Chapter Ten
Tatsou
Finally, I’d get to look Kano Sakura in the eye. Katsumi marched up to the house ahead of me in ridiculous shoes making her unstable to walk in. She held her head high despite knowing what I demanded she do. She’d discuss what she saw and use the same excuse she told her sister. I’d compelled her to never speak a word of what I am and what we were doing, but my mind kept insisting she wouldn’t have mentioned me even without the magic. She had a fierce protection instinct, especially for her sister. I wondered if some part of her, maybe even a small part would guard my secret, too.
I snarled at the soft thought. The girl was nothing but a tool to me, a means to an end. Her life will eventually end alongside her family. I listened to their conversation from the shadows and waited through her mother’s tears and her father’s curiosity. His calm voice spoke harsh words and hammered the utmost importance of keeping her new knowledge a secret. I sensed that as much as he loved his precious daughter, he would lock her down like a prisoner if he had suspicions she would ruin his schemes.
Katsumi’s heart beat wildly in her chest as she understood the gravity of his words. Her body stood still, and she took his threats without conflict. She behaved as a well-trained woman in the home, but listening to her silence after hearing her speak nonstop elevated my anger toward the man.
“As it stands, you mother and sister have argued against bringing you into our world since your youth. Now that you have been thrust into it, I believe you will be of use to me.” My fangs descended at those words, and I shook my head to pull them back. I wanted this . . . to toss this kitten into a den of snakes.
“While I decide the best place for you, you will be under guard twenty-four seven. There was another attack. Fifteen of my men were butchered last night. I have put out a call for the best of my vetted soldiers to guard my family. You will sit beside your family as I choose the most capable and qualified guard without question. Understand, Katsumi?”
She bowed, then accepted her fate. She was now a part of the organization and soon, I would be, too. Preparations were arranged and word sent out to the men clamoring for the prized position of guarding the family. Men would fight and show their skills in the yard, much like how the old rulers used to select warriors in my time. I tricked the minds of his officials, who handpicked the selected soldiers to fight for the positions, to appear heavily vetted.
Cars drove onto the property and soon twenty men of all sizes and colors stood in front of the Sakura family. Katsumi, her sister, and her mother stood behind Kano Sakura with their heads slightly bowed, and their eyes cast down. After he finished telling the men what they would do and what the end result would be, the girls lifted their heads and waited. The sun stung my eyes as I walked from the shadows of a tree where no one could see me and joined the eager opponents. No one paid me any mind; bloodlust already clouded their judgments.
One by one the men battled each other, only one set of fighters at a time. Some had vast knowledge in martial arts, and some were no more than common street criminals. When someone went down, another would challenge the winner. I stood still, observing each person until slowly the best stood out. The scent of blood hit me, with every cut lip and shattered nose. Luckily, I’d gorged myself last night on his men to cause this whole sequence of events. I could handle the close proximity without giving into my savage needs. The only challenge I possessed would be reining in my supernatural gifts. I could kill them all in a matter of seconds, but I’d have to pretend to be human for now. One boy stood out amongst the crowd. He’d long discarded his torn shirt, muscles on display, and his gaze repeatedly moved to Katsumi. The right side of her lips tilted up as he winked at her, and I stepped into the fight. I wore one of the suits that Katsumi had chosen, and while it wasn’t exactly fighting attire, it would do.
No one had noticed me before but now all eyes were on me. Their scents of both fear and curiosity filled my nostrils. Two of the men who had worked together to fight the one who made Katsumi smile turned their attention to me. They both ran at me and tried to land a punch. Peasants. I whirled around with a high kick to the face of the fatter male. His head twisted to the side and his body fell against the other man, toppling them both to the ground. Silence greeted me once I returned my foot to the ground. In one quick move, I’d singled myself out as the man to beat. There were ten men left and I was surprised when they didn’t all rush me at once. The best fighter came at me, and he was skilled as well as quick, but I grabbed his fist as it came forward and twisted it behind his back, then kicked behind his knees. He tumbled to the ground, and I was ready as another came at me. I dodged each attempt to hit me and took every man who dared to challenge me down. I let one man land a blow on me so I wouldn’t appear superhuman, but I didn’t even feel his punch. Every time one of them got up, I knocked them back down. I attempted to render them unconscious, but there were at least two dead men on the ground. Human bodies were so fragile.
“I’ve seen enough,” Kano Sakura announced, and the fighters who could stand stopped coming for me.
“What is your name,Bugeiman?”
I smirked at his choice of calling me the boogieman. Even in my older days people had given me many nicknames like that. Last Shadow, Boogieman, Silent Death.
“Tatsou.”
“What is your family name?” he prodded, looking for a hint of family ties he might recognize.
“I have no family.” I remained still and confident as he assessed me.
“Very well, you have been briefed on what your job will be?”
“I am aware.” I watched as he smiled, enjoying my shortness with him.
“Impeccable. After we consult, you will be placed on my personal guard.” I assumed he would play this move, to have me as his own warrior protection instead of his family. While it would be a quick access to him, I was using his daughter to do my dirty deeds so the cut would exponentially sting more.
“I will guard your youngest or no one.”
Gasps and a few choking coughs echoed around the forest. The crime lord stared me down. No one talked to him like I just did and got away with it. But I proved myself to him as a perfect weapon. He would not let me go or try to have me killed. I was an irreplaceable asset now.
“Katsumi.” The girl stepped forward at her father’s request.
“Tatsou will be your guard. You will obey him, as you would any man in my organization.” His callous tone tensed my jaw. I hated men like him.
“Rei, you will guard my wife, Takeo will protect Hiromi, and Seigi will remain with me. The rest of you, dispose of those dead and disperse. Tatsou, come with me.” The men scattered like spiders. He softly spoke to the women of his family, and they were escorted away.
“We will discuss matters in my office.” Kano gestured I walk with him. I followed with a slight nod of my head, then glanced at Katsumi walking toward her studio with the boy Rei by her side. He wrapped an arm around her with familiar ease, and I decided he would die alongside the family.
“You fight well, Tatsou, I could use you for more than a personal guard to my family. Why is it you’ve chosen to protect my youngest daughter over me?” After we removed our shoes, we walked to his office and he sat behind his desk waiting for me to answer him.
“She reminds me of someone I once knew and lost. I will protect her from the same fate.” The words flew from my lips before I could recall the truth I’d revealed to a dangerous man. His probing stare recognized the vulnerable chink in my hardened armor.
“I understand. Katsumi is a rare beauty and spirit who shines on everything around her. My daughter is new into our world and will need guidance of her place in it. You and I will be seeing much of each other. I will gather the information you gave my head of security, and if I have further questions, I shall call upon you.”
I bowed my head slightly, then leaned in, his eyes caught in my snare.
