CHAPTER 9: The fall from grace
1286 Words
KAI
“Never will we raise a weapon on each other or a woman again and never will it be in front of an audience!” Kudo yells in Korean. “Especially when those people are people we are supposed to be protecting,” he slams the table. “Seriously Kaizer!”
“Odessa went too far,” Kaizer defends nonchalantly but he knows the truth.
Angry Kudo = bad news.
“No!” I counter. “Miyo went too far.”
I have no doubt Odessa could have stopped her if she wanted to but it is high time Miyo stops getting away with this. If not for Odessa then for Saya.
“Keep our mother’s name out of your mouth you f*cking traitor!” Kiyoko kicks something that makes the table rattle but I don’t flinch.
“Miyo is going to kill Saya, then you will all finally see the truth.” I say the same warning I gave them after finding out about Zahra and my mother.
“I said ENOUGH!” Kaizer picks up a bottle and pours water directly on my face.
“Kaizer!” Kairo pulls him back by the neck when he lunges at me so of course we all stand on defence.
“I wouldn’t Kaizer man.” Katana is the only one sitting down now. “He is still the baby of the family, remember? You might lose a hand going against the cub”
That is the closest Katana has come to threatening anyone and even for him, it is saying a lot.
“Everyone sit down!” Kudo throws me a hand towel. “Miyo is sick. We all know this but it seems some of us have known the extent for too long.” He looks at Kiyoko, Kairo and Kaizer.
“You are not taking her away again!” Kaizer remains standing to face the leader, “she is not going back there.”
“Kaizer—” Kudo points a finger at him which is equivalent to a warning.
“She is OUR mother!” Kaizer pulls Kairo’s hand off him. “They don’t get it but you all do right? Kade, Kiyoko, Katana and especially you Kairo. We can’t let her go back to that place, father won’t let her return.”
Especially not after Zahra, we all hear the words Kaizer can’t say.
“Fine, let us vote because I still have an angry Odessa I have to deal with.” Kudo has obviously run out of patience and empathy for his step-mother. “She is out,” he starts.
“Out,” I cast my vote without hesitation too.
“In.” Kaizer looks at Kairo so of course he votes “in,” as well.
That is 2:2
“Katana?” Kudo asks after he does his line.
“Oh, that b***h has to go.” Katana rubs his nose, “mother is some monster boys. Don’t give me the eye Kaizer, she has been dead to me for like years. I say cut the ties and let her rot, love her though.”
He is clearly letting the high control him but his intention is true, Katana resents his mother more than anyone because she gave him his first sword.
“In,” Kiyoko pulls out a cigarette. “But keep Saya as far away from her as possible,” he inhales. “I mean it.”
“Whatever, cast your vote Kade.” Kudo turns to the one who holds the final decision.
It’s 3:3 now, this means Miyo’s fate is in his hands.
“I would like to point out, even drugged and chained Odessa could have easily overthrown her but the fact that she didn’t means way more.”
“What are you talking about?” Kairo is the only one that doesn’t see that this was a trap on Odessa’s part.
She clearly wanted to prove and though she might have meant to cause a divide, I doubt she meant for it to go this far.
“I vote out. I agree, Miyo has gone too far this time especially with Saya.” Kade looks only at Kudo. “But father can’t find out, he will do worse to her.”
“That is 4 to 3,” Kudo tells Kaizer and he literally erupts as he leaves his chair.
“You will all regret this,” his locks eyes with Kudo to say “especially you, leader.” Kaizer storms out and Kairo is next to stand but leaves with no word.
Silence follows as Kudo sends the guards to Miyo’s room, the place goes under lock so the students do not witness what is to come next. Which is a fall from grace on her part.
Miyo kills 3 guards in the process but one manages to stick a needle into her neck, so she is carried to the car without a fight. Kaizer tries to stop them but Kairo holds him back as we all watch from our tower.
“Now to deal with Odessa,” Kudo leaves the room but I stay behind because I know better than to stand in my brother’s way when he is on edge.
I already played into her hand enough, she is on her own now.
ODESSA
“What is this?” I look at the attire Kudo throws at me.
I am starting to realize that in this house, one is not just handed stuff by hand. That is probably a luxury not all can afford.
“You fight Kiyoko at sunrise, combat, no weapons and in front of the graduating class of this season.” Kudo pulls out a flip phone. “If you win, you get to have access to your family at any time with an untraceable phone but if you lose, you get one call to one person until your stay has ended.”
“Why Kiyoko?” I wasn’t really subtle with my plan so I expected consequences.
“Can you believe it? He volunteered.” Kudo mocks but stops at the door. “You went too far today. You should have waited till you had someone on your team or least till Kai forgave you. Now, no one will defend you.”
No s**t but I still stand by my decision, Miyo had to go.
“Wow, that is your advice o’ big leader?” Because he does know no one in Choi family will ever trust me, especially Kai.
“How is this for advice,” Kudo locks eyes with me but they soften when he sees my bruises. “An eagle fights a snake in the sky, not on land because the fight will never be fair so it uses the only advantage it has.”
My heart softens because that is Ivan’s survival mantra.
“Let me guess, Shakespeare?” I tease to ease the tension in the room.
We are not enemies, so there is no need for this.
“No, that is the first thing Ivan Dominaka said to me.” Kudo walks out.
I open the attire and what would you know? It is a black and gold traditional gi. With the right fire I could easily win the fight but I think Kudo just told me not to—well not till I see an advantage.
I have no alliances here and though Saya and I are on the same side, she will do anything but return to the Yakuza. Which means, I need one of the brothers on my side—for real.
Question is, who will losing the fight, help me gain and drop?
- Writer
