Chapter 190

 

“Hayato, sit down dear. Motoko, child. Politics will not go away, take it from me. Once you are involved you will be so for a long time despite your wants.” Wakako offered and I grimaced. Yeah that was what I was afraid of Wakako! “Now, despite the difficulties it will bring, I wish to hire you for a long term gig.”

“Okay?”

“I wish to hire you on a long term basis, to not assassinate Moritaka Kuwabara.” She spoke the words that instantly made me frown.

 

“Okay one. I’ve never taken a gig to not kill someone before.”

“It’s not so unusual when dealing with a skilled mercenary that has come into their reputation.” Wakako answered and I was frowning because this was weird.

 

Hayato thought so too. “Grandmother? What are you talking about? Motoko is skilled, but she couldn’t kill Moritaka-Oji.”

 

“Oji?” I whispered to myself, but Wakako looked at Hayato for a moment.

 

“It would not be the first member she killed.” Wakako said, and I had to use Cold Blood to freeze myself solid so I didn’t give any tells.

Instead I raised an eyebrow. “News to me.” I spoke plainly. Wakako looked to me at my words, at the same time Hayato looked justified and looked back at Wakako as if she was right.

“The only thing that is news to you girl is that I am speaking of it. Jotaro was cleanly done, to this day only a few select people know about the situation.” Wakako added calmly and I noticed Hayato looking between us in confusion.

 

Her head shooting back and forth rapid fire was pretty funny.

“Jotaro? The club owner? Ichi’s Boss?” I questioned purposefully acting confused, controlling my emotions to fake it, but Wakako just smiled at me, as if she didn’t believe me at all.

 

Hayato though was looking between the two of us confused.

 

“Grandmother?”

“Motoko Kusanagi, is a very competent killer Granddaughter. An Assassin by trade in fact. If she sets her mind to it, I have no doubt that Moritaka will die.”

 

The room was silent for a moment. “I am an assassin, yes.” I said more for Hayato’s confused look than anything. “But that has nothing to do with Jotaro, which I was definitely not involved with. I have an alibi.”

“Of course, I am sure it is quite solid.” Wakako offered casually. “The issue has long been resolved, and assumptions on who did it have spread. None expect the teenaged assassin I employ from time to time. Nor will they.” Wakako added waving a hand and sending the smoke of her cigarette swirling.

“Good.” I said back a little defensive cause I really didn’t need more shit.

 

“You… Are an assassin?” Hayato asked, the surprise in her voice making me focus on her.

“Sometimes.” I answered Hayato’s question with a shrug. “I mean, technically I prefer to think of myself as an infiltrator. I like sneaking into places, but killing someone after sneaking up on them is kind of assassin one-oh-one.”

Hayato looked at me. Up and down, and her face shifted into a look of disbelief.

“Hey! That’s rude! What part of me makes you think I’m not an assassin! Wakako you tell her!” I demanded, getting a little outraged about the disbelief on Hayato’s face.

 

Wakako just rolled her eyes, ignoring me, and then snapped. “Focus. I am hiring you for a job.”

 

I tilted my head at her.

 

“One condition.” I demanded and Wakako nodded as if it was expected.

 

“Jun stays safe. If Moritaka leaves Jun alone, I’ll consider the gig in place. He causes any more trouble for my brother and the bets are off.”

 

“I will speak to my son in law. Junichirou will face no repercussions for his failure, and Moritaka will settle down from his aggressive actions against Fujimura. He’ll likely already be getting a talk about that. Foolish man.” Wakako grumbled and I nodded slowly.

 

I did want the man dead, but doing so would just cause more trouble in the long run. So if we could end any trouble now? I sighed. It sucked, killing leveled me up, but also time gave me time to kill more and get stronger. One day I’d be Adam Smasher. Able to simply kill anyone I please without considering repercussions, but I wasn’t that yet.

 

“Okay fine. Deal. I’ll let him live.”

 

“Let him?” Hayato continued to sound disbelieving about my skills which kind of hurt, but Wakako nodded.

 

“In that case, I believe your brother is already leaving.” I perked up at that and decided it was time to go then.

 

“Alright Wakako. I’ll leave… Thanks, for helping out. I was starting to consider drastic actions.” I said and earned a glare at the very idea.

 

“Don’t be a fool. You are useful, and I will not allow you to throw away your life so pointlessly.”

 

“Yes yes. I understand. I have no intention of dying.” I said to Wakako as I rolled my eyes, but I did send her an honest thankful smile as I stood. “See ya later Hayato.” I waved with a happy smile to the girl’s irritation as she glared at me at my chipper tone.

 

Outside I saw that Fujimura was leaving. Jun and Akari at his side and I hurried over.

 

“Good. We are leaving.” He said and just rolled my hand at him because that was obvious.

 

And we left. I collected my weapons and Jun was quiet as we headed down the elevator.

 

“I wish to hire you.” Fujimura said suddenly and I frowned.

 

“What is it with everyone wanting to hire me today? Maybe I’m not in the mood to take gigs for the Tyger Claws right now? Ever think of that?” I grumbled and Jun reached out and cuffed the back of my head. I retaliated with a swipe at him in turn.

 

Fujimura just continued, as if Jun and I weren’t being siblings in such close proximity to him. “Yoto needs to die, your capabilities in tracking would make this easier.”

“Fujimura-Sama.” Jun offered a token protest but it sounded weak. Pathetic.

 

I instantly hated hearing my brother sound like that.

“Kusanagi.” Fujimura snapped back and Jun flinched, and I glared, but I closed my eye and thought it through.

 

I considered it. Just saying yes. I mean, I had offered to do that for Jun before, but this was different now.

 

Everything was different now.

 

The Tyger Claws had made their mark on me, and I wasn’t going to let that go for nothing.

 

“You’ll have to reach out to Hiromi Mitsunashi. She’s Section 9’s Fixer contact. She’ll quote you a price. Don’t expect any discounts this time.” I said firmly. I could trust Hiromi to make sure this sort of thing didn’t come cheap.

“If Yuto strikes again, or in the worst circumstances manages to finish his goal, Junichirou will not be let off.” Fujimura reminded me sternly, but I just threw him a raised eyebrow.

 

“That argument would have worked better this morning. Before I had people I thought I had some level of trust towards trying to use me as a political piece. I don’t take kidnapping attempts as a joke, Fujimura.”

 

The elevator was quiet, and I hadn’t actually turned to look at Fujimura the whole time. Using a piece of the reflective stainless steel in the elevator to get just a bare hint of his face.

 

“I understand. You hold me to blame, and there is truth to that. But I wasn’t the one that caused this. Your brother is a useful subordinate, I wish to keep him alive.”

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“Maybe a small discount then.” Was what I said as the elevator opened and I walked out.

 

“Motoko?”

“I’ll talk to you later, okay Jun? Take care of yourself.” I said, I needed some space from all of this.

 

*Motoko!* Hiromi yelled as I called and noticed that all my chooms were already on a line.

 

*Hey everyone, sorry about the scare. Everything got crazy for a while.*

*Are you okay!?* Hiromi demanded and I laughed as I settled into the Quadra and started driving. I wanted to get out of this TC bastion as fast as possible.

 

*I’m alright, and unhurt. I’ll give you a full rundown, but Hiromi you might get a call from Jun’s boss Fujimura. It’ll be a Section 9 job to hunt down someone… Don’t hesitate to grill him a bit, but offer him a discount at the end… A small one. The gig is for Jun, but I’m pissed with them right now.*

 

*Got it, but-*

 

*Are you all together?*

*Yeah we met up at Hiromi’s place. Considering your warning.* Ichi cut in.

*Alright. Should I head there, or should we go somewhere else? Things are calm now.*

*My rents are out, so come over Motoko. Besides… It’s safe here, so I want you here.*

 

*Alright. Since I’m driving let me give you a rundown of what happened.*

 

—–

 

“Huh, is that new?”

“Yeah, the Rents always buy new entertainment systems. I don’t use them much.” Hiromi said and I chuckled because they were certainly getting some use now. Ichi and Malcolm were both playing some VR game.

 

“I can’t believe they would do that!” Hiromi vented at me as I followed her inside. “How dare they!”

“Well the gonks that tried it are either dead, or in a lot of pain, and the one in charge… Well I can’t touch them. So I’m just ignoring it.”

 

“I got a message from Fujimura already.” Hiromi added as I walked over and flopped onto the couch.

 

“Well, you know my opinion on it.”

“Yeah. Looks like we’ll need to do some hunting, but it’s very likely, if Yuto is with 6th St. right now. That we are going to be the ones to take him out. To avoid any TC connections.”

I just shrugged. “We’ll kill him then. He caused enough trouble to piss me off.”

“Hey Motoko!” Malcolm called as he pulled off the VR set. “Didn’t hear you get in. Ichi, finish up Motoko is here.

 

I laughed at the boys as they disentangled themselves from the game they had started.

 

“I see you boys kept busy while I was dealing with things.” I teased.

 

“Nah, we only started after you called. We were worried.” Ichi said as he took his headset off. “You okay? No injuries?”

“It’s fine. Just casually getting attacked by a squad of Tyger Claw brats, and then sword fighting one of their elite. I’m okay.” I bragged a bit before going very very cold. “But I don’t take this as a joke. The Tyger Claws are on my shit list.” I spoke practically arctic air as I looked at all my chooms to make sure they understood.

 

Hiromi was the only one who looked as furious as I was on the inside.

 

“All this because they wanted Jun?” Ichi asked.

“I think…” I muttered trailing off as I sighed letting myself get warmer. “I think there is more going on that I can really understand. Wakako specifically wanted me to not go after revenge for this, and I think the fucker that did this got in trouble for it… I think this all stems from the stupidest thing humanity ever created… Politics.”