Post by Miyamoto Kenji on May 7, 2015 2:10:56 GMT -5
Kenji's phone rang as he lazed on his couch, watching a comedy special. It was evening, and he hadn't expected any calls, but here one was. He swiped his phone off of the table and looked at the ID. It was one of his old friends - literally an older friend, infact - from Japanland. Wonder what he was up to. Shrugging, he answered and put the phone to his ear. "Moshi moshi? (Hello)"
"Oi, Kenji! Yuri here," the man reintroduced himself. It had been sometime since the two had spoken, but the easterner remembered well who he was. Yuri ran a group of ex-yakuza and bosozoku (bikers) who worked against both them and the Triads, and Kenji had done a bit of work for them during his musha-shugyo. They were good folk, for the most part, though some of them retained part of their less savory traits.
"Hey, what's up? It's been a while, huh?" Kenji pointed out, shifting up to a sitting position and pausing his special.
"Yeah, it really has. I heard what happened with your sisters. Sorry that you had to do that."
"What's done is done. I'm just glad I managed to not end up in prison or something," the easterner confided. "Besides, my sisters are safe, so that's the important part."
"That's the truth," Yuri concurred, and Kenji reckoned that he had nodded on his end of the line. "Listen, can I cash in on our favor? I need you to help me with a couple things."
Kenji blinked and pondered for a minute, thinking about it. He did owe Yuri a favor, but what could he want done in the US? Still, he was never one to go back on a favor or a promise, and so he responded, "Sure. Just remember, I'm stuck in NYC right now, so if you want me to do something at home, you're out of luck."
The other man laughed. "I know, I know. Anyway, the first thing is pretty easy. I need you to check out this sake bar for me. Do you know a place called Owari Tamashī?"
"Owari Spirits?" Kenji confirmed in the western tongue. "I think I've passed it a couple times, but I haven't gone in or anything."
"Okay. I just need you to get a feel for the atmosphere there. See if any gangs hang out there or in the immediate area. Police as well. While you're there, make sure they have decent food and drink, alright? I'll wire you some money for the bill."
"Business as usual, then. I can do that," he agreed with a nod, though Yuri couldn't see it. "What's the second favor?"
Yuri chuckled. "One thing at a time, Kyūketsuki. Visit Owari first, then hit me up." As the man hung up, Kenji had a distinct feeling he knew what his friend wanted. After all, he wouldn't use that name unless it was bloody work.
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Half an hour later, once it was fully dark on the streets, Kenji found himself and his guitar case in front of Owari Spirits. From outside, it looked like a pretty decent joint. The sign was in both English and kanji, and it distinctly reminded him of some of the places at home. He wagered that the owner was a native Japanese. Shrugging, he walked in, and seated himself, as the sign just inside stated. The interior was nice yet simple, once more reminiscent of the mid-class sake bars. There were booths and tables in addition to the main bar itself, and the place was reasonably busy.
Taking a seat at a booth and setting his guitar case on the inside, Kenji was quickly attended to by a cute girl in a maid getup. Seemed like light cosplay was a thing here, too. Recognizing him for what he was, the girl spoke in their shared tongue and with a hostess's smile. "*Konbanwa. Nani o chūmon shitaidesu ka?"
"**Atatakai o sake to issho ni ie no tokubetsuna, shite kudasai," The easterner returned her smile politely, the server nodding before walking off. That left Kenji alone to gauge the atmosphere of the bar, and look for gangbangers and cops.
(( Rough translations, because Google is mein freund: * = Good evening. What would you like to order? ** = The house special, please, with warm sake. ))
"Oi, Kenji! Yuri here," the man reintroduced himself. It had been sometime since the two had spoken, but the easterner remembered well who he was. Yuri ran a group of ex-yakuza and bosozoku (bikers) who worked against both them and the Triads, and Kenji had done a bit of work for them during his musha-shugyo. They were good folk, for the most part, though some of them retained part of their less savory traits.
"Hey, what's up? It's been a while, huh?" Kenji pointed out, shifting up to a sitting position and pausing his special.
"Yeah, it really has. I heard what happened with your sisters. Sorry that you had to do that."
"What's done is done. I'm just glad I managed to not end up in prison or something," the easterner confided. "Besides, my sisters are safe, so that's the important part."
"That's the truth," Yuri concurred, and Kenji reckoned that he had nodded on his end of the line. "Listen, can I cash in on our favor? I need you to help me with a couple things."
Kenji blinked and pondered for a minute, thinking about it. He did owe Yuri a favor, but what could he want done in the US? Still, he was never one to go back on a favor or a promise, and so he responded, "Sure. Just remember, I'm stuck in NYC right now, so if you want me to do something at home, you're out of luck."
The other man laughed. "I know, I know. Anyway, the first thing is pretty easy. I need you to check out this sake bar for me. Do you know a place called Owari Tamashī?"
"Owari Spirits?" Kenji confirmed in the western tongue. "I think I've passed it a couple times, but I haven't gone in or anything."
"Okay. I just need you to get a feel for the atmosphere there. See if any gangs hang out there or in the immediate area. Police as well. While you're there, make sure they have decent food and drink, alright? I'll wire you some money for the bill."
"Business as usual, then. I can do that," he agreed with a nod, though Yuri couldn't see it. "What's the second favor?"
Yuri chuckled. "One thing at a time, Kyūketsuki. Visit Owari first, then hit me up." As the man hung up, Kenji had a distinct feeling he knew what his friend wanted. After all, he wouldn't use that name unless it was bloody work.
---------------------------------
Half an hour later, once it was fully dark on the streets, Kenji found himself and his guitar case in front of Owari Spirits. From outside, it looked like a pretty decent joint. The sign was in both English and kanji, and it distinctly reminded him of some of the places at home. He wagered that the owner was a native Japanese. Shrugging, he walked in, and seated himself, as the sign just inside stated. The interior was nice yet simple, once more reminiscent of the mid-class sake bars. There were booths and tables in addition to the main bar itself, and the place was reasonably busy.
Taking a seat at a booth and setting his guitar case on the inside, Kenji was quickly attended to by a cute girl in a maid getup. Seemed like light cosplay was a thing here, too. Recognizing him for what he was, the girl spoke in their shared tongue and with a hostess's smile. "*Konbanwa. Nani o chūmon shitaidesu ka?"
"**Atatakai o sake to issho ni ie no tokubetsuna, shite kudasai," The easterner returned her smile politely, the server nodding before walking off. That left Kenji alone to gauge the atmosphere of the bar, and look for gangbangers and cops.
(( Rough translations, because Google is mein freund: * = Good evening. What would you like to order? ** = The house special, please, with warm sake. ))
