Chapter Text
Daigo swirled the ice around her glass, half-listening to whatever that banker or finance guy was whispering in her ear. She hated how girls’ nights always ended up like this. She was wearing 5-inch heels and a skin-tight satin dress because she wanted to show off, maybe dance a little, and ignore the crushing weight that was thinking about the last 5 years in prison. She did not put in all of this effort just to listen to some guy talk about the “big deal” he closed that was probably worth less than her outfit. She rolled her eyes and leaned back in the booth as the man went on about the very big numbers he secured for his company. She was prepared for another boring night until a tall woman the size of a small house shoved through the VIP ropes and ran to her table. Daigo’s eyes slid up to meet hers, and she resisted the urge to roll them again at the newcomer’s earnest, yet serious expression.
Kiryu rested her hands on her waist and gave a brief, but deep bow. “Young miss, we need to talk.”
She took a sip of her drink as if she didn’t hear the other woman. If she had reached out sooner, maybe Daigo would’ve actually looked forward to seeing Kiryu after all this time. Daigo scanned her figure, and was pleased to note that Kiryu was not only wearing the same gray suit she wore in the 90s, but she was also still as built, and probably as dumb, as she used to be. She’d wait to see how the older woman handled this before passing judgment on the second half, though.
“Daigo!” Kiryu called, slightly louder, but still not as loud as she expected. She noticed the guy next to her flinch and raise his head. She didn’t have to turn to know he was glaring at the newcomer. She hoped he’d pick a fight with Kiryu. Getting thrown around by the most notable muscle in the family would certainly be more entertaining than the paltry dollar amounts he was so proud of.
“Sorry, auntie, but my name’s not Daigo, and I’m a little busy with this young lady here,” the man seated next to her said, leaning back further in his seat and resting his arm on the backrest. Daigo shifted slightly away and rolled her eyes. He really misread the situation. “Get lost.”
Kiryu scrunched her eyebrows in confusion. Yep, still dumb , Daigo thought. “What? I’m not here to talk to you . Let me talk to the young miss for a moment, and I’ll be out of your hair.”
The banker returned her confused look. “What do you even need her for, are you her mom or something?” Daigo stifled a laugh, covering her smile with her glass.
“ What ?” Kiryu repeated. Daigo was visibly shaking with concealed laughter, the ice in her drink rattling with it, but the other two did not notice. “This doesn’t concern you. After we talk, she can do whatever she wants. You mind giving us a minute?”
“Yeah, I fucking mind. Go bother someone else, we’re having a good time here. Right, girlie?” He turned to Daigo, seeking agreement, but she just rolled her eyes and adjusted her bangs.
“No. Let’s go, Kiryu.” She stood to leave and the man stayed seated, staring at her in shock. The surprise quickly gave way to drunken anger and he got to his feet to follow her..
“The fuck? You’re leaving just like that?” He grabbed her by the arm in an attempt to stop her. “Aren’t you supposed to stay here and go home with me or something? I got you a good bottle and you’re just gonna leave?”
Daigo turned to look at him with disgust and yanked her arm back. “You thought I was going home with you? What a fucking joke.” He took her arm again and she shook it off, slapping his hand away before continuing to speak. “Don’t even get me started on the bottle, I paid for this fucking table and I reserved that bottle. So I’m the one who bought you the drink. Don’t get greedy, bitch.”
He grabbed her again with more force but didn’t have time to retort because Kiryu had punched him square in the nose. He released his grip on Daigo, trying to stop the blood flow to his nose, and she began walking toward the exit. “Let’s take this outside, Kiryu. I’m getting fucking bored.” Kiryu nodded and followed her out.
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They exited Debolah and walked a short distance to Children’s Park in silence. Daigo sat on a bench while Kiryu remained standing in front of her.
“So? What do you want from me?”
“I came to ask you to come back to the Tojo Clan. They need you.”
Daigo scoffed. “So Mom sent you. Did she think I was gonna listen to you, of all people? The one who dropped her responsibility onto a fucking Omi snake? The one who fucked up our family?” Kiryu flinched, but Daigo continued. “After what you did, you should have just left us alone. The Tojo Clan, my family, and especially me.”
Kiryu shook her head. “I can’t, Daigo. The whole clan is at stake.”
“And I don’t give a fuck about them. Not after what you did, and sure as shit not after what happened to me.”
“You owe them everything. You’re only who you are today because of them, and your father-”
“What gives you the right to say that? To talk about him? You were the only person I trusted there! I looked up to you! Everything started falling apart after he died. It’s been over ten years, and it’s not worth being fixed, Kiryu!”
The older woman shook her head. “If the Tojo Clan’s going to make a comeback, it’ll be now. And they’re going to need you.”
Daigo barked out a laugh. “Oh that’s rich coming from you. You’re the one who fucked everything up last year!” Kiryu clenched her fists and Daigo laughed again, rising to her feet.
“I did. And that’s why I’m coming back to take responsibility for it!”
The younger woman took another step closer to Kiryu. “If you’re going to do that, then why do you need me? You’re the one who gave up your seat, to do what, raise another kid to take it over for you when you don’t want to?” In lieu of an answer, Kiryu pulled her fist back and delivered a solid punch to the younger woman’s jaw. Daigo stumbled back, hand rising to rub the new bruise. Her surprise melted into anger, and she shot Kiryu a sarcastic grin.
“You haven’t changed at all, have you? Still punching your problems when they get too hard to solve?” Her tone was mocking, but Kiryu’s expression was still stone.
“That’s the only way I’ve ever known,” she said evenly. “And leave Haruka out of it.”
Daigo dropped her arm to the side, still grinning, and clenched both hands into fists. “So you can talk about my family, but all of a sudden, yours is off limits? Get real.” She aimed a punch at Kiryu’s face, but the older woman blocked it effortlessly, following it with an open-palm hit to Daigo’s chest. Daigo stumbled back again, winding up for another punch, but Kiryu dropped to her knees and swiftly punched Daigo in the stomach, knocking her back a few feet.
After a few moments of lying on the cool, packed sand and coughing up what felt like blood, Daigo let out a deep breath and rose to a sitting position. Kiryu walked toward her and sat on the ground in front of her, reaching into her jacket to pull out a bloody envelope.
“The clan’s future rests on this, Daigo. I can’t do this without your support. I know I fucked everything up, and I know you’ll never forgive me, but we need you back. Please, read it over with me before I deliver it to Chairman Goda. If you come back, you need to know everything.”
Against her better judgment, Daigo sighed and took the envelope. “I’m not making any promises, and I’m definitely not forgiving you. I’m just making an informed decision.”
Kiryu nodded. “Thank you. You won’t regret this, I promise.”
She sighed again and opened it. “I fucking hope I won’t.”