gulped. “When I heard about what had happened, I was both angry, but also grateful. We’d lost contact with Akito, he’d taken some money from one of the clubs and had gone on the run, causing all sorts of problems.”
“Oh wow,”
I sat back and looked at the pair of men on either side of me.
“When I found Alex and Oliver, my first thought was to dispatch them. But there was something in the way Alex stood in front of Oliver, protecting him from me, telling me he had nothing to do with it, that struck a chord with me,” I looked from Yuka to Alex and back. “He showed me courage which was way beyond his size and age and I knew I would be able to -use it. So, I offered him and Oliver a job. They started at the bottom and worked their way up. There is not another man in
the Takada clan I trust more than Alexander Kazumi”
My gaze shifted back to Alex, in time to see a single tear slide down his cheek and he bowed his head. “You honor me, Yuka–san.”
“No, Alex, you honor me, by sticking around, even when I have pushed you further than I should, expected more of your than any leader should. Oh, and for putting up with Pearl”
Alex chuckled and I looked back to Yuka. “Speaking of Mama Mor…”
73 Jory
“She is my sister. If that is what you are wondering. Older sister. But because she is a girl, she had no right to the Takada clan, when our father passed. So, it fell to me.” Yuka said, before laughing. “Besides could you imagine Pearl running the
Takada clan?”
“I loathe the thought,” Alex replied, chuckling. “I wouldn’t have lasted long.”
We all burst into laughter.
“Where is Akito now?” I asked, my laughter dying off.
“Japan. I sent him back there, to learn some humility. He is not allowed back on US soil, unless absolutely needed. Yuka replied.
“Thank fuck. I wouldn’t have to bust his head in again.” Alex frowned, leaning forward and put his head on the table, “Oh. 1 shouldn’t have had that extra sake.”
“Go and walk it off, Alex. Take Sota and bring me back some ice cream please.”
Alex lifted his head, looking at Yuka. “Sir.”
“Go on. Yasu has his security in his room, and we have Aoto. We’re fine. Go.”
Alex turned his head to Sota, who was already standing and he sighed. “Fine.”
As he stood, he kissed the top of my head. T’ll be back soon.”
I nodded and the pair started for the door, Alex swayed a little and I giggled, and he had trouble opening it. He looked back. at me, and I pursed my lips, trying not to laugh anymore. He poked his tongue out at me, and I flipped him off before Sota pushed him out the door and closed it behind them.
“Now they are gone.” I turned back to Yuka, who pulled a packet of cigarettes out of his pocket and stood. “Come and talk to me on the balcony, Jolene.”
I followed Yuka out and stood upwind from him, while he smoked.
“Don’t tell Alex. And for god’s sake, don’t tell Yasu.”
“Well, as your physician, I have to tell you-”
Yuka chuckled. “Yes, I know. But I only smoke when I am stressed, and I am only stressed, at Clans‘ meetings. They are so fucking draining.”
I could only imagine. I was there for only a day, and not even at every meeting, and I felt drained. Yuka was sixty–eight years old; he had a reason to feel it more.
“So, you and Alex are pretty serious now!*
I smiled, lowering my gaze. “Yes, sir. We’re very much in love.”
“Good. I was worried about him. Throwing himself too much into his work. I thought he might die alone,” Yuka turned to me. “I am glad you found each other.”
So am L
We stood there talking for a little longer before we started to head back inside–Just M
as door imploded.
