ONE

Jet sitting across from his father looks at the calm and slowly contemplating man flipping through pages of his proposal. Jet's heart races, anxious about his father's response to his idea, "Father! Say something." He snaps. His hand trembling. Heart racing, and the chair he is sitting in is starting to feel like it is on fire. He is restless in his seat.

His father done going through the files on the White Lotus Yakuza members and their children whom his son deems useful to him at the moment smirks, "So, you are telling me that when you take over one day, you will not be buying guns from the underground as I do, and reselling them to the Highest Bidder, but want to be educated and create your own weapons from scratch, with a legal business?" He looks at the list he compiled during the weekend when he was going through his sons proposal. To the left are the children his son did not choose. To the right are the ones who are chosen.

Jet changes his sitting position, shifting his weight in his seat, ready to defend his idea, "Yes, just because we are Yakuza doesn't automatically make us synonymous with illegal." He points a finger out the large window that has a full view of the city, "This is about running this city, and one day the country, right?" His confidence slowly begins to wain, he didn't exactly put much thought into the idea, "Isn't that what you always say to me?" Jet clears his throat, talking to his father always feels like Russian roulette. The summer heat is not making it any easier for him, he is sweating from his eyes.

The man across from him smiles, it's a rare sight for Jet, "I like it. I'm glad to see you taking this seriously. I was starting to think your sister should take over." The rare smiles expands into a wider full teeth grin.

Jet smiles in relief, exhaling shakily, the response was the boost of confidence he needed to speak freely, "I needed them to pass the entrance exams fair and square." He winces seeing his father holding one person's file, and there is doubt written on his face, "I just have a problem with one member. Luna Silver, she took the test because I told her to and passed, and she's really good at creating High Tech gadgets, but she wants to go to the fashion academy next door to the Tech Academy I want for her." He interlocks his fingers, his father knows they have a history. He does not want his father to think he put Luna on the list because they dated. She earned it.

"Let her. Just tell her that she needs to incorporate new technology in her fashion. Taking over the city means dominating every industry after all." Jet's father notices his son is uncomfortable with the scrutiny of his ex. He takes a deep breath, deciding to be objective instead of personal.

Jet scratches the back of his head, his lips curling into a tight smile, "Okay, uhm, dad speaking of Luna. There's something I've been meaning to talk to you about, it does not involve her directly."

"You have started thinking about your future wife?" Jet's father sits back. Luna is dating someone else and she is happy, right in front of his son. He was expecting this conversation sooner rather than later.

Jet blushes, "Don't embarrass me." He looks away, "Not exactly," he stands up needing to move around so his feet can stop trembling under the table, "I've just been looking at my options and I'm not impressed." He turns his head facing his father directly, "She's loyal to Milton, and you seem a bit involved in that. I wanted to know what makes the relationship work."

Jet's father smiles, "Loyalty. That's the first thing I noticed. Milton has girls throwing themselves at him from all sides, and he doesn't entertain them, he is very strict about it too," he looks Jet in the eyes before continuing, this next part is the reason why Jet dumped his girlfriend and she ended up being taken by someome else, "He does not take it lightly when someone disrespects her by approaching him like he would leave his girlfriend for them."

Jet nods, "I noticed." He keeps his head down, his father is taking cheap shots, "Too soon old man."

"Luna on the other hand, she is submissive. Obedient. The only time she has ever been stubborn, is when she had to reign him in. She can be incredibly stubborn, but she never brings that attitude into the relationship." Jet's father leans forward, "Luna listens to Milton, she has opened herself up to him, to be molded into the kind of woman he wants." He holds out his hand, a reflex of a memory flooding his mind, "When Milton says he wants her to change a certain quality, she does so without a fuss, should he want her to adopt a quality she will do so." The man smiles and nods for no reason, agreeing with his own intrusive thoughts, "She has allowed herself to be putty in the palm of Milton's hands, and he has been molding her well. It is a very beautiful process to be involved in. It is not something common, and of course her age is reason for that level of vulnerability, so I have taken it upon myself to protect that innocence."

"Why aren't the other girls like that?" Jet asks.

"Well, they probably see dating as a fun activity to do. It's a good aesthetic for them. Whereas Luna and Milton got into the relationship seeing a long term future."

Jet pouts, "Luna is my age, why would she think that way, and I don't?" He did not see a future when he asked her out.

"Are you trying to make some commentary about the way I raised you?"

Jet laughs at his father, "No, it just doesn't make sense to me."

"Luna has two brothers, have you ever seen their girlfriends?"

Jet nods, "Yes."

"How many girlfriends have they had?"

"One. Brian says he's going to marry the girl he's been with since High School," Jet recalls more details about the relationship, "He asked for my help choosing an engagement room, soon he will be proposing to her." Jet notices his father tilting his head to the side, his eyes signaling a message, "Ohhh." Jet exclaims slowly as he finally understands what his father is saying.

"Exactly. That's where she got the mentality from. So pay attention to a woman's circle of friends and her background."

"But, these other girls in Lotus, were raised right. They just choose to be spoiled brats, I don't see a future with any of them. I know an outsider is risky, but I really think it's the best decision for my future." Jet spins in his seat.

"I am not against that."

"I know you aren't, but how could I make it work? I don't want to take an outsider who knows nothing about what this family has been through. Who can't built it up with me. How could I make it work?" Jet declines his in coming phone call.

"To be honest, there's no formula. You will have to dip your toes and hang in there."

Jet agrees with his father and slowly shifts the topic with small talk eventually talking about his proposal again, "So what do you think about my list?"

"Hmm. Milton Smarts I already chose as your right hand man, if you want to appoint your own, I won't disapprove, however, they have to prove themselves to me," He holds up the file of Jet's choice as his right hand man, "So, Rex Kazama will not get the position officially."

Jet nods, "I understand."

"Helia Drago and Jack Tachibana. I approve. Axel Blake. I approve. Bridget Songs?"

Jet winces, "Trust me. I am just as surprised, but she passed the entrance exam, besides she is a female she can't be Alpha."

"I see. I'm very shocked."

Jet hangs up once more, "I wish she'd stop calling me. I'm not interested in her like that."

"Lastly is Luna Silver. Of all the teens in your age group, these are the only ones who passed the test?"

"Yes. Jasmine failed and bribed her way in. I have demoted her family from their Alpha position, you already decided on your Govenors, no need to change that. I don't want her on my team though." Jet smiles, "I'm upgrading the Tachibana's from Beta's to Alpha's."

"I will make it official. I look forward to seeing what the next generation of this Yakuza family will do."

"I look forward to impressing you." Jet stands up, "I should get this. She's so persistent it's annoying," he grits his teeth embarrassed by the constant phone call, "Father, Please make time to see them tomorrow," He grips the phone tightly, if he had the strength to crush it he would, "I'm bringing them in and I want to make it official that I will be starting my own youth branch, and we'll work towards the future of this family." Jet hangs up on Bridget.

"I'll be ready for you kids tomorrow. Noon." Jet's father begins packing away the files and putting his own on the table, "I'll only be free for an hour so make sure you fit everything you have to say to me into that time slot."

"Will do dad," Jet smiles awkwardly when he is bombarded by text messages, "Let me get this," He feels utterly humiliated, it is unprofessional for his phone to even be on during discussions of great importance, "See you tomorrow, unless you'll be sleeping in your own house for once." Jet jokes walking away and placing his phone to his ear, "What?" He opens the door furious, "Did I not make it clear to stop calling after I hung up on you the first time?" He hangs up and blocks her number, "Fucking wretch."