Kaori Ichida looked at her closet and sighed.
“What do you wear to meet a fellow crime boss?” Kaori asked jovially to no one in particular.
Nobuo had seen to it that the entire contents of her bedroom were transported here as promised. So Kaori had everything here with her now, but still had to decide what to wear.
She looked at the contents of her closet and sighed. She had no clue.
Then it suddenly came to her. Of course. Dress to impress.
Kaori smiled.

Nobuo saw Kaori come down the stairs and gasped.
Kaori was a vision in leather. That skirt was probably illegal in some countries and showed off her long smooth, legs. She wore a short leather jacket over a white blouse. Instead of her usual ponytail, her glossy black hair was styled and hung about her shoulders.
“You look incredible,” Nobuo breathed.
“Be careful, Nobuo,” Kaori admonished. “You know I like girls.”
“Rumor has it Michiko Yamamoto does as well,” Nobuo replied with a smile. “She’s gonna love that outfit.”
Great, Kaori thought. That’s all I need. Maybe she’ll rape me now before she kills me.
“You look nervous,” Nobuo said. “You can’t let her see that.”
“I can handle women,” Kaori said.
“You’ve never met anyone like this one,” Nobuo said.

Kaori mentally reviewed what they had discussed earlier.
Michiko Yamamoto had been the oyabun of the Yamamoto-gumi for about six months, ever since the death of her own father. The only difference from Kaori’s situation with her own father is that Michiko pulled the trigger on her father herself so she could take over.
The oyabun of the Yamamoto-gumi had been an assassin for her father since she was 16 years old. She grew up learning to be a lethal weapon, training in martial arts, learning how to use a gun. She was now 27 and more deadly than ever. Anyone who failed her in any way was immediately killed, most times by Michiko’s own hand.
Michiko didn’t trust men very much. All of her lieutenants were the female assassins loyal to her who killed her father’s men. Hopefully Kaori could use that to establish a rapport with the woman.
“I have a gift for you,” Nobuo said. He picked up a large box and gave it to her.
Kaori smiled. “You shouldn’t have.” She tore open the box, then frowned. “You’ve got to be kidding.”

Inside lay a shiny nickel plated Beretta 9mm pistol and two full clips of ammunition. Alongside lay a black holster for her to carry a gun.
Nobuo frowned. “You don’t like it?”
“It’s gorgeous,” Kaori said. “I just don’t like the necessity of it.”
“You have to be armed now,” Nobuo said. “Tool of the trade. I hope you never have to use it.”
Kaori took off her jacket, put the holster on. She picked up the gun, slammed one magazine into the butt, chambered a round. She remembered Nobuo’s lessons well, he observed with satisfaction.

Nobuo had been drilling her in firing and handling a gun to prepare her for her new life. Masao had drilled her in martial arts. Then there was all to learn about the business itself. All the inner workings of the yakuza and all its members. Sometimes Kaori looked like she was extremely frustrated or her head was about to explode. But she endured it all and excelled in everything she tried. Nobuo thought once more what a remarkable girl she was.
Kaori slipped the gun in her holster, then replaced her jacket.
“How do I look?” Kaori asked.
“Much more confident,” Nobuo replied, nodding. He put his hands on her shoulders. “Just remember, you will be safe. Even Michiko Yamamoto knows better than to break the rules of this meeting.”
“I hope you’re right,” Kaori sighed.
“Let’s go,” Nobuo said. “It wouldn’t do to be late.”

No matter how much she was prepped, nothing could prepare her for actually meeting Michiko Yamamoto in the flesh.
The woman was quite frankly the most intimidating woman she ever met. Tall, muscular with dark looks and eyes dead as black stones, she looked every bit the cold blooded killer as her reputation indicated.

When Michiko rose from behind the ancient cherry wood desk to meet her, Kaori saw the large twin Desert Eagle .44 pistols holstered on each curved hip. As if she wasn’t intimidating enough already.
Michiko apparently had a taste for black as well. Her look was best described as punk goth. Her dark hair hung straight and halfway down her back. Black leather gloves covered her hands.
“Ms. Ichida,” Michiko greeted her with an obviously false smile. It never was reflected in her eyes. She gave a very slight bow, another affront. “I am Michiko Yamamoto. Please, have a seat.”
Michiko motioned to one of the two upholstered chairs in front of her desk. Kaori sat and crossed her legs casually.

Michiko picked up a sliver box, opened it, holding it out to Kaori. “Cigarette?” she offered. “They’re Turkish. Not for everybody.”
Kaori took one. Michiko lit it for her, then lit one for herself. After a puff,
Kaori decided it indeed wasn’t for her. But there was no way she was going to let Michiko know that.

“So,” Michiko stated, as she leaned against the edge of her desk. “I admire you for having the good sense to accept my invitation. We have much to discuss.”
Kaori flicked some ashes into a huge, already crowded crystal ashtray. “Oh?”
Michiko smiled another fake smile. “We both know you aren’t cut out for this,” she said. “While I have been prepared all my life to take over for my own father, you have had all this suddenly thrust upon you.”
Kaori took a baby puff. Yuck. “It was a bit of a surprise.” Her eyes narrowed. “But I can handle it.”
Michiko sighed. “OK, if that’s the way you want to play it. But I can relieve you of your new burden.”
Kaori chuckled. “Oh?” she asked casually. “How so?”
“If you allow me to annex your territory to mine, I can take care of things for you,” Michiko proposed.

Kaori ground out the awful cigarette. “So this is another attempt to get my clan under your thumb.”
Michiko sighed. “I won’t deny that there will be something in it for me.” Another fake smile. “That’s how a deal works. But I am prepared to pay you more money than you ever could spend in what would be a good long lifetime to take this burden off your hands.” She leaned forward. “Think of it, Kaori. You could live anywhere, in the lap of luxury. You won’t have to worry about a thing.”

Kaori looked at her suspiciously. “Except you coming after me.”
Michiko exhaled a puff of smoke slowly. “If we make a deal, you won’t have to worry about that.”
Kaori stood. “I need to think about this.”
Michiko ground out her own cigarette savagely. “You have 24 hours. No more.” She walked over and took Kaori by the arm, looking at her admiringly. “Now, my dear, enough of business. I would rather just enjoy having such a beautiful woman in my company for the rest of the evening. Let’s go enjoy the wonderful dinner I promised you.”

After dinner, Michiko invited her into the living room for cigars and brandy.
They sat on a couch making small talk as they puffed on Montecristo cigars and drank hundred year old brandy.
Michiko definitely believed in enjoying the finer things in life.
As they talked, Michiko moved closer to Kaori on the couch.
Soon they were sitting next to each other and chatting like old girl friends.
Michiko finally reached up and caressed Kaori’s hair.
“Would you like to spend the night?” Michiko suddenly asked.
Kaori blushed. “Michiko, I am honored you would ask me,” she answered carefully. “But I have someone waiting for me at home.”

Michiko smiled. “I have mistresses as well,” she replied offhandedly. “But I am taking about a merging of equals.” She kissed Kaori softly. “I have wanted you since the first time I saw you, Kaori.” Michiko pulled Kaori to her. “We could rule the Tokyo underworld together…as lovers…as equals.” Her hand moved to Kaori’s breast, and Kaori gasped. “Think of the power we could wield together,” Michiko whispered, her lips brushing Kaori’s.
“Michiko…” Kaori began.

“Make love to me right now and let’s seal this deal,” Michiko stated. It was as if she were giving an order. It killed whatever seductive mood was there.
“She’s not just my mistress,” Kaori explained after a moment. “She is my girlfriend. I won’t do that to someone I love.” She caressed Michiko’s back. “As tempted as I might be.”
“A shame,” Michiko sighed. “We would have been great together.” She backed away. “Your girlfriend is one lucky woman.”
“I am the lucky one,” Kaori said.
“Spoken like someone truly in love,” Michiko said. “I envy you”

“She what?” Nobuo exclaimed.
Kaori was filling him in on Michiko’s offer as they drove back to the compound in the bulletproof limo. She didn’t dare tell him about the attempted seduction.
“You heard me,” Kaori said, exhaling a puff of smoke from her freshly lit cigarette. Her nerves were still working overtime.
“You aren’t seriously considering this,” Nobuo stated.
Kaori’s eyes blazed. Right then, she reminded him of her father. “Why shouldn’t I? This will give me the chance to take Yukie away and live the rest of our lives in luxury…in peace!”
Nobuo looked at her. “You don’t honestly believe that she would let you live, do you?”
Kaori exhaled a cloud of smoke savagely. “She gave me her word.”
“She also gave her father her word,” Nobuo pointed out. “He ended up dead. Just like your father. Just like you if you do this, Kaori.”

Kaori drew deeply on her cigarette before she replied angrily. Then she wheeled on Nobuo.
“This is fine for you,” she snapped. “You have been dealing with this shit all your life. This is all new to me.”
Kaori broke down in tears. She was at the end of her rope, her young emotions running wild.
Nobuo opened his arms and she collapsed into them, crying uncontrollably. All of the emotions of the past few days she had been holding in all this time came pouring out of her.
He just held her tightly against his chest and just let her cry.

Nobuo still had his arm around her shoulders as they walked inside the house.
“Thank you, Nobuo,” Kaori murmured. Then she went upstairs to find Yukie.
Soon afterwards, she came running downstairs. Her jacket was now off and her holstered gun flopped under her left arm.
“Where’s Yukie?” Kaori snapped. “Masao!”
Masao came running. “Yes, oyabun?”
“Where is Yukie?”

Masao smiled as if forced to reveal a secret. “She went to the grocery store in town. She wanted to cook for you. It was to be a surprise.”
“Damn,” Kaori said, suspecting trouble. “She should have been back by now.”
Masao nodded patiently. “I sent some men with her, oyabun. Perhaps she stopped somewhere else. She is safe.”
An armed man whose name Kaori had forgotten walked in with a sealed envelope. “A messenger just delivered this for the oyabun,” he said.
Kaori’s pulse quickened. She knew it. Yukie!
Nobuo poured over the envelope for a few moments, then opened it. A DVD was inside.
“Play it,” Kaori ordered.

Nobuo put the DVD in, turned on the big screen TV.
The screen lit up to show the office she had been in earlier this evening. In the same upholstered chair sat Yukie, a ball gag in her mouth, her hands bound behind her back. An armed woman held a nasty looking automatic weapon at her head.
“Yukie!” Kaori cried.

Michiko walked into the view of the camera.
“Hello, Kaori,” Michiko said, again with the fake smile. “I am so glad we are on a first name basis now.” She paused as she walked over to beside Yukie. “I must ask you to forgive me for killing a few more of your men, but I just had to have this beautiful prize.” Michiko grabbed Yukie by the chin. “I can see why you are so fond of her. She is quite cute. I bet she’s quite the little tiger between the sheets too.”

Kaori stared angrily at the screen, her cheeks turning red. She had been so stupid. Not only did she spurn Michiko’s advances, angering her that way, she had also given her the extra bargaining chip that was Yukie all on her own. Now her lover’s life was in danger and it was all her fault.
Michiko leaned into the camera. “Just a little incentive for you to take my deal. You have until noon, my dear. After that, I cannot guarantee her safety.” She smiled. “I will promise to save her virtue until then as well, as much as I want to have her myself.”
Michiko backed up so Yukie was back in view. “Noon, Kaori. Or she dies. Slowly. Painfully.”
The image winked out.

The room was quiet as Kaori fired up a cigarette, her eyes blazing with anger.
“Michiko made a fatal mistake,” Kaori stated.
Nobuo almost smiled at her reaction. “What was that?”
“She pissed me off,” Kaori said, her eyes aflame just like the burning end of her cigarette.

To Be Continued........