Ties that bind

[Kililia]

Keiko tighten her fists:" how can you speak so casually of your death?! It's no laughing matter..." *She was terrified at the idea of being left alone in the world of Yakuza* "... If...if...you died....I'd run away with my children...cause they be my family..."
She looked at him upset:" please promise me our kid not join the Yakuza...you could nominate another to take over the family and and kids can run away when you die...with me...."

She looked up at him, praying he accept:" please Kento...I beg you to agree to this... We can adopt an older child to raise and take over the business when you die..."

 

[TertiusHuman]

He looked at her

"Do you really think I talk about my own death like it is of no consequence? I know what it means and I know what can happen. Your reaction to this is not the right way to act. If you flee from every bit of hardship in your life, that means that you will raise children that are weak and pampered. Like I said, if they want to be part of the life, I will allow it."

He rose to his feet

"And that is the end of it."

 

[Kililia]

She glared at him as she open her mouth to reply. But shit it when her replied: "And that is the end of it."
She rushed up to him: " Please reconsider...you said it yourself that you were place away from the business and it was a good life...why can't i request the same of our children, Kento?"

 

[TertiusHuman]

"I wasn't removed from it, I only learned of it when I was a teenager. I was not forced into the life, until my father was killed. But I always had the option to become part of the life and that is what I will not withhold from my children. If they wish to do business on their own, they can. If they wish to be part of the Yakuza life, they can. It is not always death and bloodshed Keiko, once there's peace between the families again, the danger becomes very little."

 

[Kililia]

She slam her fist on the table enrage:" we live on blood money! You think, I am ignorant on how we make our cash? The lives of others! How am I suppose raise my kids with moral while the money that comes in , is on the blood of innocents! "

She try to quickly recompose herself:" all, I am trying say, is... I don't want them to lose their innocence knowing their father is in a criminal business that run drugs, woman trafficking, murders, etc..."

 

[TertiusHuman]

He raised an eyebrow at her next outburst

"Says the woman raised on the very same money that she is condemning now. And hold your temper in check, it might raise my own ire and I am not in the mood to get upset before a meeting. Now come along, I am growing weary of arguing in circles with you the whole time."

He walked out of the room and towards the front door, where a pair of shoes stood ready for him.

 

[Kililia]

Keiko wanted to lash out and replied that she would not go wioth her fiance. But she knew now, it be unwise to cross him as he would severally punish her ass: " I know, i was raised on it...I!" *stop herself as he told her to keep her temper in check. She reluctantly followed her fiance and sighed: " I just want a better future " IF" I am gonna have kids...is that so wrong?"

She hated that it was now obvious that her husband had final say in all matters, she was used to do whatever is wanted without answering to other ppl. Now she had to answer to her own husband: " I am leaving in the next 2 days to a friend partyh, its a birthday" *Declaring it, instead of asking for his consent. She didnt feel she needed ask his permission after all she was not his employee*

 

[TertiusHuman]

"Like your future was so bleak before the war got dropped into our laps."

He slipped on his shoes and the door got opened for him, the car waiting outside, he turned to face her.

"No, you are not going alone."

He dared her to defy him once more, it was early and there was a long day ahead, but he was quite ready to let her be reminded that she was not the one to control what was to happen in the household.

 

[Kililia]

Keiko looked shocked as he deny her to go alone at the party. She didn't want anyone and especially him to come. She didn't want him around her friend and project contact:" Why can't I go alone? I can't always bring bodyguards, it's weird, to many people will ask questions.... You can't come...it be to hard to explain, who you are..." * She entered the vehicle* " please, Kento?"

 

[TertiusHuman]

The door was closed and he settled back into the seat

"I told you before, you will not leave this estate without me. If you wish to attend this previous engagement, then you will make sure that I can go, or you will not. It is easy to explain, I am your betrothed. That is all that anybody needs to know."

 

[Kililia]

She glared at him as he reminded her she was not leave without him at her side. She wanted to lash out but knew that her previous screaming had annoyed him:" fine... You can come...ssshhhheeessshhh... Just don't act like we are a loving couple..." * I'm not known to be Lovy dovy with men"

 

[TertiusHuman]

He looked from her to the outside as they drove through the gates, he crossed his legs,

"No need to fret, I will not expect that public display of the loving couple yet. We are only betrothed, not married."

He smiled to himself, finding it funny that she thought that she had just given him permission.

 

[Kililia]

She sat across from him, relieved that he complied to her wished She hated how little option, he gave her:" am I always gonna be a prisoner of "your" house? You plan always follow me everywhere? Cause your a busy man and I want my "own" life" * it was obvious, she wanted a seperate life from him in their marriage. She wanted freedom as she had as a young single woman. She hated having a man in her life to answer too:" what of I am unable have kids....?" * She had friends and began find way to get on the pill secretly so we can not have kids for a while, to keep her freedom*

 

[TertiusHuman]

"Good God woman, will you for one moment stop fretting about not being able to have children? Fuck it. You are worse than a mosquito on a warm summer's night."

His gaze moved from the outside to focus on her

"And since you want to see this as the worst thing ever to happen to you, then yes, I will keep you as a prisoner and when you seem too unwilling, I will throw you out of those gates we just left and watch as you get swooped up by the enemy and see what you think then. Maybe then you will understand when they start to torture you before cutting parts of you off to send to your father before they destroy your clan. Then it will be too late to tell me how wrong I am and what a tyrant you see me as. Then it will be war and it will not only destroy us all, but it will also mean that everything that had taken centuries to build up, has been for naught."

He looked outside again

"Now talk about something new or shut the fuck up."

 

[Kililia]

Keiko was so annoyed at her fiance, she glared at him:" why, you complaining, YOU chose me to be your mosquito till death do us part" * smirk as she sorta enjoy torturing him this way*
She look around and back at him:" where are we going, that is so important? Ate we going see my family? Is there a problem to fix? Is my family okay?"

She cross her arms:" can I see my friend regularly? I wanna keep somewhat of a normal life..."

 

[TertiusHuman]

"I didn't choose you by choice, but necessity."

He kept looking outside, "Your family is fine, like I said, this is just a normal business deal."

He refused to look at her, "You will only see your friend when I am with you, your days of running around in dark alleyways is over, your normal is no more."

 

[Kililia]

She glared at him:" what?! Oh c'mon,Kento....you don't always need to be at my side when I go see my friends...." * She rolled her eyes* " your soooo dramatic, Kento... I wasn't that bad....not mention, I still have info ... On the people that done you wrong...I am willing to share with ya... For some freedom... Let me go out with a bodyguard ... That way, I get to go more often.... Plus...I'd like them to visit or crash over...whatcha say?"

She leaned back and cross her legs:" you need meet me half way so we can at least manage to tolerate each other...and ...my past is not that bad...at least, I didn't kill anyone.... It's just black mail, gambling, etc ...and I would like you hand me back MY profits ... Please?"

 

[TertiusHuman]

"I said that you will not leave my side, and when I said that"

He turned his gaze back to her, "It meant that you will not leave my side, just as I will not leave yours."

A smile crossed his lips, "Your money? Do you mean the money that I had to clean through the legitimate businesses and which now sits in a fund for the children?"

He smirked at the reaction on her face as the car came to a halt, "You will abide Keiko, you are not a teenager anymore. You are a woman."

The door opened, he uncrossed his legs and stepped out of the car.

 

[Kililia]

Keiko stared in disbelief as he made it clear that she was not to ever leave his side from now on. She did not like the sound of it as it sound permanent. Her smiled vanished as he reminded her of what he done for her cash. She clench her fists as she wanted to lash out at Kento: " don't, I even get a say on how to spend MY cash?"

She glared as he smirked at her, she wanted smack that smirk off his face: " this is not the kind of relationship she wanted with Kento.

She followed him inside as she wanted: " your making this relationship impossible"

 

[TertiusHuman]

He allowed the bodyguards to escort them inside, he knew that he had struck her a blow which she did not expect.

"Stop living in your dream world. You gave up the control you could have had when you defied and dishonored your family and mine. You will abide Keiko."

He paused and turned to her, forcing her to look up at him as he leaned closer to her, his voice cold and hard as he whispered loud enough for only her to hear, "Or, as the gods as my witness, I will break you. You can decide but know in the end, you will do your duty and there will be none of this me me me bullshit."

He turned away from her and continued on the way to the boardroom

 

[Kililia]

She turn away as he made it clear that she would abide by his rules as he was now to be head of her family.

She winced as he lifted her chin,forcing her make eye contact with him. The tone of his voice send a cold chill down her spine. It was clear, he expected her to behave as a proper wife or be broken by him till she submitted to his will. She gulp hard knowing how he first punished her.

It took a few second for her to recompose herself before walking behind him quietly. In the beginning, she always believed there be a possibility to break from their relationship. For the first time, the tone, look in his cold eyes and his statement made it clear.... It was very clear that, she was his woman and he never let her escape her fate as his wife and wifely duty. She realized for the first time, her old life was over and so was her freedom. He now be ruler of her life as her husband and father to her future children and clan.

She followed behind her husband and stood behind him quietly, She watched all heads turn to him and greet him. For the first time, she witness, his true power in the room of powerful men. She could see the uneasy, fear as he took charge of the room.

 

[TertiusHuman]

Kento took his seat and motioned for a seat to be brought for Keiko to sit on his right. The message was clear to anybody in the room, Keiko was there under his order and she deserved the same respect as she sat on the secondary seat of power. He did not introduce her though, she was not yet his wife, but he wanted her to be present, to learn, and to be able to give input in the future.

The meeting started, first guarded, and then when it became obvious that Keiko was not a threat, the conversation became more fluid. Proposals, counter-proposals, demands, and counter-demands, Kento did not speak much, but he listened carefully. Finally, he gave a final proposal which included everything discussed, after a short deliberation it was accepted, the group raised, bowed their respect, and left the room, leaving only Keiko and Kento behind.

He turned to look at her, "That was quite painless."

 

[Kililia]

Keiko was surprised as Kento had a chair brought up for her as she thank the man and took her seat. She stayed quiet and the rare moment she spoke was to thank the staff for drinks. She learn long ago to learn be quiet, observe and learn. She did exactly that this evening and watch her husband work. She understood why her father liked him right away and wanted his as a son in law. He was a younger version of her father but even sharper,cunning and deadly.

She smiled at her husband and nodded:" you did not need bring me before these people, I am meaningless...."

She hesitated a moment before speaking :" .... Mr. Yamamoto lied .. his profit are double what he claims....he is moving over some territories discreetly...his bank account might show it but his personal box contains the rest of the cash ... He might try start a second war after the one your trying to avoid while your low on number of men..."

 

[TertiusHuman]

He chuckled

"How can you be meaningless Keiko? Look at the information you can give me and which you gave me now. It means that I can act upon it, legally of course, and he will never be any wiser as to how I could stop him."

He took her hand and ran his thumb over her knuckles, "And they will have to become used to you being here."

 

[Kililia]

Keiko gulped realizing as he wanted her be part of it all. She would know enough of the business that she be a threat if tried to leave. She knew he sealed her fate and placed her in danger and under his protection. She no longer could run away as she now had information on meetings and only Kento could protect her as his woman. She gave him a nervous glance:" why, do you want me so involve... I can do it from the shadows..."

She glance at her hand and back at him as a shiver ran down her spine:" I don't wanna be directly involve in your business.... You know that... ". She lowered her gaze as she felt helpless to stop all this from beginning, the life of a Yakuza wife. She couldn't make eye contact with her fiance as she replied:" was it so wrong, to want a simpler life? That you need to punish me so cruelly by bringing me here?"