The Watanabe Kazoku Manor

[podgie_bear]

Takahiro merely gazed serenely down at him and waited to see how young Tenaka would approach what he was sure were concerns about his son, Toshiro. He had been expecting there to be a clash of personalities as he could see the almost visible friction between them. It reminded him of two dogs, each wanting to be top dog in his own yard and protect his personal property, he could almost see their hackles rising whenever they came into contact with each other. So it came as something of a shock when Tenaka sighed deeply again and began telling of his past and how that past may prove a threat to the Watanabe family.

"Master, I have told you how my father was an Oyabun of a powerful Yakuza family and how he betrayed his master and brought dishonour upon our house. That he was killed for his betrayal and how my brother swore vengeance and attempted to kill our Yakuza Master. I also told of how I caught up with my brother as he broke in to the Manor where our master lived and how he had already killed three of the guards before I stopped him, how we were discovered by the Master and his personal bodyguards and how I knocked my brother to the floor unconscious. I told of how I pointed my sword at the Master and swore that though my brother had stopped me this time, I would come back and kill him to avenge the death of our father, so that I was believed to be the guilty one and my brother was the hero who stopped me."

"What I have not told you master, is that from that day onwards I have been a hunted man and that there is a death bounty upon me. Many people have tried to collect that bounty and my blade has sent numberless assassins to their ancestors, yet still they try. I fear that my presence here may lead to someone from your family being caught in the crossfire and I do not wish that to happen, but at the same time I do not wish to leave your family my master."

Takahiro stroked his long white beard as he considered Tenaka's words, there was merit in his concerns as well as merit that he put the family first and himself second. "Aah young one, you show promise by your concern for our family," he said, "but I believe that you have scant need to concern yourself in this matter. Once it is known that you are accepted into the Watanabe Kazuko, I think you will find that any would be assassin will fear us too much to consider attempting to kill you.".

Tenaka gazed sorrowfully into his masters eyes and said, "If only that could be true master, but I fear that the secret I carry is such that I can never be safe from their attempts. Even if I were to run to the ends of the universe, not only would the Yakuza continue to send assassins after me, but the Emperor himself would……."

Takahiro felt the first pangs of real worry as his mind struggled to think what could the secret be that it would concern the emperor himself. False emperor he may be, but his power is such that only something of truly epic proportions could make him concern himself in Yakuza business. He needed to know this secret, needed to know how it affected the emperor and how it could affect the Watanabe family! Trying to remain calm, he said, "Tenaka my son, for the good of our family, I must ask you to tell me of this dangerous secret that you keep."

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