Come live with me

The blue eyes blinked open and saw bamboo panels with ornamental paper lamps on them.

The young man's gaze slowly adjusted to his surroundings as his scalp was pounding with pain. He studied the timber frames and elegant patterns all around him, thinking about where he could have ended up.

His body had become limp but he forced himself to stand up from the tatami, only to feel a wave of dizziness wash over him as he tried to balance himself on his feet. He mustered all of his strength as he shuffled his way toward the shoji door and carefully slid it open.

Natsuo stepped out into a large room with checkered windows, allowing traces of fading daylight to filter through. Strong, aromatic smoke lingered in the air, filling his nostrils with a scent of herbs and spices.

A man in his thirties caught Natsuo's eye as his presence dominated the place with uncomfortable energy. He was standing in front of an elaborately designed shrine, surrounded by various candles and incense sticks.

"Good evening," he greeted in a husky tone as he turned to look at his guest in the distance. He had black dreadlocks in a loose ponytail and symbolic yakuza tattoos that showed under the edges of his black robe. His maroon-brown irises pierced through the shadows as he spoke and a hint of an enigmatic smile formed on his lips.

"Who are you?" Natsuo asked, becoming more uneasy as he glanced at the two black-suited guards at the main door.

"Why don't you sit down, so we can have a talk?" the tattooed man suggested, pointing to a cushion on the floor.

The strict expressions on the guards' faces made it clear that they were urging their reluctant outsider to obey the man without hesitation.

His face was contorted with discomfort as he tried to settle into a comfortable position on the cushion. Uncertainty pounded in his stomach as he focused on the mysterious figure before him, remembering how the thugs had mentioned something about oyabun.

"Are you content with the way things are in your life or do you feel like something needs to change?" the stranger asked as he stared intently at his guest.

"Not everyone was born with a golden spoon," Natsuo responded stiffly.

"That is true. But despite our backgrounds, we can all make a conscious effort to forge our own paths and blaze our own trails," the stranger replied with a motivational glint in his eye, as if daring the young man to challenge his statement.

A loud noise reverberated throughout the room as the sliding door flew open.

Natsuo's face suddenly lost all emotion as his former classmate made his entrance. His eyes were wide and unblinking, reflecting the surprise of the unexpected intrusion.

"I apologize if I interrupted," Jiro stated with a frown as he straightened his bow.

"We were just starting to have a productive talk," the man said, giving his guest's shoulder a friendly pat despite the younger man's glare.

"Oyassan, I believe there has been a misunderstanding. We used to go to school together and his family is quite influential," Jiro acknowledged respectfully and bowed a second time.

Natsuo was stunned by his blatant lie and felt completely confused by the sudden turn of events. His head hurt as he tried to understand the situation, and the more he thought about it, the more questions he had.

A skeptical look crossed the stranger's face as he narrowed his eyes, but he eventually waved his hand, signaling that they were free to leave.

Jiro stepped closer and reached his hand out to help Natsuo stand up, but the smaller man declined his offer. The man in a leather jacket bowed deeply to the tattooed figure, before gesturing for his ex-bully to follow him.

(A while later)

The two of them walked out of the grand mansion, with the brunet following the white-haired one as they passed through the torii gate. More suited men loomed in the shadows and observed their way out of the residence with unflinching gazes, never taking their eyes off them.

A charcoal gray sports car with tinted windows waited in the yard, parked carelessly as if in a hurry. Jiro opened the driver seat, turning to see his acquaintance, who was hesitating in his steps.

"Come on, get in. I can drive us back," he said gently, motioning for him to get into the car.

"With... you?" Natsuo muttered.

"Well, unless you want to walk back to the city," Jiro commented amusedly, glancing at the trees and mountains around them. He gave his former schoolmate an encouraging smile, but it did little to cheer up the other man.

Natsuo swallowed as he remembered the kittens left behind, brushing aside his nervousness. It took him a while to realize that he only needed to press a button on the door, rather than pull a handle, to enter the fancy car.

"That man was Aoi Kamiwara. He is the oyabun of the largest yakuza clan here in Tokyo," Jiro stated as he drove away with one hand on the wheel and the other lightly tapping the door. He was looking ahead with a relaxed, yet alert gaze as they headed down the long road.

The atmosphere between them was intense as Natsuo kept his attention firmly on the window and chose to concentrate on the patches of trees that passed them by.

"And you were probably attacked by their freelancers. They are not actual members but hired to do jobs the yakuza don't want to be associated with," he added with a sigh.

"Are you one of them?" Natsuo asked as his eyes saw a glimpse of ink peeking out from under his sleeves.

"I am a member," Jiro admitted, keeping his face neutral.

Never in a million years would Natsuo have guessed that the little ghost from school would one day be part of society's most feared criminal group. It was hard for him to believe that what he was seeing was real - the timid and bullied boy from school had truly vanished and in his place now sat a hardened man.

"How did you know I was there?"

Jiro almost seemed caught up by that question, clearing his throat before replying.

"I promised to train new members, so I was summoned, but I had no idea it would be you. I had to tell a lie there to get you out, so I'm sorry for that."

The brunet was becoming increasingly aware of the other man's presence, feeling his heart racing just from sitting so close to him. He was suddenly overwhelmed with a strange sensation, unable to tell if it was stress or something else, but it made him sweat and his hands tremble.

"They do this sort of thing. In short, they recruit new members from the streets and lure them into their empire."

Natsuo could only listen as his voice deepened with each word. He caught a hint of his earthy cologne as it wafted through the car, adding to the tingle in his head.

"I will take you to my place so that you can rest and - "

"I'm fine, thanks. Just drop me off in the north," Natsuo said, thinking he needed to check on the kittens left without their mother as soon as possible.

Jiro glanced at the passenger who clutched his tattered clothing tightly as if it were the only thing holding him together, but said nothing in response.

(A while later)

Natsuo was relieved to be out of the car and free from the confusing emotions the driver had sparked within him. He bolted away from the vehicle, almost losing his balance from the sudden movement, but he managed to stay upright and make it to his hiding place.

There were no signs of the two kittens, but their motionless mother was still lying on the ground. Natsuo was engulfed in sadness as he looked at the dead body of his animal companion.

He kicked one of the cans of cat food and let out a frustrated curse. The small feline had been his only friend for so long and he had been extremely appreciative of her existence. She had brought him warmth and comfort on the coldest nights, snuggling and purring next to him. She had been the only reason for him to take action and look after himself, so he would be able to take care of her and her babies in return.

Natsuo kneeled beside her corpse, wrapping one of the donated blankets around her and whispering an apology for not helping her. His tears were about to flow freely, but he was startled by a sudden step behind him.

"Do you live here?"

The brunet froze in shock as he heard the voice he had run from moments before. He didn't want to turn around and show him the tears that had gathered on his eyes, so he quickly wiped them away and stood up, holding the light bundle in his arms.

"W-why would you follow me?" he asked hesitantly.

"I saw you stumble and figured you might need some help," his former classmate explained as he looked around the makeshift shelter and moth-eaten sheets.

Natsuo heaved a deep sigh, feeling exhausted from the emotional roller coaster he had just ridden through. Even though he was appreciative of his schoolmate's kindness, he was still wary of his intentions - there was no way Jiro had done everything for him out of the goodness of his heart.

The member of the yakuza glanced at the small bundle his previous bully was holding. He lowered his gaze as he approached him, but the other flinched further away at the sight of him.

"I am sorry that this happened to you. And to your... friend."

Natsuo looked at the dead cat he held in his hands. He stroked her head, her favorite spot behind her ear, and swallowed the knot that had formed in his throat.

"You died protecting your kids, didn't you... if only all mothers were like you..." he murmured quietly.

A sad smile formed on Jiro's face, almost as if he was agreeing with the other man before his expression turned serious again.

"Come live with me," he suggested out of nowhere.