“We get they’re a hard and nasty bunch,” Dahl said.
“And much more,” Hibiki insisted. “It is speculated that Japan’s banking industry has ties to the Japanese underworld. Their property and realty market. Politics. And the young — a recent study showed that nine out of ten people under the age of forty believe that the Yakuza should exist. That is what you are up against.”
Drake knew what Hibiki was trying to do. “Cheers, mate,” he said. “We’ll make sure we’re ready.”
“Good. Now, on a separate note, I have information about this man Mai appears to be obsessed with at the moment. Hayami.”
Drake sat up. “Anything would help.”
“No, I don’t think it would. Although Mai killed Hayami, a felony that could get her locked away I should point out, and disbanded the Tsugarai, the Yakuza felt that they still owed Hayami an honor kill. Who knows what he gave up in their organization, right? So, they visited his wife, son and daughter. Torture and promises of selling the women to the slave trade and local prostitution rings followed. Then death when they finally believed the family knew nothing more. Death was a blessing, you see, a gift, after what they had already done. But the girl, Emiko, she escaped. Now we have her in protective custody so she’s a witness against them. The girl’s an understandable mess, but we will look after her.”
“Can she help Mai?” Drake asked, missing the point.
“Ah, she wouldn’t even if she could. The Yakuza already told her who killed Hayami. Blamed Mai for everything that was happening. Emiko, she truly hates Mai Kitano.”
Drake didn’t know what to say. In one way Emiko had every reason to hate Mai, but in another, under different circumstances…
Finally, Dahl changed the subject. “We’re an hour out, Hibiki. Have your men seen any sign of Mai at the docks?”
Hibiki sighed. “No. But over a hundred ships a day visit that dock. She will almost certainly be in Kobe by now, and many wagons roll out. We won’t be able to prevent them from taking her to the compound, my friends. It is there, inside, that this battle will be won or lost. I have a detail on twenty-four-hour watch.”
“What about at the compound?” Alicia asked. “Any increased activity?”
“Unfortunately, yes and no. Gang members have been arriving in Kobe all day, and many Shateigashira, local and regional bosses, accompanied by their own hierarchies. Their number increases by the hour… but none have actually arrived at the compound.”
Drake clenched his fists. His stomach twisted at the thought of Mai being put on some kind of showcase trial before being killed in front of all these hard-headed maniacs. I will not let her go out this way. Not Mai.
“Then they’d better prepare for four more guests,” he said. “And a battle that’ll go down in history.”
CHAPTER TEN
Mai stumbled as the two men lifted her to her feet. As instructed they were gentle, not wanting to rip open her stitches and further complicate her gunshot wound. The antibiotics were helping, as were the painkillers, and Mai could easily stand on her own. Hikaru, though, was taking no chances and, in addition to the two men helping her along, had directed a further four to watch her. Each man held a Taser and a sawn-off baseball bat in addition to the guns and knives in their belts.
Hikaru presented himself to Mai as the ship docked. “Your entourage.” He indicated the assembled men. “I assume they’re to your liking.”
“If I didn’t have this wound they’d already be dead.”
“Agreed, Miss Kitano. That’s precisely why you have that wound.”
“Where are you taking me?”
“Not far. We have made good time. The members are still arriving. I believe your trial may not begin until tomorrow but that is good. It will give you time to prepare your defense.” Hikaru burst into laughter, an arrogant and haughty expression fixed to his face. Mai spent a few seconds fantasizing about slicing it off with a blunt blade.
“I may be down, Hikaru. But I’m never out.”
“We’ll see if you’re still feeling that way in a few days.” Hikaru waved at her captors who urged her forward. Mai shrugged into the loose jeans and sweatshirt she’d been provided to cover her tank top and panties, showing absolutely no signs of pain or embarrassment as she dressed. Weakness was a drug to men like this. They thrived on it.
“Follow me.” Hikaru led the way to the top deck, slowing to allow Mai extra time to navigate the stairs, then paused. Mai had her first view of the outside world in what seemed like days. Kobe was a port city, clustered around the coastline, tall buildings and motorways and bridges all lining up as if jostling for the right to sail away first. She stared across the water at a gray metropolis, at a place even she could get lost in, never to be found.
“Move.”
Mai followed Hikaru’s lead, and exited the ship’s interior. What felt like a knife jabbed at the pit of her stomach — the wound stretching before it should — but she fought hard to keep the pain out of her expression, instead raising her face and gauging the horizon.
My future lies there, she thought. Never forget it.
Five men spread out behind her and now, as she looked over the side of the ship, Mai saw half a dozen more waiting on the docks below. The ship was already moored, a gangway fed out to the dockside. Two black cars sat among the men, doors thrown open.
“Kobe has been waiting for you,” Hikaru told her with self-seeking pride. “But it is I who have delivered.” He spread his arms. “I.”
Mai gave him a hooded-eye frown. “Understand this, Hikaru.” She moved closer. “Get your bucket list filled, boy, because I will kill you over the next few days.”
Hikaru smiled quickly, not wanting to portray any fear, but the twitch at the corner of his mouth betrayed him. “Just get off the damn ship.”
Mai walked down the jouncing gangway and onto solid earth. This was a quiet area, she noticed, probably cordoned off somewhere and belonging to the localized Yakuza yobs. Being Japanese, her own view of the Yakuza was a mixed one — yes their story was romanticized, they came from all walks of life but some had actually been abandoned or exiled by their parents, taken in by the clan. Mai could identity with that. Some were taken straight from Junior High. But most were common street thugs or members of other gangs. A Yakuza gang member cut all family ties, forever. They transferred their lives and their loyalties to their boss, and they referred to each other as family members. Their boss was often called “father”. Mai could also identify with that; a youth abandoned or forced by siblings into a life of street crime would be crying out for a strong father figure and a protective family — the Yakuza would give him that.
It was their other activities that Mai could not condone. The criminal element. The power mongering that should not exist in any close family. She stared now at the grim-faced, emotionless men who awaited her, wondering who they could have been.
Guns were evident, held in every hand, even portable machine pistols. She entered the car they indicated and waited for it to drive away. No words were passed and Hikaru took the second car. Waves of pain washed through her body, making her want to lay her head against the window and close her eyes. But this wasn’t the time. Fighting was all she knew how to do; for a long time now it had been the sole focus of her life.