CHAPTER 12

Ayume Fujikawa – The Successor of Shadows

The Yamaguchi-gumi meeting hall was not a place for the weak. Only those with blood on their hands and power in their veins could stand here. Yet tonight, even the strongest among them sat in silent obedience.

They weren't waiting for a discussion.

They were waiting for a judgment.

The air was thick with tension, an unspoken fear hanging over every leader present. These were men who commanded entire factions, men who had ordered the deaths of hundreds. And yet, tonight, their gazes were lowered, their breaths measured.

Because tonight, they sat before the son of Shinji Fujikawa.

Ayume stood at the head of the table, posture relaxed yet commanding, dressed in a perfectly tailored black suit. His presence alone was enough to silence the room. He was not just another leader. He was the heir to a legacy carved in blood and dominance.

And every single person in this room knew one thing:

Shinji Fujikawa was a legend.

A man who, with a single order, could alter the balance of the underworld. They called him "One Hand in the Moon" because he had once slaughtered an entire organization with only one hand.

That was the kind of power Ayume had inherited.

But unlike his father, Ayume did not need to raise his voice or display his strength outright. His power lay in his mind—cold, calculating, and precise.

Tonight, he would prove that his rule was not a shadow of his father's—it was an extension of it.

---

The problem had been brought to his attention hours ago. A small yet reckless group had hijacked a school—a desperate, foolish attempt to gain leverage. They believed that holding hostages would force the Yamaguchi-gumi into negotiations.

They had miscalculated.

Ayume did not negotiate.

Instead, he observed. He let the panic settle, let his enemies believe they had control. And while they celebrated their supposed victory, he was already moving against them.

His first order? Silence. No chaos, no reckless retaliation. This wasn't about brute force. This was about control.

Within hours, his men had spread throughout the town, gathering every possible detail:

Who funded the group?

Who benefited from the hijacking?

Who was the real threat?

Because Ayume knew something the hijackers didn't:

This wasn't about them. They were pawns, nothing more. Someone else was playing this game.

And Ayume did not tolerate being played.

---

The Execution of Power

By the time night fell, the entire operation had shifted.

The school remained untouched. The hostages were unharmed. But the real culprits? They were no longer in control of their own fate.

Ayume had already dismantled them.

The group's financial backers—exposed.

Their informants—eliminated.

Their escape routes—cut off.

And the so-called "leaders" of the hijacking?

They found themselves dragged into a dark warehouse, forced to kneel before the very man they had unknowingly challenged.

Ayume Fujikawa stood in front of them, his expression unreadable. He did not raise his voice. He did not show anger.

He simply looked down at them, as if they were already dead.

"You thought you had control," he said, his tone smooth, unhurried. "You thought you could shake the balance of this city. But you forgot the most important rule."

He crouched, leveling his gaze with theirs.

"We do not let the public suffer."

The hijackers shivered. The room felt colder.

And then—without hesitation—Ayume stood up, gave a single nod, and turned away.

The sentence was carried out behind him. A precise, calculated end.

No unnecessary violence. No bloodshed in the streets. No fear among the people.

Only control.

--------

By morning, the city was at peace.

The school reopened as if nothing had happened. The police remained unaware of what had transpired in the shadows. The only thing that changed was the whisper that ran through the underworld.

"Shinji Fujikawa's son is not just a successor. He is a force."

Ayume did not demand fear. He did not need to.

His presence alone ensured that no one would ever dare to test him again.

Ayume and Osamu stepped out of their car and walked toward Club Kuroyami, a well-known hangout for the Yakuza in Kabukicho. The streets were glowing with neon lights, and the air smelled of rain and smoke. As they approached the entrance, the bouncers immediately recognized them, bowing slightly in respect.

Inside, the club was dimly lit, with red lanterns casting a soft glow over the dark interior. The air was thick with cigarette smoke and the scent of expensive whiskey. Loud chatter and laughter filled the space, but as Ayume and Osamu walked in, many people turned to acknowledge their presence. They were some of the most powerful figures in the Yakuza world, and everyone knew it.

The club's manager quickly approached them, greeting them with deep respect. He personally guided them to a private table, where a bottle of the finest liquor was already waiting. After pouring themselves a drink, Ayume leaned back in his seat while Osamu casually scrolled through his phone.

As he looked at his screen, Osamu's attention was drawn to a familiar name—Yoshi. He had been following this person for a while now, intrigued by him. Yoshi had a strange feeling that someone was watching him. That "someone" had been Osamu all along.

Osamu took another sip of his drink, his eyes still locked on his phone. The night was just beginning, and something told him that things were about to get even more interesting.

Ayume [watching Osamu silently as he checks his phone]

Osamu [without looking up] "What?"

Ayume [calmly] "Still keeping track?"

Osamu [flatly] "Always."

Ayume [nods slightly] "Thought so."

Osamu [locking his phone, eyes sharp] "No one else needs to know about him. Just me."

Ayume [quietly] "You won't let anyone near him."

Osamu [smirks slightly] "They don't deserve to be near him."

Ayume [watching him for a moment] "You won't change."

Osamu [calmly] "I don't need to."

Ayume [silent, then nods] "True."

(Sudden attack begins)

Ayume : [leans back in his chair, relaxed]

"Looks like they decided to show up early."

Osamu:[barely looking up, calm]

"Did you expect anything less? Let me handle it."

Ayume: (smirks, watching the attackers)

"You always make it look too easy."

Osamu:(stands up slowly, drawing his weapon)

"Some of us have to keep things under control."

Ayume: (still seated, not moving)

"I'm just here to enjoy myself tonight. You do the heavy lifting."

Osamu: (dispatches the first attacker effortlessly)

"Don't worry. I've got this."

Ayume: (laughs quietly)

"You always do. But it's almost boring how quick you are."

Osamu:(mocking tone as he takes down another attacker)

"You can join in if you want. Or just stay out of the way."

Ayume: (grins, raising his glass)

"I'm fine where I am. You're the one they're after, not me."

Suddenly, one of the attackers rushes toward Osamu, aiming to strike from behind. Ayume's eyes narrow in an instant, and before Osamu can react, a single shot rings out, hitting the attacker.

Ayume: (puts his glass down, calm as ever)

"Did you really think I'd let them get you from behind?"

Osamu: (pauses, surprised, then smirks)

"Guess I owe you one this time."

Ayume: (shrugs, nonchalantly)

"Next time, try not to make it look so easy."

Osamu: (finishes off the last of the attackers, wiping his hands)

"See? Easy."

Ayume:(sips his drink, calm as ever)

"I knew you had it covered. I didn't even need to move."

Osamu: (returns to his seat)

"You never do. And that's exactly why I don't mind handling things for you."

_______________________