#Fuyuhiko is such a bitch. But he does forgive eventually. Maybe even makes up for it

[hajihiko]

Just you and me and me and you just us and our mutual very close friend Steve

[thewildwilds]

Okay, Peko saw Fuyuhiko's abilities as a gambler but what do you think about Fuyuhiko seeing Peko's abilities as a yakuza? Maybe she can protect him in some situation (against police or vengeful gangs) or maybe he just sees her against some rival gang of her family or anything of the sort

You asked for it, YOU GOT IT.

If you’re just tuning in: Part 1 and Part 2

Friday nightrolls around and Fuyuhiko is on his way to another undergroundcasino. It’s Pekoyama-owned of course. (Practically all the casinosin a 50-mile radius are Pekoyama-owned.)

She’s not therewhen he arrives (ten pm on the dot). This place is fancier than thelast casino, full of nicely dressed dealers and low lighting andshiny floor tiles and old businessmen chomping on cigars.

He trades in afew large bills for chips and seats himself at a baccarat table,knowing he can easily quadruple his stake straight away.

(He can’t helpbut feel a little anxious. It’s not often he and Natsumi linger inone place where their past has enough time to catch up to them.)

Within an hourhe’s got a stack of chips ready to wager and bank. He’s nursing aglass of whiskey when Peko walks in. She looks just as immaculate asshe did last week with her black and gold kimono and herexpensive-ass hairpin and perfectly styled hair.

He knows she seeshim, but she’s playing it cool. She doesn’t approach him first.She walks around the casino chatting with patrons and not-so-subtlygoading a few of them to take out a loan in order to fuel theiraddictions after going in the red.

Eventually shemakes it to his table in a way that seems natural.

“Is luck onyour side tonight, Mr. Kuzuryuu?”

“As the fatesmay have it.”

“Should I beworried?”

Fuyuhiko smirksand that probably says enough.

“Will you bejoining me for a few hands again, princess?” He’s very obviouslybaiting her, gauging to see what she’ll do.

Peko’s eyesflit between him and her bodyguards. She tilts her chin up. “Isuppose I could spare a few minutes to entertain you.”

Fuyuhiko grinsand gestures grandly to the empty seat next to him. “‘Pleasure’sall mine.”

Before she canproperly seat herself, one of the other patrons, a pot-bellied man,comes stumbling forward pointing an accusing finger at Peko. “You.You dirty bitch. You’re already ruining the family. You decided tocome ruin this place too?”

The casino goessilent. To her credit, Peko staysremarkably composed. “Isthere a problem, sir?”

“Myproblem is there’s a bitchin our midsts who ispoisoning ourclan!”

Fuyuhiko bristlesbecause listen. He may be a vagrant and a scoundrel but as aman there are some things you just don’t do.

He doesn’t getthe chance to say anything because Peko’s small army of bodyguardsjump between her and the man. “You insane fool, you disrespect ourgreat leader’s only daughter. Apologize.”

“It is you whoare insane if you cannot see what this will do to us!”

“Hold yourtongue!”

“Gentlemen.Please.” Peko’s calm, clear voice cuts through the noise. “Youare treating one of our guests deplorably. This man clearly has someconcerns and he is within his rights to express them. Let him speak.”

Reluctantly, herbodyguards fall back in line.

“Forgenerations, my family has been loyal to the Pekoyama clan. Myfather, and my father’s father, and his father before that. Allserving under our great leaders. Men. Men gifted with power.And yet I am to believe that the fate of the clan is going to behanded over to this little girl, this bitch who is fit to benothing more than a back alley whore!”

It happens almosttoo quick for Fuyuhiko to process but one minute the man is closeenough to get in her face and the next he’s on the floor withPeko’s foot planted on his chest and her sword held to his throat.

“There appearsto be a bit of confusion. So allow me to clear the air.” Peko’svoice is venomous and steely, but she speaks loud enough for thewhole room to hear.

“It is truethat I have not yet succeeded the right to my family’s clan, but Iassure you, I am doing everything within my power so that, when thetime comes, there will be as smooth of a transition as possible, forall our members. My family has spent generations leading this clanunder a strict code of honor, and I intend to uphold it. Forexample…”

She slices onedeep cut along the man’s cheek. “Grant your fellow members therespect they deserve. Secondly…”

She does the sameto the other cheek. “Never behave in a manner that would beconsidered shameful to our humanitarian ways. And thirdly…”

The last cut shecarves across his collar. “Make no assumptions of your place in thegroup. And I can safely inform you that my position as a woman doesnot impede me in performing any and all duties that would be expectedof a future leader.

“But pleasedon’t misunderstand me, I do not intend to rule with malice andcruelty. I can be as merciful a leader as my father. I can. So foryou—” She glances down at the bleeding man whimpering beneath herfeet.

“Dojima,” hesqueaks.

“Dojima-san,for your transgressions, I forgive you. By the way, Dojima-san, areyou left-handed?”

He shakes hishead.

“I see.”

Inone fluid motion, she severs his right hand from his wrist.

While Dojimawrithes and howls on the floor, Peko delicately wipes the blood fromher blade with a handkerchief. “Please escort Dojima-san off thepremises. He’s disturbing the other patrons.”

Two of her menpractically carry the screaming Dojima out of the casino. Two othersclean up the blood and severed hand off the floor.

Peko addressesthe room again. “I hope you all will forget the terrible event youjust witnessed and enjoy the rest of your evening,” she says,flashing this little smile that says they’d do best to remember.

She turns back toFuyuhiko coolly. “I’m afraid I’ll have to postpone our game,Mr. Kuzuryuu. It seems there’s been a bit of an incident that willrequire my attention.” With a small tilt of her head, she grantshim an almost-smile and exits.

Fuyuhiko grabshis glass and downs the rest of it in a few heaving gulps.

For the rest ofthe evening he can’t concentrate, thoughts of Peko using the swordshe cherished enough to wager her pride filling his head. He bringsin a trifling 200,000 yen (hardly anything to write home about; hekeeps that much money in his wallet as spending cash) and to top itall off, he’s gonna have to stay in the area for another weekbecause like hell is he gonna let her think she’s won.

He leaves thecasino and hits a pachinko parlor. He hates pachinko. It’sthe lowest of the low when it comes to gambling; minimal stakes andno skill. But he’ll need to line his pockets somehow beforethe night is over.

Fuck. Natsumi’sgonna be pissed.