Part 100- Meeting the Botchan

After Jia met and spoke with Nagashima for almost two weeks, Jia met and spoke with Kotei. Since the young emperor had to learn his place and learn it well Jia had to meet with him often. Jia finally had to call the rest of his heads from Japan over so we were all reunited there. One afternoon as Jia waited for his meeting with Nagashima, Toki came downstairs as he pulled up his coat. He lit a cigarette as he said,

"I aint no fuckin baby-sitter..."

I looked over at him as I said,

"You're actually working for a change?"

"Shut the fuck up. With all the other heads knocked out from jet lag, I got stuck with work."

"What work?"

"I gotta get Kotei from school."

"Uh..."

Toki going to a high school? Letting a horny pedophile go to a high school where his wet dream would come true was not exactly a good idea. I guess Jia was probably desperate. I then stood up as I said,

"Why isn't...uh Nagashima's guard going?"

"He's busy with Nagashima."

"I'll go."

"You?"

"Yeah. I don't think it would be a good thing for you to go."

"Why?"

"Just...because."

He smirked as he said,

"Don't think I'm not aware that I'm going to a high school where throngs of pretty girls and pretty boys will be around me."

"I know you're aware. Which is why I'm volunteering to go instead of you."

He laughed as he said,

"Aite, you go instead of me. It might be better. I might draw attention."

"Might?"

What an understatement. I buttoned my coat as I said,

"What school does he go to?"

"St. Teresa's. Upper East Side."

"I have an idea of where that is. I'll be back soon."

He nodded as I went off.

I drove up there, only stopping for a moment to get some directions to make sure I was going in the right way. Once I got to the huge, gothic looking building with bell tower and all, I parked in front of the school, looking at my watch as I noticed cars and buses pulling up further up front. I got out as I light a cigarette and rested against the car as I called Toki.

"What? You get lost?"

"No, I'm here actually. Just wanted to know what time they let out."

"Around two thirty."

"Got here in time then."

"Yeah, you should see him soon."

"Okay, thanks."

I hung up as I then thought of something. This is New York, not Japan with it's strict hair color rules. There would be more then one blonde wandering around...and wearing a uniform. Great. I hope I could find him well enough. A bell tolled deeply, reminding me of Japanese school bell. Then, the doors opened and the student body of St. Teresa's came out. Girls in their navy blue blazers and gray short skirts, white shirts and knee socks, boys in their gray pants, white shirts and ties and the same color blazers. Their school emblem was on the side of each coat, some carried book bags, some just held books. All of them were different. I was right too, Toki would have been distracted. Some of the girls were cute. I looked around, trying to spot the soon to be head of a syndicate when I saw a lone blonde boy at the top of the stairs. He was one of the few that came out last. He was by himself and looked angry as always. I already was becoming familiar with that scowl. He stopped and dropped his bag down for a moment before he lit a cigarette and then picked up his bag again and went down the stairs. I saw him looking around as the rest of the students walked past, going to their buses or rides, others just stopping and gawking at the car I was leaning against. Or at me. I would get pissed off being stared at like a display item so I would give them all glares and ask them if they had a problem. Some of the guys went up to me and asked if it was my car. I would nod and wished that would make them leave but they continued staring. Kotei then noticed me as he walked over to me and said,

"Where's Ren?"

"Busy with work."

"Why are you here?"

"Because if I wasn't here you would have no ride or a pedophile that would leave you here anyway would be here."

He sighed, blowing out the smoke from his mouth as he said,

"I'm not surprised Ren isn't here."

He opened the back door of the car as he threw his bag in. He then got in as I went around to the driver's side and got in. Once I slammed the door I said,

"Why were you by yourself?"

"I'm the new kid here. I don't have friends. It's okay though I don't really need any."

"Don't you wanna find a girlfriend?"

He looked at me like I was insane as he exhaled smoke from his cigarette as he said,

"Why would I? I don't like the idea of being tied down."

"God, you sound like everyone else I know."

He then leaned back in his seat as he said,

"It's true though. Besides, I kinda have my heart set one someone."

I sighed, remembering that feeling as I said,

"Well at least you have that much."

"Don't you have that much?"

"My only goal in life right now is to live."

"Wow...what a goal. Don't sprain anything."

I shook my head with a slight smile as I said,

"It's a long story."

"So where are we going?"

"You have a meeting with Jia."

"Damnit."

He rolled down the window as he flicked his cigarette out and then started pulling off his tie as he unbuttoned his coat and shrugged it off. He then took off the tie and shoved it in the coat pocket as he unbuttoned his shirt as I said,

"What are you doing?"

"I hate this fucking uniform."

I kept driving until we reached Jia's building. Once we got there, he got out and I then escorted him to Jia's office for the meeting.

Later that night, as everyone came back to work since they were rested up, Jia assigned all of us to have dinner with Ren, Nagashima's guard. Jia thought it would be best if we got use to him and learned about him. Plus it was a good way to see what he was like and if he could be trusted. Tai, Gabriel, Akio, Aoki, Jun, Toki, Aya, Mikkie and myself went to the Pearl Tea House with Ren that night. We settled in the private room as it started filling up with smoke once the waitress brought us tea and then left. Toki then said,

"Is your name short for anything?"

"Yes."

Ren nodded, his voice deep and stern. He really did remind me of Tai for some reason.

"What's it short for?"

"Rennosuke."

"Thas horrible man." Toki said with a shake of his head.

Akio and Aoki gave a laugh as Ren nodded and said,

"I know, it's why it's Ren."

A few of us laughed as Akio then tucked his hair behind his ear and said,

"You married?"

"Yes."

"How many years?" Asked Tai.

"About ten now."

"Any kids?" Akio said.

"Yes. Two girls."

"Ever cheat?" Said Toki.

It figured Toki would ask a question like that.

"You mean did I ever cheat on my wife?"

"Yeah."

"Yes."

Toki and Akio looked at each other in surprise as Aoki said,

"An honest man. So rare of us nowadays."

"You aint honest shut up Aoki." Said Toki.

They laughed as Akio said,

"Was it worth it?"

"Every second of it."

Toki smirked as he said,

"Gully motherfucker."

"Why did you cheat?" Asked Tai.

Toki shook his head as he waved his hand and said,

"Don't mind him. He use to be married an got all that shit about faithfulness and shit."

Akio then said,

"Plus it depends on how far you got. Did you fuck them?"

Ren shook his head, taking a drink from his tea as Toki then scoffed as he said,

"Pheesh, then you didn't cheat for shit. You get a feel?"

"What do you mean?"

"Above or below the waist man. Did you cop a feel, touch them an shit?"

"Oh yes. Above the waist."

"Man you really didn't cheat."

Jun then said,

"Why do you three care so much about his personal life anyway?"

Toki then looked at Jun as he said,

"It's a good start of conversation man. Mind your business."

"I should say that to you getting all up in the man's life."

"Shut the fuck up."

"After you."

Toki glared at him as Aya then said,

"Don't start you two. This is a civilized dinner."

Toki turned away as he tapped his cigarette as Jun then looked at Ren and said,

"How long you been working for Nagashima?"

"Almost fourteen years."

"Wait...how old are you?" Said Aya.

"Thirty-six."

"And you've been married for ten years or so." Aya went on.

"Yes."

"Damn you've only been single for six years." Said Akio.

Toki shook his head as Ren smiled slightly and said,

"I don't mind."

"I'd cry." Said Toki.

Some of us laughed as the waitress came in and we ordered dinner.

We talked about work as we ate. Had conversation mostly about that after everyone was done prying into Ren's personal life. But once we finished and we started to smoke again, we asked more questions.

"How'd you get stuck being Kotei's baby sitter?" Said Akio.

Ren shook his head as he took a drink from his cup and said,

"When I started doing this, Kotei was a little boy. I was new and was assigned to watch him while our oyabun worked."

"Where was Kotei's mother?" Asked Aya.

"She passed away when Kotei was little."

"So you got stuck baby sitting him from then on?" Said Aoki.

"It's not really baby sitting. Botchan doesn't like me watching after him as much as I use to when he was little. He considers himself a real little emperor."

"Spoiled brat." Said Toki.

"Hai. I wish I had my daddy pay for every little thing I ever had." Said Jun.

Ren shrugged as he said,

"Well, he'll learn to provide for himself eventually."

After dinner was done, Tai paid for it as we started to gather outside. We buttoned up coats as the cold wind started coming in as Ren said,

"Where are you all off to?"

"I'm on my way home. These three though, they might be up for anything you are." Said Tai as he pointed to Toki, Aoki and Akio.

Toki smirked as he pulled up the hood of his parka, the fur falling over his head so the blonde bangs could be seen as he said,

"Ren you wanna get down with us?"

Ren put his pockets in his hands as he said,

"I'm not sure. I don't know this city well. Besides, I should go back to Botchan."

"Your Bon could wait Ren." Said Akio.

Ren shook his head as Aoki said,

"Come on man. It's just a couple of hours."

Ren sighed and said,

"All right. Just a few hours."

Aya then leaned up, tucking his hair back behind his ear as he kissed Aoki on the cheek and then whispered something to him before he went and hailed a cab. Once he was gone, Mikkie said bye to Ren and then to Tai before he started walking away. Gabriel and Tai hailed another cab as they left after saying bye to everyone and then after Jun turned down Akio's offer to go get a drink, he said bye to Ren and then left for the subway. I myself then said I would be on my way as I was about to get in the car and go back home for some sleep. Instead, Akio said,

"You don't wanna come Jo?"

"No, I'm good. Thanks anyway."

Akio tried to convince me to go once more as I then shook my head and said I wasn't really in the mood and got in the car as I said bye to them and then left for home.

I got home some time later and rubbed my eyes as I came in, closing the door behind me as I dropped my keys on the dining room table. I locked the door as I took off my coat and threw it on the couch as I yawned and reached up to my hair band and pulled it out as my hair fell around my head and I rubbed my free hand through my hair and started going to my room. I then went to my room and started changing, taking off my coat and tie and undoing my shirt as I untucked it and sat down. I checked my watch as I took it off seeing it was about three in the morning. Long day I guess. I changed from my clothes, leaving my boxers on as I tied my hair back up and then laid down, hugging my pillow as I started getting comfortable. Only ten minutes later did my doorbell ring. I sat up, slightly frustrated as I went to my door, my gun in hand since I knew none of the top heads would just stop by. Jia would call. Everyone would call. I looked through the peephole as I saw, much to my shock, Kotei. I opened the door as I said,

"You know what time it is?"

He looked at me in surprise as he said,

"Wow...nice."

He looked me up and down as I said,

"What do you want?"

"Man it's only three. This is early for me."

"Don't you have school tomorrow?"

"It's Friday."

"So? You still have meetings tomorrow."

"Not till the afternoon. Come on."

"Man, I'm exhausted. It's been a long day."

He pouted as he put his hands up to the door frame and leaned forward. As he brought his arms up, his powder blue fitted shirt rose up, revealing that well toned stomach and drop lines along with the fact he was wearing low rise fitted black dress pants. I looked back up at his face, his blonde hair covering one eye as he said.

"Come on. Just till dawn."

"No. I'm exhausted."

He sighed, dropping his arms as he said,

"Then can I crash at your place?"

"Don't you have a home?"

"You'd send an eighteen year old boy walking through the streets of New York at this time of night?"

"Two seconds ago you were ready to do just that!"

"Only if I was with you."

He smiled as I sighed and said,

"Fine come in. You get the couch."

"Why the couch?"

"Because I'm sleepin on the bed."

He stuck his tongue out on me as he said,

"I should get the bed. I'm the guest."

"The uninvited guest."

I then turned and went to my room and went to sleep.

The next afternoon, I had to get up and take Kotei home. He was being whiny and fussy about getting up as I tried to tell him he had to go home. He smacked my hands away twice before I lost my temper and grabbed him up by his shirt, sat him up before yanking him up to his feet. He looked surprised at me as I said,

"I said get up. I gotta take your ass home so you can meet Jia with your father later."

He rubbed his eyes as he said,

"You're mean."

"I try."

He scowled as he rubbed his visible eye as he picked his coat and put it on as I made him leave and I took him home. Once at his place, he saw Ren was standing outside. He sighed as he looked out the tinted windows as I said,

"Something wrong?"

He frowned, shaking his head as he said,

"No, just thinking about something."

He didn't want to get out for a minute but he pulled up his coat and buttoned the front as he looked at me and said thanks as he got out of the car and closed the door behind him. I saw him go up to Ren and Ren said something to him. It wasn't loud, but it made Kotei hang his head and clasp his hands behind his back. Ren then hugged him gently, putting his arms around Kotei's shoulders and one hand on the back of his head. Kotei, leaned into the embrace as they then pulled away and Ren escorted him back inside. I then remembered what they both said to me at one point, recalling the dinner conversation and my own with Kotei. It would make sense that the little emperor would feel something for Ren...but at the same time, the way he carries himself would almost be like he couldn't care about anyone except himself. I sighed, pulling the car away as I then started to drive back to Jia's building.