Ashes by Kenzo Kitakata

Author:Kenzo Kitakata [Kitakata, Kenzo]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Kodansha USA
Published: 2023-02-07T00:00:00+00:00

4

I got out of the car at Shinjuku.

I waved off Munakata, who started to come with me, and walked off alone. It was already 11:30, but there were still plenty of people out on the street.

I had arrived at Clan headquarters at 10:30.

Kurauchi, Sano, and Kawano were all seated and waiting. I let them know I’d take charge of the war operations, but I’d do what I could to keep the drug operations. Consequently, I couldn’t send any of my men to defend the headquarters. But as soon as the fighting started, we’d come right away, in three cars. We’d bring our own guns too.

No one opposed my plan.

Three officers nodded in agreement when I said there was no point in having my men sitting around at headquarters waiting for things to flare up. Two younger officers, who’d just been promoted, remained standing the whole time I spoke.

I would supply eleven men. The main family could round up forty. My eleven would serve as the assault unit to take it to the enemy headquarters if and when our own came under attack. Since I wasn’t serious, I managed to make the most exorbitant promises with utmost cool. Munakata, who had tagged along, was in shock.

My speech lasted fifteen minutes. Very few interruptions. I even succeeded in giving them the impression that it wouldn’t be at all preposterous for our branch to retain as much as half of the drug profits every month, for our pains.

I took a swig of the scotch put out in front of me, staring at Kurauchi, who was looking at me like he’d done me in. When really I was the one who’d done him in.

Shinjuku was pretty far from the main family’s territory, and it was far from mine, too. There weren’t any other organizations nearby either. I did my best to avoid any shady-looking areas and kept on walking. I found myself in a big crowd without really meaning to.

I came across an arcade. I spent about fifteen minutes inside, and then ducked into a small bar, drank two glasses of whiskey.

I didn’t really know what I was doing. Once upon a time, I used to walk around like this—without any real purpose—in the entertainment district. I couldn’t stand being cooped up in a room for more than two days. By the third day, I always had to get out. I’ve been like that since high school.

My old man was a carpenter and an alcoholic. I was in and out of a lot of bars because I had to carry him home when he got too drunk to walk straight. I was intrigued by the excitement of the city because I thought there had to be something happening in that downtown hubbub.

My old lady shacked up with some guy in Kyushu, and I haven’t seen her since I was twelve. I don’t even know if she’s dead or alive. I don’t particularly want to talk to her, and I don’t want to be reminded of her, either.

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