Goro Takemura x Reader

Sixteen

"You know your duty to this family.", it wasn't a question but a testament.

Something was stuck in your throat. No matter how many times you swallowed, it did not go away. Instead, it grew and wrapped its cold fingers around your neck, closer and closer, until you could barely breathe.

"Otōsan.", you lowered your gaze, pressured by the weight that came with his half blind eyes. "I need more time. I cannot figure out the details."

"Details.", he hummed, calm and yet so threatening. For years now you excuse your lack of work with details. "How much longer do you want me to wait? Until my last breath."

A cold shiver crawled down your spine as he said it out loud. Obviously you did not want to kill the man who had taken you in as if you were his own kid.

But at the same time you still couldn't find your peace with sacrificing Yorinobu for it. There had to be another way. You just didn't stumble upon it yet.

So you needed to keep Saburo waiting. Just a little longer.

"I-!"

"Enough.", the head of the Arasaka family did not raise his voice but whenever he wanted someone to be silent he was able to do so without fail. "I have given you one task. One duty as a member of the Arasaka family. You've named your price. And I am willing to pay it."

With your eyes widened, your head shot up to look at him in disbelief.

"You will let me return?", how hopeful you sounded.

Like a small child on Christmas Day, ready to find the little traces that Santa had left to proof that he was real after all.

The beating of your heart was so sudden that it hammered against your bruised rib cage. It caused you pain and yet you couldn't get it to calm down.

A low sound escaped your father. It was his way of approving something.

"You will return to your home in Japan.", he spoke calmly but the way his voice sounded made clear that he did not allow any more inconveniences. "And I will free you off your duties regarding the Arasaka corporation."

You almost couldn't believe your own ears.

Was that true?

No more Night City?

No dirty street gangs or kidnappers who wanted nothing but the big bucks that came with the name of Arasaka?

To add to that you wouldn't have to work no more until the end of your days. No more programming that would fuck with the human mind.

Peace and quite till the end of your days.

And all that for the low, low price of your brothers life. Well, not entirely. Yorinobu's consciousness would still be somewhere, buried deep in the back of his own head. Saburo would rule his body instead.

Two men in the same body, trapped until one of them decided to move on. Perfect grounds for two individuals who hated each other.

"Will you agree to these terms?", Saburo Arasaka did not make deals.

Unless it was with you or to please his beloved daughter Hanako. Any other person would have dropped dead with a bullet between their eyes.

But you had the privilege of bargaining.

Don't push your luck, you reminded yourself as you looked him directly in the eyes.

"I will finish the relic.", you were surprised that it came over your lips so easily.

As if you did not have to think twice. Perhaps you did not value your brothers life as you had convinced yourself. Or maybe it was just the desperate desire in you that screamed and begged to return to Japan.

Away from all these terrible family duties. Back to a time before you had to sell your conscience and your brothers body.

For survival. Yes, you just had to tell you enough times. This was all just for your own survival.

Approving, the head of the Arasaka family hummed, lowered his head as to nod and turned to leave. But he stopped mid way to raise his chin as if he had seen something on the ceiling that he wanted to check on.

"Takemura.", his voice was calm as he spoke the name of a man he seemed very familiar with. "How do you find him?"

It was a question that struck you as odd. But not odd enough to dismiss it with a huff.

It took you a moment to find the right words.

"A man of duty with a sense of honour is worth a lot these days.", you tried to sound neutral without too much praise.

If your father disapproved of him, it would have been foolish to praise him. But if he deemed him worthy you did not want to sound disapproving of his opinion.

Again, Saburo seemed satisfied with your answer.

"He is to remain with you.", he said with a glance over his shoulder. "For your protection."

He was lying, you knew that as well as he did. Or perhaps, it wasn't a lie, but rather a vailed truth.

He wanted you to be safe because he needed you to finish the relic. His life was dependant on your work. At the same time he also needed to make sure that you wouldn't let him wait any longer.

So he placed his guard dog by your side.

If Saburo Arasaka was one thing then it was smart. He knew how to get what he wanted. And he also knew how to influence it.

There was no chance for you to object. It would have only made him question your loyalty to the family.

"If that is what you deem a good solution then I will not complain.", you bowed your head once more to properly say your farewell. "Otōsan. May we meet in Japan again."

For a moment his old eyes rested on you. How heavy a gaze could be. Almost like rocks that wanted to crush your rib vage beneath.

"You are a good child.", he said and turned away.