The Shimizu Book Two: The new Kumonchos

1

Hideo Tanaka groaned aloud in the silence of his small bathroom as he slowly lowered himself into the hot bath and stretch out his leg. The hot water seep warmth into his sore and still recovering muscles in his right leg as well as his left shoulder. He slid down into the water and immersed his entire body and head into it, cleansing away some of the blood splatters in his hair and on his hands. It had taken him some time to extract out who were the men loyal to Saburo that had remained in his family clan. His men were probably burning the bodies in an incinerator now.

Most clan members disposed of their enemies either by throwing them into the river or sea or simply burying them under building foundations being built. Hideo changed protocol when his father placed him in charged. He had the family invested and subsequently take over a garbage disposal business. It wasn’t a big one and the names do not trace back to their family but it was a convenient excuse to have an industry grade incinerator.

Even with the hot water starting to ease away the discomfort, he could still feel the pain his injuries were giving him. It was probably age catching up on him, he thought. Two months after he was shot, his injuries still throb and he was still limping. It probably didn’t help that he was not going for daily physiotherapy sessions that had been set up for him. It had been impossible to find time on a daily basis to go for the sessions.

He could hear from the irritation in nurse’s tone at Mori’s hospital when she called him again to remind him of his appointment, that he was reaching the limits of their patience. Mori sensei himself had called him in the morning to remind him of the monthly check up on his injuries for tomorrow morning. There were veiled threats on what he would do if he did not turn up. Hideo certainly do not want another embarrassing moment in front of his men with the old lady coming to pick him up again, as she had the last time he made the decision to attend a clan meeting rather than going to the hospital.

Mori sensei already warned him of what could happen if he continued to ignore his body. It wasn’t that Hideo didn’t care but there was just too much to do. The betrayal of his half-brother who caused the death of his father and the Shimizu clan’s Kumicho had caused a huge volatility in the family leadership hierarchy as well as problems within the whole clan itself.

As a Tanaka and the new Kumoncho, he felt responsible for the actions of his half-brother. He knew the reason why they were at war with the Tora clan was entirely the doing of Saburo. To regain his family’s position and trust as well as the confidence of his men in his leadership, he had to bring Saburo back to face clan justice. There was no other way to redeem his family.

His phone rang just as he got out of the bathroom.

Boss, we got a lead on Saburo. He’s buying passage out of Japan from Okinawa.

Hideo let out a short but violent curse, if Saburo manages to leave the country, it would be near impossible to find him.

Get the car out to my place now, get Gorou and Hachirou over there. They are nearest.

Hideo hung up and quickly started dressing, the medical appointment the next day already forgotten.

2

He’s not answering his phone Mori sensei. Nurse Ishikawa, a pretty nurse of twenty-five informed Mori sensei.

A smile lit up on the wrinkled face as Nobu Mori thanked the nurse for trying to contact Hideo Tanaka. At 75, he was still going strong while many of friends of his age had already retired or were enjoying their eternal rest.

Nobu rubbed his jaw as well as tap his fingers thoughtfully on the well-used desk in the examination room. Treating clan members is often a even more thankless job than treating patients from the general public. Clan members had more ego issues and somehow think requiring medical help made them appear weak. It sometimes takes a lot of finesse as well as exploiting their respect for him and certain fear of his wife to bring them in especially when they require long term medical help.

Hideo was going to be difficult. Nobu having been closely linked with the Shimizu clan for almost all of his life understood the intricacies for power and balance within the hierarchies as well as any clan insiders. He knew what the Tanaka family was facing now, the issues and urgency of stabilizing the family structure as well as dealing with the war with Tora clan. Even so, he refused to allow Hideo to become a cripple or have further complications on his injuries on his watch especially when it can be prevented.

Picking up the old fashioned ring phone on his desk, he rung a number by memory.

It took a couple of rings before his grand-daughter Emi Mori picked up.

Hi Grandpa. She sounded rested, a lot more rested than when he had spoken to her a few weeks ago to give her the permission to use his holiday chalet. She had been hounded by the reporters just two months ago. The recent war that started between the Shimizu and Tora clan had made the media switched attention and she was no longer the center of news for many outlets. Emi had taken the opportunity to take a rest in the mountains.

As a doctor, Nobu has seen symptoms of depression in his granddaughter for some months now, even before the whole shooting incident. A lot of things had happened in the past one year for the girl. Being born a Mori, she too inherited the stubbornness that can be seen running through the lines of the family. Approaching her to get help for the cause of the depression would have been useless. The girl was too stubborn and probably in denial that she was depressed or needed help.

I know it’s been a while since you helped a patient with physical therapy, but I got one stubborn patient that needs someone with him 24/7.

I’m not sure Grandpa…it’s been a while… and I should start looking for work anyway.

Getting a position at other hospitals is going to be an issue now and you wouldn’t take a position at our hospital. Why don’t you just start off with this patient? Who knows, you might start a new career this way.

Emi finger tapped her right arm that was holding onto the phone. Grandpa Nobu never made personal requests unless it was clan related. Which means this guy who was not coming to his physical therapy sessions was a clan member. And since Grandpa usually went through the ranks to get people to obey his instructions, it probably meant this guy was pretty high up the rank for him to sic her on him.

Emi signed inwardly, it wasn't as if she had a lot to do anyway. And going from a hectic life to one where she will wake up in the morning not knowing what to do for the day got really stale after the first month.

And she knew what he just said was true, she had tried several hospitals. With the shortage of nurses, she usually could have easily gotten a job if the smear of the scandal had not followed her. Perhaps going back to do physiotherapy might be the only way out of unemployment. It was that or back to working for her family hospital. A prospect that she would prefer to avoid.

Ok, Grandpa. Emi agreed, But only for a few months. If he doesn't co-operate, he's your problem again.

Grandpa Nobu chuckled, No problem. Let's give him a surprise shall we? he said with a mischievous twinkle in his eye.

3

Ryuji was nonplussed at how messy the accounting of Akiyama's loan shark business was. He wondered how Akiyama had even know who owed them money and whom to collect from. He looked back up at the man swiping at the rivulets of sweat running down his face across from him.

You want to explain to me how these numbers are supposed to match up Ishida? Ryuji asked Akiyama's accountant, his tone casual and polite.

Ishida swiped his forehead again with his handkerchief; he couldn't seem to stop sweating.

I just note what goes in and what goes ... Ishida jumped in his seat at the sound of Ryuji slamming his fist down hard on the open books, his eyes dilating even as they locked onto the man in front of him.

There's more out than in according to this and no records to show where the outs are going to. In contrast to his fist slamming, Ryuji’s tone was calm but piercing.

Atsu...Atsushi san...I'm just the accountant. I tried many times to tell Akiyama san that it is important to keep the figures straight. But he and his men had a habit of taking money without telling me. I can't do anything about it.

How do I know it wasn't you taking the money?

Ishida's eyes opened even wider at that, No! No! I really didn't. You must believe me, I didn't take any money.

Ryuji didn't say anything but simply stared at the man while he squirmed in his seat and continued to sweat. He doubted that the man in front of him was telling the truth. If indeed, Akiyama had been lax with the incomings and outgoings of his books, then the accountant couldn’t possibly have remained clean and not take some for himself. Akiyama's clan was in a mess. Ryuji had started with rooting out members that were loyal to Akiyama. The rest...well, they will either follow him or get taken out. There were a few things that needed to be done first, getting the right leaders in and making sure their businesses are in the black. Money and leadership are the two main things that make or break a clan. It is a simple formula to follow for any organization.

Ryuji tapped his finger on the opened account book,

I'm going to give you one week Ishida. You're going to give me the names of Akiyama's men who took money and you better have some proof of it as well.

Ishida sputtered about the impossibility of the task.

I don't care how you do it but if you don't give me something by next week...

Ryuji stood up and opened the window of the 10th storey office they were in,

You might as well save us all some trouble and jump off yourself.

Ryuji did not bother to see what else Ishida had to say and instead walked out of the room.

4

Doctor