Ashes

Treasure and Tragedy

Touya looked at Nakamura in stunned silence, blinking the confusion out of his eyes as he stated coolly, "No thanks."

Nakamura flinched, the words piercing his chest, "Are you sure? There's a lot of cool stuff you'll get from joining. You'll get your mask and be a part of the family."

Touya scowled and looked away from the old man's hopeful eyes, "Yeah, that's still a no... I can't afford to work under anyone right now."

I can't risk them turning on me if they find out about Shoto.

He could do the fight club because Zeha treated it exactly like it was, a fight club. Touya could leave whenever he wanted and Zeha would just find another fighter to replace him with.

I can't do that in the Yakuza.

Nakamura looked to Touya's unchanging gaze, sighing as he shook his head, "You're breaking my heart, kid. You sure there isn't anything I can do to change your mind."

Touya nodded, unwilling to risk Shoto's safety by swearing loyalty to someone. Even if Nakamura looked trustworthy he wouldn't take his chances.

Nakamura grumbled, turning to Giran, "Guess you were right, Giran...."

Giran chuckled, "Told you he wouldn't go for it. Kid's a stupid kind of stubborn."

Touya's eyes twitched in annoyance as they bantered, "I'm not stupid! And I'm not a kid!"

I'm 16! Why can't people get that through their heads already?

Giran puffed out smoke and rolled his eyes, "Whatever you say, kid."

Touya growled, pausing as Nakamura laughed in interruption, "Well it was worth a shot. Anyway, since Dabi doesn't want to join we should be on our way. Gotta get Rappa back to base and I don't want to put that off any longer."

Nakamura stood up, giving Touya a sympathetic look as he said, "Call us if you need anything kid. You impressed me, so I'll help you out for the right reasons."

Nakamura tossed him a business card, leaving with his bodyguards in tow, Chisaki giving him a final cold glare as he left.

Thank god they're gone...

Touya looked toward the card, quickly memorizing the number just in case he needed to use it later.

Giran let out a low chuckle, "That was pretty impressive you know. Not everyone can get on that old man's good side."

Touya huffed, lighting a little fire to burn the card, "I don't see what the big deal is. He looks like any old man would to me."

Giran shook his head, "That's just cause you're a weird kid. I know full-grown adults that would be shaking in front of him."

Touya shrugged his shoulders, not bothering to comment as he jumped off the makeshift bed, "Well if that's all then I'm gonna head home. I have a few buses to catch and I don't want to stay here any longer than I need to."

Giran raised an eyebrow, "You know I could drive you back kid, I'm not that heartless to make your travel home all alone."

And didn't you almost die? How are you just walking around like it was nothing?

Giran shook his head in disbelief as Touya's eyes twitched in irritation, "I don't remember you having a heart when you forgot to mention I was fighting with my life on the line earlier."

Giran scoffed, shaking his head as he muttered, "That was business. Now that business is over I can be as saintly as I please."

Touya rolled his eyes as he thought over Giran's offer, not trusting him but not wanting to take that hellish bus ride either.