The Third Crossing

3. A Deal with the Devil

She laid a soft kiss on the forehead of her five-year-old boy lest she wake him up. The sleeping brat could be a handful sometimes, and old Sakura deserved a break.

Natsu tiptoed out of her son's room, Sakura waiting for her outside, hands on her waist. "Not ready to talk now either?" the old lady asked, her judging tone not bothering Natsu anymore. Another lecture was coming, and Natsu had no time for this endless back and forth.

"Later, Mother," Natsu said, stalking past her mother to pick up the cloak she had left on the nearest chair to the door of the house.

"Isn't losing his father enough?" Sakura snapped.

Natsu inhaled deeply, hoping the fragrant scent of incense would soothe her nerves. "You are going to wake him up this way." She wore the cloak and headed to the door.

"We never needed your husband's coin, and we never will." Sakura followed her as she held the doorknob. "All the coin in the world will be of no use if that little child loses his mother."

"You are wrong, Mother. We have always needed that coin." Natsu glared at Sakura. "It's just you who have forgotten how life outside this house looks like. You want me to quit and do what? Be Father's assistant on his pathetic fishing boat? No, Mother! I won't let my son be raised in a smelly hovel on some mud-laden alley packed with drunkards. Are we clear now?"

Her mother looked down without saying a word.

"Good." Natsu heaved a sigh. "Because I'm done talking about this every day."

Natsu slammed the door shut behind her and joined Pantu and Jirou who had been waiting for her down the street—the only paved street in Hokydo, mind you. When Pantu ushered her to the cart, she said, "This shall draw too much attention." Horses were rare animals to come upon across the islands of Koya, especially in its poorest parts.

"It's a long walk to the meeting venue," said Pantu. "We shouldn't keep Qianfan waiting too long."

The name of Qianfan could be intimidating to many people in Hokydo, but not to Natsu. She should heed Pantu's advice though. "The cart, it is." She grinned. "We need to save our strength for the meeting."

Natsu clambered onto the cart, Pantu joining her at the back, Jirou assuming the coachman seat. "Save our strength," Pantu echoed dubiously as the cart moved. "Another plan you are not sharing with me?"

Natsu took a moment till she understood what he was hinting at. "Still unable to forgive me since the Turtle job?" she teased her deputy.

"It's a mere question." Pantu cast her a studying look. "I don't fond of surprises, you know. Especially, with the likes of Qianfan."

Qianfan was the one who had benefited the most from her husband's death. Having no rival in the underground business for some time, the way was paved for him to undertake as many jobs as he could. Me taking over Botan's business must have disappointed him.

"The likes of Qianfan must know that they are not alone in the market any longer," she said to her deputy.

"Still, you didn't answer my question, Natsu. What are you up to?"

"He is the one who called for this meeting, Pantu," she reminded her deputy. "Why don't you ask him?"

Pantu stared at her accusingly. "Sogeki-hei told me you had sent him for a task this morning."

Indeed. Her sharpshooter must have arrived at the meeting venue already. "Nothing more than a precautionary measure. I will feel safer, knowing that he is watching my back."

Pantu didn't seem convinced. What she should do to win his trust?

"We got away with the Turtle," he said. "But any reckless acts today will have serious implications. To the coastguards, we are ghosts; they can't follow our tracks. But Qianfan? The man knows more than enough to hurt us."