Dark World Dealings (Yuna & Malin's 1x1)

http://i59.tinypic.com/jv3hpf.jpghttp://i59.tinypic.com/jv3hpf.jpghttp://i59.tinypic.com/jv3hpf.jpg

"Mhm .. hai. Perfectly understood. Arigatou. This will prove to be a good choice on your behalf, make no mistake. Now, I need to go break the news to her as I'm sure you do with your own. Ja ne."

Thirty-eight year old Hitsuki Takeda stood up from his chair and let out a deep sigh. Despite the words that had left the prideful man's lips, he knew they were just a bit ironic. This decision was far more beneficial for himself and his family than the other party. Not to say this wouldn't be good for both sides, mind you. But admittedly, his yakuza clan had needed one hell of a miracle for years.

That had thus came in the form of this new agreement. Aloud, he would tell everyone, including his daughter, it was for a ceasefire. This was true to a certain extent. But there was much more besides only that. And unfortunately, Nina was perhaps his biggest weakness. It was the only thing which made Hitsuki keep quiet on the other motive.

He realized that would likely be a mistake on his behalf. But honestly, she didn't need to know just yet. Maybe when she took over. But before then?

His head shook no as he reassured himself this was the correct course of action. Finally, his blue eyes moved away from the window behind his desk and chair as his feet began to lead himself out. Slowly, he left his own study that was also an office and began to navigate his way around the building.

It wasn't anything too fancy. Yet, it had all the necessary rooms plus some bonus ones, including an area where some of his members tended to play billiards and darts a lot, a swimming pool, and finally -- the dojo. As he got closer to the fighting arena, the tell-tale signs coming from inside suggested that was where Nina had been.

Should have guessed .. he mused, a small smirk coming across his face as his daughter came into view. Sure enough, she was working on her Aikido techniques with her private sensei.

Hitsuki had always viewed Nina as his pride and joy. But her ability to have adapted so well into the Japanese lifestyle despite her mother having been American truly impressed him the most. His eyes closed for a few brief moments as he allowed himself to send up a silent prayer to his deceased lover; may the gods continue to watch over her soul. She'd died too early several years ago, falling to a bullet that had been meant for him.

Alas though, that was how the yakuza world went. Some days, you had damn good ones. Other times ... not so much. The day his wife had sacrificed herself for him had been one that fell under the latter.

His head shook as he looked back over at the scene, letting it continue for a few more moments. Finally, he raised his right hand and snapped his fingers, grabbing the attention of his daughter and her sensei. "Dismissed," he merely said.

While the instructor said nothing, knowing better, Nina was .. a different story. For all the traits she had and hadn't inherited from him, his attitude had been one Hitsuki definitely wished she had avoided. Well, somewhat. There were times she would have to be harsh and strict, much like the world she was raised in.

"Oi! What in the hell was that for?!"

Blue eyes narrowed as Hitsuki slowly sauntered into the dojo, saying nothing for a bit. "You will remember to get rid of that tone with me. Anyone else here, I have no control over. I, however, am a different issue. Now then ... to answer your question ... I have some big news for you. You may want to sit down."

When Nina remained standing, likely in defiance, his smirk widened a bit. "Alright. But don't say I didn't warn you. You are to be wed off."

Nina stayed quiet, seeming to double and even triple check herself. This was a joke, right? A dream even? A few pinches said the very opposite, that this was real.

"The fuck do you mean?! We're in modern times, not the Feudal age of Japan! You ... can't be serious ... "

His eyes narrowed further as his hands went over his chest. "Tell me the part where I said I was joking." he simply replied.

Nina thought more on the idea ... before her head moved from side to side. "Fuck no. I don't want marriage ... not like this."

As quickly as it had went over his chest, his right hand raised and landed upon her cheek. It wasn't often Hitsuki resorted to these tactics. But now was one of those moments he had to remind his nineteen year old daughter where she was in this family.

"Tough shit," he hissed, turning his back to her. "The arrangement has been made. This is no longer about what you want but what our clan needs. Grow up and stop acting like you're fifteen. You're nineteen, an adult, and you will accept this. Do whatever you wish for the rest of the day but I highly suggest you begin packing. You will meet your betrothed in a few days."

Leaving Nina to take all of the information and news in, Hitsuki finally left the dojo.

As much as the slap had stung, the realization was far worse. Marriage? Let alone to someone she didn't know? Nina felt her emotions swimming, changing from anger to confusion to denial and repeating, sometimes going to other ones.

"... But I ... "

That was as far as she could get, hardly able to say much more. It was hard to make Nina speechless. But her father had definitely done just that. Her feet instinctively began to lead her out of the dojo and towards her room. She'd think more on this in the shower. Right now, she was at too much of a loss to properly comprehend anything that she'd just been told.

Katsu sat in the large beach front house that his family called home. The Shoji doors were left slid open on the hot day, which lead into the front guarden. This room was often used as a dojo for teaching the basics of self defense, but at the moment it was Katsu's meditation room. As he sat in silence listening to the bird song outside, feeling the sea breeze as it both carried the bird song and the ocean current into the room. He meditative for a long moment enjoying the silence and tranquility around him.

That was until his father opened a door from the hallway and walked in. Walking in the man sat down across from his son, and let out a long sigh. Taking out a pack of amarcan brand cigarets from his pocket. "I have some news for you." He said lightly as he took out the smoke finding a box of matches.

Katsu's nose twitched he hated the smell of tobacco smoke and his father knew it. He had no doubt that the man was just trying to get on his nerves, but at the same time he did his best to ignore it. Rather he went back to his breathing though one of his eyes opened to see the old man. He didn't want news at the moment heck he was sure that no matter what the news was it was going to be bad. His father had a tendancy to only share the bad news with him, and not the good.

"Your going to be getting a wife." His father said rather bluntly. "The first born of the Takeda family has been offered to you so that we can finally put all this rivalry to war nonsense to rest." The man was rather calm as he pulled out a box of matches and struck one allowing him to light his cigarette.

"Wait.. what?" The Takeda family was so small? why even bother with this kind of agreement? They had been winning the war between them and slowly taking away the Takeda family's land and influince from them for the past 4 years, why now suddenly turn heel and agree to co-establishment? And what was more why did he suddenly have to take their first born as a wife? "Isn't she a Hafu? why allow her into the family?"

The father let out a laugh. "Stigma's like those don't serve our family any better than old superstitions. Besides I've seen photo's of the girl, and it's not really like she's joining the family, just marrying you. It will be up to you on how to treat her within reason."

Katsu winced once again at the smell of the smoke and got up ready to leave the room. It was as he had predicted pretty bad news. A wife? Damn it he was still so young and had wanted to play the field a little more. Yet here he was being forced beyond his will to take something he doubted he could uphold. Whats more was that this reeked of desperation from the Takeda family, and didn't sit right with him. He let out a long breath and left the room glad to be free of the smell of smoke.

"They should be arriving later today, the ceromony has already been arranged. Go make yourself ready."

Katsu blinked... when the hell did his parents arrange all this? a ceremony like a wedding just out of the blue? Walking into the washroom he got undressed and went into the shower. The last thing he wanted was a wedding, but... "that's life." He thought darkly as he walked into the shower and closed the glass door behind him.

http://i59.tinypic.com/jv3hpf.jpghttp://i59.tinypic.com/jv3hpf.jpghttp://i59.tinypic.com/jv3hpf.jpg

Normally, warm water always helped Nina calm down. But today, it seemed to fuel her rage on. This was a god-awful joke, right?! Yet the barely existing sting upon her cheek reminded Nina this was real. Very much so in fact. Her father truly had come in and just said she was going to be wed. Her head bowed slightly as despair began to overwhelm her. Why? Why was this happening? Was she not thought about anymore? This wasn't much better than being tossed into a pit with vipers or den of lions. So why in the hell was her father arranging for this? Tears of frustration began to form, slowly beginning to fall as her fist impacted the wall. It definitely hurt but not nearly as much as the sensation of feeling as if she were betrayed by her own father.

"Why .. ??" she murmured weakly, her body trembling. A part of her couldn't help but wonder if her mom was here, would she stop this? Be able to talk her father out of this? Probably. She had been the yin to his yang, his much better half. In fact, her name was chosen completely by her mother. Even before the demise of her mom, Lucia Thompson had managed to negotiate with Hitsuki that Nina keep the American surname as opposed to the Japanese one. At this rate though, it almost seemed better for her father. The Takeda name wouldn't ever truly be 'lost'.

Son of a bitch. Did they plan this?!

The very thought made a knot form in her stomach. Each time it clenched, Nina let out infuriated growls and winces. Her head shook in disbelief. She didn't want to believe her mom had voluntarily helped plan this out. But the nagging sensation continued to haunt her.

"This can't be ... no .... " Another pained punch met the wall followed by a frustrated and incredibly desperate scream.

Hitsuki sighed, his head shaking from side to side. "Fuck sakes ... " he murmured, groaning lightly. Clearly, Nina was going to need some ... assistance in this new role. That was fine. In truth, he'd been ready to resort to the next step. This did not mean, however, that he liked it. Producing his cell phone, he hit the Japanese symbol for five and got one of his right-hand men on the other line.

"Shinjiro? Yeah, I need you. Consider this the favor you owe me. Make sure she goes to Osaka. Mhm, that's it. Keep her held, bound, whatever. But she's not getting outta this. Once she's in Osaka, you can come back when the transport is far enough away from her. Yeah, I know Kyoto and Osaka are practically neighbors. But it'd be stupid of her to try to run back here. She's smart enough, she'll realize why. Mhm ... fine. That'll suffice for an amount. We got a deal then? Good. Ja ne."

A deep exhale left Hitsuki's lips as he hung up. Even with how calmly he'd made the negotiation, there was still a part of him that truly hated all of this. Even if Nina wouldn't begin to believe him, he actually disliked it even more than herself. The next parts - one of them at least - would be revealed to her when she arrived. Until she got wed, Nina would be more like a servant than a fiance. More than that, she wasn't being wed as a ceasefire. That was true, but only partly. This was also to increase the influence of the Takeda family.

However, Hitsuki had taken great care and precautions to ensure that only Katsu's father knew of this. Otherwise, everyone else, especially those whom might be from other families, were kept in the dark.

Twenty minutes later, the shower was heard shutting off and slowly, Nina stepped out with a towel around her, concealing her breasts and other intimate areas. When she arrived in her room, the first thing she noticed were her bags already packed and ready to go. The second was Shinjiro patiently waiting, leaning against a wall.

"Get dressed, Nina-hime. You're going once you get decent. And please ... don't try to run like a baka, hm?"

".... Fuck you." she growled, slowly moving inside and beginning to go through her drawers. " .... Do you have to be there?"

"Can you honestly say you'll be smart about this?"

When no answer was given, Shinjiro shrugged, sighing softly. "I thought as much. So .. yes. On a serious note ... and you didn't hear this from me ... but none of us like this."

"So why the fuck is this happening?! I don't understand!"

"Your father has already explained it, hasn't he? Rest assured though, this ... was a very last-resort tactic." As much as it pained Shinjiro to even go through with the orders, he was no fool. Hitsuki would have his head, literally, if he'd refused. Besides, he'd been close with Nina since she was a child. It seemed fitting and a true honor that Hitsuki had trusted him among anyone else to do this for him.

Nina glared over at Shinjiro for a bit, letting an irked "Tch .. " pass her lips before she slipped into a pair of jeans and tank top, a silk set of dark blue bra and panties underneath each. Her eyes looked into Shinjiro's, almost pleadingly, before down to her bags. "Please don't .... "

The look she soon got, however, suggested that Shinjiro was as serious as her father. Her desperation increased along with her pulse as she tried to think. Was there really no way out of this?

"Nina-hime, don't be stupid. Grab them and let's go. Onegai .. don't make me do anything besides escort you. This is hard enough for me as it is. Don't make it worse."