Game Play

[WARNING: MOB VIOLENCE]

Staring Kizuna dead in the eyes gave me the creeps, but I knew that like most animals, you can't let them see you sweat. However, my mind went back to Ray's text. It said to meet his brother at 2PM in his office. Yet, by the looks of Kizuna, it didn't seem like he was expecting me at all. Secondly, why would Ray put me face to face with the man he asked me to avoid.

"I'm not the entertainment," I said, unwavering, "I'm here to get what I'm owed."

Kizuna's eyes sparkled, his face coming awfully close to mine. It was in that moment, that he snapped from a smile to an agitated grin. "If you don't undress and bend over, I'll force you on your knees. Do you understand?"

I stood firm, as his snarl reverberated in my ear. "And I won't be gentle, not with a big mouth rat like you."

Yahiko and two other men, the same ones from yesterday that were with Kizuna and Ray, were standing in front of me. Yahiko didn't seem the slight bit interested in what was happening before him. The other two just folded their arms and watched.

What was he expecting me to do? Comply? My heart began to race, and in that moment, I felt like Ray had abandoned me. Was this all a game to him? Or...was he trying to make a point. That my partnership with the mafia was nothing more than me selling my soul to the devil.

Either way, I didn't budge. I wasn't going back to that life. I was no longer interested in living in fear and there was no way, not in this place, that I would be degraded as such.

"Fuck you." I said plainly, as Yahiko's eyes finally settled on mine.

In a fit of rage, Kizuna grasped my throat and shoved me into the door frame. I gasped, the pain from my head hitting the door, escaped my mouth. The paintings dropped from my hand as I latched onto Kizuna's arm, trying to stop the mad dog from choking me.

"What did you say?" He spat, his grasp tightening.

My lungs began to pulsate under his strength. However, it wasn't the first time in my life that I've been under someone else's paws. So, even amidst the situation, and amongst the fear, I stared Kizuna straight in the eyes: my fingers slipping in between his to loosen his grip.

"I said," I gasped, "fuck you."

Red veins started bulging from his eyes, his rage increasing as he lifted his fist to teach me a lesson.

"Stop." Yahiko sighed, exhaling the smoke from his cigar. "Let him go, Kizuna."

I stared into the monster's eyes as he frustratingly let go of his hold, as I inhaled roughly: but tried not to give him the satisfaction of the bruise I felt throbbing on my neck. Spitting in my direction, he pushed past me to go down the hallway. His goons followed after him as I picked up the canvases I dropped and gathered myself.

I heard the door boom behind me as it closed, making me jump a little but it didn't seem as if Yahiko noticed my reaction. As I stood before him, I couldn't shake the events that had happened. Is this what it was going to be like working with the mob? If so...I wasn't interested...and even more so, where was Ray? The person who told me he'd take care of me and keep me safe left me here to rot, and even more concerning...I felt like he did this on purpose.

Yahiko placed his cigar in his mouth, leaning on his desk as he stared ahead at me. His eyes were combing me over and I know he noticed my new haircut and my piercings. I didn't know what to say in the uncomfortable silence and I was afraid of what would happen if I spoke first.

He inhaled, taking out his cigar and exhaling the bark-scented smoke. "You're early."

Early? "Sir," I said pointedly, "Ray told me to be here at 2."

"Did he?" He said, almost as if he didn't believe me.

He motioned for me to hand him the paintings and I handed them over without hesitation. They were all put together with a large rubber band as I watched him turn to unravel them.

Clack.

Once after another the paintings were spread on his desk, the smoke escaping from above his head as he looked them over.

"I apologize for earlier," he finally said, picking up one of my medium size paintings, "but you handled Kizuna better than expected. Not even my best men would stand up to him like that."

Was that a compliment? Did he think risking my neck like that came in the job description? My fist tightened, allowing me to stop words from coming out of my mouth. I hated, more than anything, being someone's show pony. That's not why I took this job.

With the silence, he continued to review my artwork. "And these are good, really good."

He turned to me then, his cigarette in-between his middle and pointer finger. His golden eyes latching onto their prey. "I looked up your tuition for Tokyo University of the Arts."

I tried not to look surprised. I figured he would do such a thing.

"It's $6,000 this year for your entrance fee and tuition. That's not including books and what have you, so I'll make it an even ten upfront to knock out the costs for your first year. Every week onward, I'll pay you $1000 a week to do with as you please."

I looked at him, my eyes shaking in awe. I could pay off my first year of tuition with that! I have enough money for the dorms at this time, and if I use my money wisely, by the end of summer break, I will have enough cash to pay for my second year of college as well. Yet, after being bullied by Kizuna...my mouth had other plans.

"2," I said, latching onto Yahiko's eyes, "two thousand a week and it's a deal."

Yahiko smirked, placing the cigar back in his mouth. "Ah, Ray was right about you."

His smoke graced my face as he drew nearer, "You've got a lot of spunk. However, let me forewarn you. The deeper down the rabbit hole you get, not even your new persona will be enough to drag you out from it."

I looked up at him, feeling like a mouse compared to a lion. He was right. I wasn't from his world, but he underestimated how I grew up. His kind might have run the streets, but I survived them: and that alone was enough for me to stand confidently.

"Two thousand, take it or leave it."

Yahiko chuckled, removing his cigar and turning away from me. "Two thousand it is."

I bowed, accepting the offer and turning to leave.

"Oh, and one more thing," Yahiko called as he gazed at my portraits, "if you don't get a text from me, ignore its instructions."

"Yes, sir." I said, taking my leave.

After I closed the door behind me, I sighed: letting the cool and disfigured carving graze against my back. What have I gotten myself into? My neck throbbed, as my mind calmed and brought back the insanity of my seemingly normal day with the mob. I gently rubbed the back of my neck, walking towards the door as I heard the elevator ding.

As the doors slid open, I was faced with Ray. He was in gym clothes and had a towel around his neck. He was drying the sweat that sat on his face when he noticed I was in the hallway.

"Niko? Shit...is it 2 already?"

I didn't even answer him, too enraged by his display of stupidity. I brushed past him with my head down and headed for my ride out of here. However, his arm slammed into the wall: blocking my path.

"Niko, what's going..."

I couldn't hold it in, and I had tried so well to hide the angst that swelled within my heart. However, looking up at him I could feel the tears gather in my eyes. He left me out to dry, just like they all did.

"Get out of my way, Ray! Move!"

Ray looks flustered, and confusion painted his bright eyes until they latched onto the darkened print on my throat. He slid his down to my waist, not letting me move as he lifted my chin to look at the bruise.

"Who did this?"

"Who the fuck do you think?" I said, pushing him off of me. "You're the one who lead me here. You're the one who wanted this to happen, didn't you?"

My voice rose as his eyes began to shake in agitation, "What was this? Some fucked up hazing to prove that I didn't want to join the mob?! Well, congratufuckulations, Ray! I do-"

Ray's arm quickly grabbed me, cutting off my words. I tried to wriggle out of his grip, but it was firm: much tighter than Kizuna's.

"Get off, me!" I screamed, only to be shoved into a room.

Ray blocked my path, watching the tears climb down my eyes.

"Wait for me, I'll fix this."