Insanity of Past Transgressions

23. Yubitsume

It was decided. One more effort for negotiating. It was clear if negotiations were not met then we would have to go to war.

Morimoto and Mira are sent to the ports to negotiate.

Seoul Un Kim had garenteed us full cooperation but another Triad member by the name of Johnny Kang refused to be accommodating.

I dont negotiate with white trash.. If your boy can't come himself then there is nothing to discuss.

Morimoto gets in his face and spits. Your gonna wish you had been more accommodating friend.

Mira grabs her bag from the back seat.

What are you doing he asks as I make my way down to the docks. He watches her pull out a device and alot of explosives. Ok. Do I need to know where you got that. He asks as he watches her latch them to the cars parked.

Time to go. She said. From a distance he watches her pull out the antenna.   Giving him a look before she pushes the button.  A huge kaboom and cloud of smoke filled the air in front of them.

Oh shit!!! Haha...Mira I'm not sure this is what he had in mind. You may have went to far he said but then he began to laugh. Let's get out of here.

On our way back I started to feel that maybe he was right. I took it too far and Takashi would suffer my mistake. He would be disappointed and I just couldn't disappoint him but it was too late for such things.

Here you do it. I said handing him the blade.

Wait, do what now? He stared back at me confused in the most hilarious way possible.  I couldn't tell if he believed me or if I was just going insane.

I can't do it myself, it just would seem unimportant if I did it.

Are you sure? He was hesitant but Morimoto never passed up an opportunity for entertainment and right now I was it. That hesitation turned into intrigue real quick as his eyes doubled in their size.

Quick I said. He sliced off my pinky his eyes shot wide as if he didn't believe what would happen as if he had never seen such a thing. Jerk just laughed.

It was extreme but I just wanted recompense for screwing up. I wanted to suffer. Morimoto just started laughing like a kid as he watched me wrap up my hand in a cloth. After finishing the last of his whiskey I barely noticed the pain as we entered I was so nervous about how he would react to my foolishness.

I held my arm tight at my chest and got out of the car. Morimoto still laughing ran past DK into get me a strong drink. Leaving me to explain what I had done.

Mira, what went wrong at the ports? He was concerned. I messed up this time. I'm so sorry D. I held my head low, took off the cloth and raised up the hand that was hurt to show penance for what I had done. Hoping that it would be enough for him to forgive me.

Did anyone die?

No but negotiations went bad and I did terrible things. He waited for me to explain and when I had finished he remained quiet until Morimoto rushed out with a bottle of liquor.

I took a big swig and then looked back up at him as he examined my finger.

It went the only way it was meant to. It was best we struck first. Though I dont fully agree with your methods but this will send a message to policia.

His words began to swirl into words unrecognizable as I attempted to maintain my brave face.  He noticed and attempted to ramble to keep my mind distracted.

My father once told me that yakuza originated from the samurai. A militia group that stood up against their imperial government in the 1300s.

He began to tell me a story to keep my mind occupied while it was being stitched.

Their involvement in a rebellion pitted the clans against each other. Their fight over the central government is what led to the rebellion. Struggle for power.. This is where your Yubitsume originated. It was a punishment for kabukimono swordsman. To shame them. Kabukimono is a translation for crazy ones.

Morimoto then jumped in to add. Crazy ones because legend says they all sacrificed their families to some great ancestral spirit that would lead them to greatness.. this spirit infested their souls.

Yes I'm sure I've read that somewhere. These gangs of the samurai became violent with unsociable behavior in the mid-Edo period. The group finally faded away and eventually split off into separate clans because they all couldn't agree. Fought over lands and power.. Now they are but a handful of families that make up the yakuza. The yakuza have always been considered misfits and delinquents. That's all they will ever be because they are divided..

He was reassuring me that whatever I did its what always happens in war.

DK POV

When a triad leader was announced I warned the two to stay hidden. I needed to know the extent of damage that needed fixing.

I watched the man pace around the room. He studied the room as if sizing it up all regal like in his tan suit. Dignified. His suit showed perfect no wrinkle in sight. He held a presence of experience. Probably been around since the start.

Sorry to have kept you. The negotiation at the docks has kept me quite busy. I know we have not seen eye to eye. Our clans do not like one another. Still this is Yakuza territory so whatever you have planned for retaliation know that we will return it ten fold.

We have been at war so long that I can't even remember what started it. Ive been told that you are a man of compromise. Mr Kang was out of line. Today is a day of forgiveness. Let the past be and let us meet in compromise. Maybe we can change things.. What do you say.

I was surprised at the outcome honestly. Maybe a trick of some kind but it wouldn't matter.

I think its necessary for things to move forward. I said in agreement.