Page 108 of Cunning Lies
Outside, the rain drizzles on our skin, like the storm never happened. The body is gone and a stream of water dances between the rocks. I let out a breath, then clutch Kenzo’s hand. He kisses the top of my head. We walk toward his Challenger, and a few slivers of the pink sunset sneak between the storm clouds, promising that life moves on.
And so, we go home.
EPILOGUE
KENZO
three months later
Scrolls hang on the wall,depicting the deities of the sun, war, and thunder, with twelve candles lighting the altar in front of them. Vi is sandwiched between Tomo and me, all of us in traditional kimonos, a horde of yakuza surrounding us for the ceremony. I pour the sake into Tomo’s cup, then pour some into a smaller cup for Vi. Tomo drinks his sake, then nods to her, and she drinks hers.
Sakazuki, the sake sharing ceremony, is a ritual I have enduredmanytimes before.Begrudgingly.Mostly as a guest, but once as the newest kobun, and another time when I joined the leading ranks of the Endo-kai as the sokaiya. Usually, I hate this ceremony. It means sitting for a long time. Waiting for outdated rituals to finish. Sake sipping, instead of sake bombs. But with Vi, it’s different. This is more important than a wedding; it symbolizes that Vi, despite her history with us, is dedicated to the Endo-kai. She’s officially part of our family now.
This is her blood oath.
Tomo and Vi exchange cups, drinking each other’s sake, then Vi wraps her cup in a small piece of paper, tucking it in her pocket, an act that symbolizes her complete loyalty to Tomo. The two of them offer more sake to the deities represented at the altar, and even though it’s all formal and shit, I can’t stop humming along to “Sweet Emotion” by Aerosmith. We played the song on the way here, and it just fits. I don’t care where we are in a year, as long as I’m with her.
Once the ceremony is over, I swallow my wife up in a hug and lift her off of the ground.
“You’re the fucking yakuza now, baby,” I laugh.
She smacks my shoulder. “Never would have believed a born-again virgin like me would end up here, working for a bunch of criminals, did you?”
I kiss her forehead. “Of course I did. You were practically born into this life. You just needed the right family.”
She giggles, and the whole yakuza, including the newest members, join us at the strip club. The Gilded Stage is in full swing, and Tomo, like the party master he is, has the entire VIP section reserved for us for the night. Yakuza money is flying, the champagne is plentiful, and the strippers are happy.
Cherry sits beside Vi and raises her glass of champagne.
“Nowwe’re sisters,” Cherry says. “Omedetou, Vi-chan.”
I’m pretty sure Cherry is technically older than Vi, but not by much. I’m about to start shit with Cherry for belittling my wife for using the suffix ‘chan,’ but when Cherry pulls Vi in for an uncharacteristic hug, I stop. Cherry is serious, then. Seeing them hug fills me with pride. My family is coming together.Finally.
Ronin raises his glass and nods to Vi. “Kanpai,” he says.
She raises her glass too. “Kanpai!”
They both drink and I do too. Ronin still hasn’t gone through the sakazuki ceremony himself, though I bet he’d jump on it in a heartbeat. It’s going to take a lotmorefor him to prove himself to the Endo-kai, but he’s still here, celebrating Vi’s new status. And for once, we’re not thinking about the upcoming war with the Ito-gumi. We’re simply enjoying family. I want to keep it going.
“Next up, irezumi,” I say, poking Vi in the arm. She squirms in her seat. “What? You don’t want a full body tattoo?”
“That’s not the kind of pain Ilike,” she says.
My dick twitches at the thought of the kind of pain shedoeslike—her neck bound in rope, strung out on adrenaline, her pussy so sensitive, it’s guaranteed to gush in seconds. I fiddle with her wedding ring, wishing time would speed up. We have to stay at the club to make our appearance, but I’m eager to get this over with so I can show Vi her gift.
“Good thing I prefer your ass bare anyway,” I say, and we kiss so hard that Niko scoffs under his breath.
“Get a room,” he says. He’s never liked public displays of affection, not since his fallout with his ex. But I don’t care. This is Vi’s night.
“We can get a VIP room,” I say to Vi. “Think one of these strippers will be our audience in a private room?”
Vi giggles, and that infectious laugh warms me.
“That sounds fun,” she says.
My woman loves being watched, no matter who it is. And right on time, a stripper with construction cone orange hair stands in front of us.
“Hi,” she says, curtseying towards Vi. “I’m Lily. Do you two want to play tonight?”
