Page 77 of Curses & Kitsune

Hirano reaches into his briefcase. He pulls out a tiny USB and a laptop. Once the laptop is on, he sticks in the USB and says, “I suspected something was wrong. So I hid a camera on his person. Please watch and listen closely.” He turns up the volume on his laptop as a video starts to play.

In the video, the camera points right at Akira, who has a cup of tea in front of him. Takada’s voice says, “Thank you for meeting with me.”

Akira sips his tea. “Just spit it out.”

A low growl comes from Takada. “Sounds like you really put those Horikoshi-gumi fools in their place. For the intel I provided on the group’s location, you owe me one.”

The ward bosses begin to whisper among themselves, and tension stiffens my spine.

Through the screen, Akira scoffs. “Oh. Is that so?”

“The Atsushi-kai. I want them gone. They’ll be holding a meeting in one of their pachinko parlors. They’ll be vulnerable.” Takada pushes a briefcase across the table. “I will make it worth your while.”

Akira opens the case and counts out bundles of cash, setting them on the table. The conversation goes on, with Akira agreeing to strike the Atsushi-kai. A shiver goes through me. I remember that day. I’d shown up to aid them in the attack, and the hunters overwhelmed us. I had no idea that brutal attack was Takada’s doing. So, this is how Takada was able to get Akira to cooperate with him, through bribery. One by one, the bosses start to mutter among themselves, the scent of their fury palpable.

I ask, my voice thick with anger, “Why would he do this?”

Hirano says, “To expand his own territory. Many bosses were killed during these attacks, leaving a vacuum he wishes to fill, thereby growing his power throughout Tokyo and beyond. This is not the righteous path of a yakuza, but of a coward and a traitor! He must be stopped.”

The bosses voice their heated agreement.

Once the room has quieted, I say. “Thank you, Hirano. Takada will answer for what he’s done.” And I know just where to start. “Please excuse me.” Pulling out my phone, I dial his number and walk out into the hall.

“Noboru,” he purrs into my ear, making me shiver in revulsion. “It’s been some time since I heard from you. Is the kitsune dealt with?”

Growling lowly, I say, “Jinta is dead.”

Takada is silent.

“I had no choice but to put him down. My wolf is going crazy. I’m losing my damn mind.”

Takada’s swallow is audible through the speaker. “What do you want, Noboru?”

“I… accept your offer. I can’t face the hunters on my own, not with my wolf ready to rampage out of control. Come and claim me. My wolf needs you, Takada. We’ll destroy the hunters together. Namikawa’s house. Meet me.”

I can hear the lust dripping from Takada’s voice when he murmurs, “I’m on my way.”

He hangs up, and I snort. I’ve always been his greatest weakness.

And now… we wait.

An hour later, tires crunch outside the house. The front door in the hall opens. “Noboru?” Takada’s voice calls, breathless and eager.

I sweep my gaze around the bosses. They’re ready. I call out, “In here!”

Footsteps pound the hardwood as Takada marches through the house. The sliding door flies open, and Takada stumbles to a halt. The frenzied lust darkening his eyes shifts to panic as his gaze darts from the gathered bosses to me and then to Hirano, who stares him down.

“What’s the meaning of this?” Takada asks, a tremor barely audible in his voice. His eyes bulge when they land on Jinta. “I… I thought…”

I motion to a chair. “Have a seat, Takada.” Oh, it feels so good to see him squirm.

Takada’s throat bobs, sweat breaking out on his forehead as his scent betrays his panic. He takes a seat. “To what do I owe the honor?” he asks, attempting a smile at the bosses glaring at him.

I motion toward the laptop where the screen shows Akira sitting across from Takada. Hirano plays the video, and Takada’s face goes pale. “It’s… it’s a trick,” he stammers, eyes wide and panicked. “Someone’s framed me.”

“Really? You’ve got a body double out there with the exact same voice?” I point out.

Takada swallows hard, eyes close to bulging. “I… I can explain—”

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