A Mafia Fairy Tale

Queen of Hearts

It was a surprise to all when the order had come out. A meeting had already occurred several months ago...Why another so suddenly? Such questioning wasn’t allowed but natural human curiosity did its job. 

They gathered in the same location...A tea house on the main property. To a normie, it was a typical house of tea, serving the best green tea around. Yet, to the family...It was a most sacred place. Here the lords and ladies of all clans gathered for their yearly meeting which occurred before the locusts began their chirping. However, they were made to return, the humid air speaking of the rain that poured several days before. The ladies, wearing their family ukatas proudly, gave gentle breeze with their fans. The gentlemen bore the heat in their stuffy suits, for they were too strong of mind to think of such things. 

In the back room of the tea house the lords and ladies of the Yakuza clans sat in their normal positions, each one given their tea and cakes while they waited for the Patriarch’s message. The man himself sat alone on the small altar bearing the family scroll which was elegantly used to write the family creed… “Family or nothing”. 

Idle chatter mixed with cigarette smoke in the dismally lit space. The Patriarch had long since forbidden candles after a house burned down two generations ago. Here the artificial lights gave the same flickering glow for they hadn’t been fixed in a month. 

Here amongst these important people, the Matriarch of the Sun Clan ignored the whispering gossip of the ladies nearby. She instead sat regally, her fan lightly giving way to a breeze on her face. Kyoko Murasaki was not one to brag or cause attention to herself on these occasions. It was more ladylike to allow the men to talk, while the women listened. 

After all, it was better to listen than speak...For how would Kyoko know that the lady of the Wind Clan was becoming ill from her pregnancy? Nor would she have heard the whispers of the Water Patriarch allowing a prisoner to escape? One needed ears in these important moments, otherwise information would not be heard. 

“I heard there was movement in the Moon Clan compound a few days ago.” 

The whisper brought Kyoko’s fan to a stand still. 

“Apparently that is the reason why we are here…I heard the assets were changed over…” 

Kyoko was trained to not present her inner emotions otherworldly but these thoughts were a bit...odd...It was well known that the Moon Clan was gone, eradicated from the family. She tried her best to halt the smile across her painted lips at the memory. 

Oh my...Wasn’t this the anniversary of such a horrible event? Kyoko remembered it vividly. In fact she had planned her own little celebration of it before she was commanded to come here and listen to all this idle chatter. Who cared about a destroyed clan anyway?

A loud tap of glass against wood silenced all speech. Eyes turned to the Patriarch who had finally chosen to move. He was an aging man, well past his prime. Many were wondering who would be his heir yet none had been chosen. Perhaps now was the time for such?

“I call you all here for a most important meeting.” Though his voice was cracked and filled with breath, he still commanded respect. “As I am sure you are aware, the Moon Clan’s assets have been changed over...I no longer have control over them….An heir, has been located.” 

This was certainly news indeed. A Moon Clan heir!? How was that possible!? They were all dead...Weren’t they?

“I bid you all welcome, the Moon Clan Patriarch, son of Hiroshi Yuy...Hiro Yuy.” 

Sliding doors revealed a young man bowing low with respect. Rising he met them all with hard blue eyes. 

“Enter young man, and break sake with your elders.” The Patriarch stated. 

Still became the room when the young man entered and as is tradition, bowed to each lord that was older than he. Starting with the Patriarch himself, the old man poured the young man’s first cup of sake and the two drank. Since the Patriarch drank with the young man, there was no choice but for others to do the same. To each lord he offered a sake pouring and each lady poured for him. The final glass was Kyoko’s to give. The young man sat before her, strong willed and patient. 

“Why do you not break sake with the new Moon Patriarch, Sun Matriarch?” The Patriarch as well as everyone else in the room had gazed at her expectantly. She gave the young man a critical eye before he spoke. 

“The Sun has always hated the Moon.” The young man stated. “It is not surprising Lady Sun would wish to not break sake with the new Lord Moon.” 

She raised an eyebrow. “Well said, young lord.” She gave a light smile, one hiding her contempt at the situation. “We have always had our grievances before...Perhaps this is a dawning of a new day between our clans.” She knew how to play this game. “Of course, one would never go against the Patriarch, yet I am such a curious one...How did you survive such a horrible tragedy?”

“It is a most incredible tale, my lady.” Hiro Yuy spoke. “I am sure you know most of it already...After all, you were the one who invited the moon into your household that night for my father’s birthday celebration. Or at least that is what I was told by my father’s subordinates that survived.” 

She frowned. 

“Forgive my speculation.” Hiro bowed. “I was merely speaking of truth.” 

Kyoko nodded, her fictitious smile growing. “It is in the past, dear boy. Let us not dwell on it.” 

She poured the young man sake and the two drank. 

"Tell the family the title in which you have chosen, lord of the Moon." The Patriarch stated. 

"Angel of Death." Hiro replied and the Patriarch raised another glass.

"To the Angel of Death...Family...or Nothing..." 

The meeting ended as quickly as it begun, each lord and lady leaving for their own compounds, ready to spread the information given. Kyoko entered her car and as it slammed shut she pulled out her slender black case containing the family phone. 

“Yes ma’am.” The voice on the other side was quick for he knew she did not like to dawdle. 

“Get me all information on Hiro Yuy immediately. I want to know how the hell that little bastard survived.” Ending the call she leaned against the black leather seating, her mind broadened with absolute rage. 

“Aniko.” She spoke to the women in the front that was driving the car. “Remind me to speak to Yamada when we get home, he has much to explain for himself…” 

“Yes ma’am.” The woman stated. 

“And ready torture room number 5. Yamada always did love that room.” Kyoko examined her red nails. “I suppose he would love to die in it after lying to me for all these years.” 

“What be the method ma’am?” Aniko asked. 

Kyoko crossed her arms. 

“Decapitation.”