Ebony couldn’t answer him, but gave his balls a gentle squeeze.
* * * *
Although Yoshi knew who they were, he didn’t stop them from coming into his café to eat. To him, a yen was a yen. Members of the Nakamura Group had been frequenting the establishment for years at lunch and dinnertime. They came so often he knew all of them by name. The men always ate a lot and never caused any problems. In fact, he’d gone out drinking with a few of them and they treated him like a little brother. Hajime Nakamura had tried to recruit him once, but Yoshi didn’t want to be in the mob and turned him down politely. He wasn’t into violence, but that didn’t mean he wouldn’t defend himself or someone that he loved.
A few of them were in his café at this very moment, but weren’t there to eat. Daiki Asaoka, a bodyguard for Hajime Nakamura, had come in just before closing to talk to him. Yoshi didn’t know about what, but thought it might be important since Daiki didn’t look happy. They sat across from each other drinking sake. Daiki’s friends surrounded them.
Yoshi studied the big guy. He had broad shoulders and large hands. But unlike the others, he dressed in a nice black business suit and wore a light cologne that didn’t assault Yoshi’s nose. He’d combed his short black hair back from his forehead, exposing a wide brow and very dark brown eyes that watched him like a hawk. Daiki, he’d learned over the years, was a no-nonsense type who rarely smiled and that the others respected.
“I’m here about a woman,” Daiki finally said. His voice was harsh, but not threatening.
“A woman?” Yoshi asked. He’d hired only male waiters, so he couldn’t imagine what female Daiki referred to.
“Yes, a beautiful African-American woman who dined here for lunch a couple of days ago.”
“Oh, her,” Yoshi said. “What about her?”
“Do you know who she is?”
Yoshi shook his head. “It was her first time in here. Why? Should I know her?” He filled Daiki’s glass again, and then his. Yoshi drank his.
“She’s Hajime’s daughter-in-law.”
“Oh,” Yoshi said. “I thought it odd that a foreigner would have the same family name and be in his neighborhood. Has something happened to her?”
“No,” Daiki answered. “She is supposed to be on bed rest and her husband wants to be notified if she shows up again.”
He’d seen her protruding belly and made sure he’d prepared her ramen with less spices than he normally used. “I can do that, but I have no way of knowing if she’s ever coming back here. Wakame, one of the waiters, said she told him she just happened upon my café. And I can’t very well run her off should she return.” He paused. “Whose wife is she?” He knew that Hajime had at least four sons, but he thought all of them were married. He’d gone to school with the oldest two, Tomio and Eiji, but hadn’t seen them in years.
“Tomio, the eldest,” Daiki answered.
“Oh, she’s carrying the heir. Now I understand. I will make sure one of you guys is notified should she reappear.” He already knew the number because he had to call it a couple of times when some of the fellows got drunk.
Daiki reached into his pocket, pulled out a business card, and handed it to him. “Use this number. It’s my private line.”
Yoshi nodded. A yakuza
nee-san
shouldn’t be walking around alone without protection. “I will notify you and keep her safe until one of your people arrives.”
“Thank you,” Daiki said, rising. “She’s a very headstrong young woman and Tomio would cut off my balls if something happened to his wife.”
“Understandable,” Yoshi said. She was one of the loveliest and nicest women he’d met in a long time.
“Also, let us know if she ever comes here with someone else, other than Tomio or Akira. She has been in the country for a short time and she doesn’t have any family.”
Akira, he knew too from school. Didn’t surprise him much that he had turned out to be gay or yakuza. Akira had been one problem child from the beginning. Yoshi nodded that he understood, remembering that smile and sexy voice. “I will guard her with my life.”
Daiki bowed. “Thank you for the time and the sake.” After that, he and his associates left.
Wakame came out from the back. “What did they want?”
“For us to alert them if a certain African-American female returns to the café,” Yoshi answered. “Apparently she’s Hajime Nakamura’s daughter-in-law.”
Wakame frowned. “Are you kidding me? She seems like such a nice woman.”
“She is a nice woman,” Yoshi said. “Just because she’s married to the mob, doesn’t mean she’s a thug. Her husband is concerned about her safely, so we have to call if she shows up.”
“Got it,” Wakame said. “I can’t believe that she was traveling around in gang territory without a bodyguard.”
“Daiki said that she’s headstrong, but my guess is that she just doesn’t know the area, or what kind of business her husband is involved in.”
“I did get the feeling that she was someone important. She spoke Japanese like a native and she made eye contact. That’s a sure sign that she is brave and confident.”
“Well, don’t fall in love with her,” Yoshi warned. “She’s married to Tomio Nakamura and he was one of the strongest and meanest guys in school. Everyone feared him and his younger brother Eiji, even as kids. Alert me immediately if she returns. We have to do everything we can to insure that she and her baby are safe.”
“Will do,” Wakame said. He looked at the clock on the wall. “It’s getting late and we need to finish up and go home.”
“Yes,” Yoshi said, rising from his chair. It would be best to put Ebony Nakamura’s face out of his mind, even though he thought that she could be his Miss Right.
“I don’t know why we have to polish silverware that we never use,” Takara said to Haruka as they sat in the kitchen with Gina.
“To learn about the silverware,” Gina said. “You never know when you’ll have to use something other than chopsticks.”
Takara shook her head. “I know how to use a spoon. Why do I have to learn about this other stuff?”
“You need to learn because they don’t eat with chopsticks in other countries. What happens if Makoto takes you to the United States? You’re going to look pretty stupid not knowing how to use a fork.”
“How difficult can it be?” Takara asked. She picked up a fork and made a scooping motion. “I have no desire to visit there, and you’re only interested because you want to kiss up to Tomio’s wife.”
“My interests in the United States have nothing to do with Ebony. I just think it is fun to learn a new language and about other countries.” Since meeting Ebony, she had been studying English during her spare time. “I want my child to know about things outside of this country.”
“I agree with Takara,” Haruka said. “Why learn something you’re never going to use?”
Gina chose to ignore them. Her sisters-in-law were as stubborn as mules. “Well, Mother wants you to learn.” So far, teaching them anything turned into a big hassle. If they weren’t complaining, they were faking illnesses to get out of work. Haruka was a little bit better than Takara with cleaning, but Takara was better at social graces. She now knew how to conduct herself around guests and hold intelligent conversations about politics, while Haruka just sat there like bump on a log listening to the talk going on around her and not contributing.
Gina finally took the silverware from them and put it away. Haruka and Takara hurried out of the dining room. She went into the kitchen to check on lunch. While there, she prepared tea and cookies for her mother-in-law and her guest, Rika Nakamura. Gina wondered when the two of them had gotten so close. She distinctly remembered how Setsuko used to turn up her nose every time the younger woman’s name was mentioned. Now they appeared to be as thick as thieves. They had been meeting together on several occasions now, and were always laughing about something. Gina knocked on the door before entering.
Both women looked up and in her direction.
“Ah, Gina, you’re right on time,” Setsuko said. “You remember Rika Fukushima. She just moved back to town and she came over to spend some time with me.”
Rika had come to the house two or three times before, and Gina had made herself scarce so she wouldn’t have to entertain her. Gina knelt down at the small table and placed the tray on top of it. “Yes, it’s nice to see you again. I hope you have been well.” She poured the tea.
“Yes,” Rika said. “Mother tells me that you are expecting a baby.”
Mother?
Gina rose. “Yes, Eiji and I will become proud parents in December.”
“I’m planning to throw her a big baby shower, so you’ll have to come,” Setsuko said to Rika.
She was at the end of her first trimester, and it would be many months before that would happen.
“You do look radiant,” Rika said to her.
“Thank you. Tomio and his wife are expecting a baby too, but in September.” Both Setsuko and Rika stopped smiling.
I knew it. She’s going to use Rika against Ebony.
“Please enjoy your tea.” She took the tray and walked out of the parlor.
I knew those two were up to something.
She headed for the kitchen.
“Lunch will be ready soon,” the cook said to her.
“Good. Mother has a guest. Make sure you set another place.”
The cook bowed. “Yes, Mrs. Nakamura.”
Gina left the kitchen and headed up to her room to rest. She wanted to be alert when she sat down to lunch with Setsuko, Rika, Takara, and Haruka. The conversation was bound to be interesting.
* * * *
“I have a name for you,” Ushio Kazuto said to Hajime in the meeting room of the Nakamura Group.
All of the big wigs were there, including his father’s senior advisors, lieutenants, and bodyguards. Tomio sat at his father’s right.
“Who is it?” his father asked.
Tomio leaned forward to hear the announcement.
“Juunta Sawaki,” Ushio said.
“How come I’m not surprised?” Hajime asked sarcastically.
It didn’t surprise Tomio either. In fact, he suspected it from the beginning. Juunta Sawaki was an ex-classmate who was always going out of his way to get at Tomio once word got out about the Nakamura mob affiliation. Also, Tomio had stolen a girl or two from him. Juunta was all grown up now. He was a detective on the Tokyo police force and was still fucking with Tomio and his people.
“Do you have any proof?” Hajime asked.
Ushio had somehow attained some video footage. He turned on the video recorder and everyone in the room trained their eyes on the screen. Seconds later, they watched a raid on several of their rival groups, and their own organization. Each time the video showed Juunta standing back from the actual raid, accompanied by one of his goons.
“That’s all the proof I need,” Daiki said. He cracked the knuckles of both hands. “I’ll break his little skinny neck.”
Some of the other members agreed with the burly bodyguard.
“Do what you have to do,” Hajime said. He dismissed Daiki’s statement with a wave of his hand. “Do it neatly, and don’t leave any evidence behind.”
Tomio knew what that meant. Daiki and his friends also had to get rid of the remains, or make Juunta’s untimely death look like an accident.
“But that won’t stop the raids,” Shabashi Toshio said. “Juunta has already managed to get the approval of the Chief of Police or the commissioner to search our businesses. Juunta’s disappearance would only spur them on.”
Hajime turned to face his lieutenant. “What you suggest we should do?”
“Go after the chief and the commissioner too,” Shabashi said.
Hajime chuckled. “That’s what I like about you. Never leave an enemy behind. But you’re right. They are on to us now. I think it’s about time we legitimize.”
Yomei Umi, Hajime’s senior advisor, agreed with him. “I’ve been thinking over this proposition since our last meeting. We’re all rich and can live out the rest of our lives comfortably, even without money from gambling and drugs.”
Tomio agreed. They had run hundreds of people out of business and taken them over.
“That does sound like a less stressful way of handling things,” Hajime said.
“So we’re just going to forget about Juunta and the others?” Daiki asked.
Hajime chuckled wickedly. “Hell no. Go on and take care of the three of them. It will be our swan song.”
Imagine her surprise when Tomio came home announcing that the two of them had been invited to a party given by one of Hajime’s friends. Up until now, Tomio had tried to keep her hidden from the world. She didn’t think he did it because he was embarrassed to have married a foreigner, but to protect her.
“Are you serious?” Ebony asked. She hadn’t danced in a long time and she could use an outing.
“Yes. A lot of important people will be there, and I can’t wait to show off my beautiful wife.”
Ebony chuckled. “You mean your fat wife.”
“How many times do I have to remind you that you’re not fat?” Tomio said, rubbing her stomach. “You’re pregnant.”
“I don’t have anything to wear,” Ebony said.
“It has all been taken care of,” Tomio bragged. “I called the seamstress and she’s making you a semi-formal dress that will show off those long gorgeous legs.”