Fists and Lipsticks 2: The Silver Crescent

CHAPTER 25: Sessions (Part 5)

A/N: Due to the events in this chapter, this 'Session' chapter will not be told in first person as Okamoto Shizuki. You'll find out why as you read along.

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CHAPTER 25: SESSIONS (Part 5)

My world can start revolving again.

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That day when I, Hoshiyomi Taka, was summoned to the assembly of the Crescent Gang, I witnessed for the very first time the perfect paradigm of wealth and power. Parked outside the secret hideout were several black limousines, all of which belonging to the Yanagisawa Business Group. I was hesitant to enter the spacious room at first, where more than a hundred armed men in black suits gathered, became extra careful with every gesture, with every footstep, and every meeting of the eye.

The man who stood next to me, Toriyama Zakuro – the exceptional lawyer, showed no sign of reluctance. He strode into the room with his chin held up, his pride emanating from his stance. It was Zakuro's self-assurance that influenced me to go and enter this world – the world of mafias.

I knew that I owe to the Yanagisawa Foundation this brand new life I have – a life free from hunger, from ignorance, from desolation. I became knowledgeable and proficient in machines, and this was precisely why they called me to join them. It was stated in the contract Yanagisawa Gendou proposed – that we join the Crescent Gang to lend our expertise. Zakuro and I needed not to stain our hands with blood.

I was relieved, for I could not imagine myself slaying someone. I was relieved, for all I had to do were 'machine works'... until that time I realized what they meant when they gave me that special task.

"Make us bombs, Hoshiyomi-san," the Grand Lord said one day. Yanagisawa Gendou did not take 'no' for an answer.

I made weapons and bombs. I created complex locking devices, security programs, and hacking software that could only be used when activated using a special device – the Silver Disk I designed and built the Crescent Gang's hideout underground– reinvented it into a dome of computer screens, tapping devices, and hacking tools. I constantly reminded myself that I was merely a tool, not the bad guy. Somewhere inside me, my conscience was screaming hypocrite.

Toriyama Zakuro, on the other hand, engaged in political and diplomatic affairs – a perfect way to gain influence with his reputable self, to recruit more affiliates without gathering suspicion from authorities, and to provide defense whenever evidences against the Crescent Gang would be brought in for investigation. The Yanagisawa Foundation had been constantly accused of illegal businesses, yet none of the charges were proven true thanks to Zakuro's skill of law-bending. Toriyama Zakuro had never lost a court trial since the time he became a lawyer.

For this, Yanagisawa Gendou was very much impressed. Soon, Gendou appointed Zakuro as his 'right hand'.

Their alliance did not stop there, for Gendou and Zakuro became really good friends. They shared a lot of things in common. Working together made the Crescent Gang even more formidable and richer. Affiliates increased to four times its number. Zakuro proved himself worthy of being called the Grand Lord's right hand.

Because of the rapidly increasing number of affiliates, Yanagisawa Gendou, with Zakuro's advice, decided to split the Crescent Gang into two factions. Putting so much trust on Zakuro, Gendou endowed full leadership to the 2nd faction to him.

"I'll give you full command to half of my men and access to the Silver Crescent Vault," Gendou said to Zakuro. Then, Gendou gave to Zakuro a device I invented – a microchip secretly embedded into a necklace with silver crescent-shaped pendant, "This is the Silver Crescent Necklace," he said. "This item, along with the Silver Disk, would serve as your key to the Silver Crescent Vault."