Love is War

Chapter 9

“Rei, let’s go, your dad is calling us,” Kuro called me after receiving the message of dad’s assistant. We will have an open forum for everyone to hear their thoughts about the upcoming shipment in the country. This will be an important trade for us since the shipment contains the latest deadly weapon, that we could use to our advantage. Luckily for us, dad has many so-called friends in other countries especially in the neighboring country Japan, where all the latest and advance technology are creates. They are on par with US but Gyro States and that country has a long bad history with each other.

“Coming,” I told him after cleaning the plates on my table. I got up as soon as I finished cleaning and went to his side. We exchange glance and I just shrugged my shoulders. I know that look, he is about to aske me so many questions about the shipment.

“Hmm,” he sighed because I am not in the mood to entertain his questions. We reached our house because we are not even that far. Kuro reached for the door knob and opened the door for me and we saw John waiting for us upstairs.

“You two sure took your time,” he said sarcastically while fixing the position of his eyeglasses with two of his fingers.

“Oh yeah, coz I know I have time to waste,” Kuro teased John and I hold my laughter for myself since I knew that this will not be good for me.

“Oho you’re challenging me now,” he said and I remembered a meme that pertains to a fighting anime and a smile formed in my lips. If other people are seeing us right now in here, they will have a second thought if we are really a part of a notorious syndicate. Calling our organization syndicate is not the right term for us since we don’t hurt or cause people harm. I just used how they perceive since our activities are illegal in the eyes of law. False law if you ask me.

“Is there a challenge, challenging you?” he taunted John and it was very effective as I saw John gritted his teeth. Okay, it’s time for me to meddle since there will be a fight between these two, a childish nonsense fight. Father will just be stressed and angered for no reason.

“Stop it you two,” I interfered by going in between them and I raised my hands telling them to stop. “You two have no shame eh,” I said using my foreign accent that I just learned from a series that I was watching days ago. “Father is waiting, let’s go,” I said and led the way. I soon reached the door towering over us. I grabbed the door knob and turned it, and we were greeted by other executive members of our group.

“Good morning everyone,” I bowed as soon as I saw them and these two jerks behind me also bowed because I can see them in my peripheral vision.

“Have a seat boys,” father offered and we filled the vacant seats just for us. “Now everyone is here,” he announced and clapped his hands. “Now listen carefully everyone since this is the first time, I called all of you just for a shipment, I know that some of you might ask,” he proceeds to start the meeting. “All of these for a shipment? At first glance, this meeting is just a waste of time because this shipment can be delivered to us easily. I like to tell you all that this will not be easy for us anymore since we launched that attack towards the Smiths,” he explained.

“Have they heard about our shipment?” Kuro’s father asked. “I mean we are known for out tight security when it comes to information,” he added.

“Not anymore,” his voice turned serious quickly. “There is someone deliberately leaking information to both sides and that broker sure loves manipulating us,” he started. “Since I and my son discussed about the incident the other day, about the misinformation we received, there is a traitor among us, I don’t know who but I am sure that person has an accomplice here,” he stated his suspicions and everyone just exchanged glances suspecting each other. “Calm down, I got this under control, maybe that the traitor is right here at this moment listening to our meeting discussion or maybe one of our men extracting information from the crowd, but take note of this, once I caught you red handed, I will make sure that you will regret not committing hara-kiri from the moment you betrayed us,” he threatened everyone inside this room, if the traitor is here. Even I, his son felt shivers across my body when I heard that.

It's rare for us seeing father angry since we know that he is the calm and intelligent leader that our organization had. It’s him that brought order upon us, from the chaotic and murderous crime syndicate to an ordered organization but still a crime syndicate. The only difference is that we cause lesser bloodshed than the Smiths. There are instances that father is really at the edge of his seat, and no one wants to witness that again, because the perpetrator never lived to see his rage again.

“Father, I think we must catch the traitor as soon as possible,” I suggested. “If this continues, things will be bad for us,” I added.

“No son, let them, I want to play with them more,” he said. “We need to get more information about the Smiths correct or not,” he said. “All of the information that you heard in this meeting will stay in this room and if this goes out, that means only one thing,” we are the ones on the edge of our seats. “You made it easier for me to hunt you down,” he added with a very deep voice that made it scarier. I can tell that father is really angry. No wonder since we lost one of our men. That is fathers one rule, no one is dying in his watch and the fact that he ordered the attack, a well-planned attack failed miserably is a heavy load in his conscience.

“So, what’s our plan about the upcoming shipment?” one of the executives suddenly raised the discussion and father turned on him.

“About that Harry, all our division will participate in this plan, at all cost we must bring the package to our base. We can’t let the Smiths get hold of this weapon,” he responded looking at all of us dead in the eye. “Kuro will take charge of Reikou’s group and you will be the one that will bring the package to safety,” father ordered Kuro.

“My pleasure boss, I will do my best not to fail you again,” he replied bowing to him using the upper half of his body.

“Good to know, moving on Juno’s division your division will be the one on the lookout,” he turned on Kuro’s father and he also bowed to him, obeying his orders. “Harry, you will stand by on a nearby location for back up,” Harry bowed. “Finally Nab, your division will deal with the berserker if it comes again for my son,” I turned to Nab and also saw him bowing.

I was relieved that Nab’s division will be the one that will cover for me. His group is known for being good at close combat and every one under him is at least knowledgeable in martial arts.

“My pleasure,” Nab replied. Nab is a world class martial artist from Thailand, mastering Muay Thai at age of 13 and he proceeds to learn other forms of martial arts. He is a known prodigy that got hooked up in our organization, the reason? I don’t know he distances himself to others and dedicated himself teaching his men martial arts suited for their taste or style. He also won world championships that made me a fan of him but close combat is not my forte. Having Nab by my side is sure a relief.

Well, I don’t say that I can’t rely on John but having one more insurance is better than one, right? John’s descendants had a gym teaching others, the way of the ninja but that tradition gradually fades as people, generation by generation are expecting more and when they found that its nothing like in the movies or animated series, they immediately loses interest. Fortunately, John had the spirit and enthusiasm mastering their tradition even if his father did not, luckily his grandfather is still alive and kicking that time. Now his ninja ways are proven useful in combat.

The executive members have their own story to tell and soon I will know all of them. One by one.

“The big battle will happen on the night of the end of the month,” he announced. “We still have a long time to prepare, so be ready when that moment comes. This will be a death or life situation,” he said. “Are you all with me?” he asked.

“Yes boss!” we said in unison.

“Good,” he stands up, and prepared himself to leave the room. “Meeting adjourned,” he finished the meeting. The executives also stood up and immediately leaves the room. The three of us was the only ones left in the room.

“I guess you need to wear your scope all the time,” Kuro suggested and I just stare at him.

“Hey stop it,” John interfered.

“I’m not teasing him dude, I am stating facts,” he defended himself. “I think you know what Nab is capable of when it comes to our enemies,” he reminded us. “Knowing this crybaby, Nab will just trigger his trauma,” he stated and I was left speechless.

He is saying the truth, I will become a burden as soon as I saw Nab in action. I forgot that he can be merciless in front of the enemy and he does not care if I am around or not.

“Still it’s not right saying that in front of Rei,” John said.

“It’s alright,” I told John. “Then we will create a plan for ourselves,” I said.

“And what is it?” Kuro asked.

“We will talk to Nab first before doing that,” I said and they looked at each other.