The Gunslinger & the Salaryman: A Love Story for the Ages

Chapter 22: Family Reunion, Part 2

"Revy and the Lagoon Company kidnapped me," he finally managed to say.
The silence that followed seemed to even make the usually noisy city quiet down.
"I'm sorry?" Michiko managed to ask.
Revy, Dutch, and Benny all seemed to give audible gulps.
"The reason you thought I was dead," Rock continued. "Was that the Lagoon Company here were taking some information from Asahi Industries, to give to a Russian Mafia boss. Revy decided to take me for a ransom."
Revy choked up some of the beer she was drinking.
"But, due to some shadier activities going on at Asahi, they decided to declare me dead. The Lagoon Company, specifically Dutch, allowed me to stay on as an employee. I've been living here ever since."
Again, there was a long silence.

"So, you work for criminals?" Akira asked.
"Well, yes, I do," Rock awkwardly answered.
"Hmm," Akira mumbled. "Not as if your previous employers were much better."
Rock let out a little chuckle.
"Yeah. It was my former supervisor, Kageyama, who sent you those tickets in the mail. He had lost his job not long after I was declared dead and he wanted revenge. He tried to use you both as leverage."
"My god," Michiko said quietly.
"Yeah, don't worry about him though," Revy chuckled. "Rock took care of him!"
"Rock?" asked Michiko.
"It's what I'm called here," Rock replied.
"Did you kill him, Rokuro?" his mother asked timidly.
"No, mother, I didn't," Rock assured her, hoping she wasn't going to ask if he had killed anyone. "But, I can't say what the people interrogating him for information will do."
"I see," Michiko simply said. "How long have you had those guns."
"Not long, actually," Rock said. "I've only been shooting for a few months now. I didn't want to use a gun originally, I avoided it as much as I could. But, Roanapur isn't the safest place, and I needed to be more useful to my coworkers."
"And the woman you love," Michiko smiled warmly, this made Revy blush.

"Have you been back to Japan, Rokuro?" Akira asked.
"Yes," Rock answered honestly. "A few years ago. But, I wasn't sure how safe it was to see you. I also wasn't sure how you'd feel about seeing me..."
Rock trailed off at the end there. Michiko got up from the couch and gave Rock hug, again surprising him.
"Rokuro," she began. "I am so sorry for how we treated you." Rock then hugged his mother back, she began tearing up. "The way we treated you was so unfair. When we heard you had died...we were devastated! Even your brother, Toshiro...was shocked to hear the news!"
Revy was beginning to feel uncomfortable, she wasn't used to this kind of family encounter. Michiko then looked at Revy straight in the eyes, Revy looked back, unsure of what to think. Then, Michiko shocked her with a hug.
"Thank you, Revy-chan! Thank you for keeping my son safe! Thank you for loving him!"
Revy sat their in shock for a long time, the rest of the group didn't know what to think of the situation either. Any other time, it could be a guarantee Revy wouldn't take kindly to be held like this, touched in general. But, this was Rock's mother, the woman who just admitted regretting how she treated her son. Revy then hugged Michiko back, it wasn't easy for her, but it still brought comfort to her.
"Y-your welcome, Michiko," Revy replied quietly.

About an hour later, Dutch decided to order everyone some food. Nobody was sure if there would be more threats on their lives, but they wouldn't be surprised if Kageyama had other people out there.
"You folks like pizza?" Dutch addressed Rock's parents, the two simply nodded. "Got various toppings, a couple are plain cheese just in case. Dig in."
"So, um, Rock," Akira began, getting used to addressing Rock by his new name. "What sort of business does your company usually do?"
"It's not always illegal work," Rock replied. "We are primarily a delivery company. Dutch has a ship, the Black Lagoon, that we use to transport thing in ports often a few hours away from Roanapur. But, things aren't always safe around here. It's good to know how to defend yourself."
"I see," said Akira. "Well, I'm glad you have been able to keep yourself safe."