Chapter 236

“I can explain.”

“Do it then!” He whisper-hissed at me as he tugged my shoulder away from the crowd and towards a quieter section of the room.

 

I noticed Hayato was following, looking a little irritated at the interruption, but I sent her an apologetic shrug around Jun’s stupid fat.

 

“What are you doing here?”

“I was invited.”

“Yeah I figured! How? Why?” He whispered and I threw a hand at Hayato, who Jun noticed and instantly stood up straight. Offering her a bow. “Nakagawa-Sama.”

“Kusanagi… We have not had a chance to speak before.” Hayato offered, and Jun bowed even lower.

“I have never had that honor.”

 

“Your sister did not tell you she was coming?”

“She did not.”

“Oops.” I replied airily it wasn’t like it mattered. Jun shot me a look telling me it did.

 

“Motoko… You should inform your brother about these things.” Hayato argued and Jun sent me a smug look that I really wanted to wipe off his dumb face.

 

“I just forgot!”

“You forgot to mention this!?” He hissed and I pointedly ignored him. It was his fault that he didn’t know, and I wouldn’t accept any other fact. I nodded smugly, and Jun’s eyes narrowed as if he was reading my mind.

 

Get out of my head Jun!

 

“Ow!” I hissed as he bonked me on the head, struggling to fight against the desire to rub my head as that would mess up my hair. I sent him a glare.

 

“Pfft.” The noise could only be one thing and I turned to shoot Hayato a look, as she hid her face behind the edge of her sleeve.

 

“Don’t laugh.”

“I’m not.” She said in a rush, the words coming out in a blur. Heh. She had totally laughed. “I just did not expect your relationship with your brother to be so… physical.”

“I beat Jun’s ass-Ow! Stop that!” I hissed and Jun just sent me a glare back.

“Don’t talk shit then.” He said before stilling as he realized he cursed, and looked at Hayato.

 

She didn’t mind. She had a potty mouth anyways when she was surprised.

 

“I can’t beat your ass in this fancy dress, the lady that sold it to me will kill me if I mess it up!”

“Then stop trying to start a fight!” He growled back and then we both shifted and looked away. His voice had been loud enough that lots of the party goers were looking at us now.

Quick Motoko you have lots of powerful people all watching you make a fool of yourself, do something smart.

 

“Snacks?” I asked, and Jun nodded. Hayato just sent the two of us a look as Jun cleared a path for the snack table. “You coming?” I asked Hayato, and she rolled her eyes, but did follow.

 

“You are unbelievable.” She finally said as we walked across the room.

“What?”

“Ah Nakagawa-Sama! You are looking as beautiful as ever, is that a new Kerenzikov?” A man asked, stopping us half way, and Hayato, shook her head.

 

“Only some new connectors I had installed this year, ah, Kuzo, have you met Night City’s newest Kensai? Motoko Kusanagi, her work under my employ should be known to you.”

“Haha! I have not had the pleasure, but I have heard of her. Kanada Tsukimura’s death was quite the talk. A legacy that overstepped himself. The dishonor the boy laid upon his fathers name.” The man shook his head.

“Tsukimura-Ojisan was a good man, his death when Kanada was a boy is the cause of his failures. He is not at fault.” Hayato offered sternly, and the older man, Kuzo smiled at Hayato’s words.

“Indeed. So the young Kensai, acting under our Heir? Hmm. It is good you gather strong people to yourself Hayato-Sama.”

“I must, if I am to lead us Kuzo.” She said firmly, and the old man smiled in response. I kept glancing towards the snack table though.

Jun was already pigging out, and he was sending me smug looks all the while!

 

Asshole!

 

But I remained by Hayato’s side and did my guard duty routine as I waited for her to finish up so I could escape to the snacks. When the conversation finally ended I got one step towards the table with Hayato when someone else interrupted and called out to her.

 

Oh no.

 

But snacks!

 

—–

 

There was a lot of attention on me throughout the party, but standing next to Hayato actually ended up protecting me.

 

Everyone that walked up was required to talk to her first, and usually give her far more attention, the fact she was introducing me as in her employ also seemed to shoo some of the interested men away.

 

I wasn’t really sure why they were so interested in me, a Kensei was cool I guess, but it wasn’t like these guys didn’t have hired guns numbering in the dozens or hundreds.

 

Finally Hayato managed to get me to the snack table and as I was scarfing down she told me.

“It’s simple.” Hayato said to me looking at me like I was an idiot. Which was a bit rude. “They are not concerned with you as an assassin, or a hired killer. They simply want the reputation of having a Kensei working under them.”

“Ah.” I said then stuffed my mouth with a sushi roll. So it had nothing to do with competence, but just looks.

 

Face culture stuff.

 

Whatever then. Thankfully I had Hayato to cover for me, and while I chewed my sushi down I sent her a smile.

 

She looked a little irritated at me in turn, which was weird! I was trying to convey my thanks, you know?

 

But as things continued… I was just an interesting bauble, and Hayato covered everything else.

 

The party was… Normal? Like I kept expecting a raid of Edgerunners or something to crash in.

 

It just never happened.

 

But what did happen was just as deadly, but not my problem at all.

 

A gong was rung, and Hayato urged me away from the snack table.

 

My sweets! I’ll come back for you!

 

We crossed the hall, and she settled me into a cushion in the side of the room, while she moved onward up to the front, where her father was already standing. Only now he had a Katana on his hip.

 

Okay, the way he was holding himself? The way everyone in the room was suddenly quiet?

Things had just gotten spicy.

 

“This year… Has been a success.” He called out, and there was a hush of relief over the room as a few even clapped. “Income streams, and even our numbers have risen despite the wars we have fought… The Tyger Claws, grow.”

He looked to his other side, and a man that was wearing a suit, looking more like an accountant than a Gang member walked over and offered a small stack of papers.

 

“This is the list of income from all businesses this year…” He held them up, and I noticed a few of the tough looking bosses looked… Scared.

 

“Although some have come in below their target… None have done so without acceptable reasoning. Let me state now. None tonight shall lose their head… Tonight.” He repeated, almost snapped the last word, and more than a few men flinched.

 

Uh-oh, some people had been bad gang bosses.

 

Whatever.

 

He shifted looking at the list, and in that husky sex-smoke voice he listed off a name.

This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings.

 

The man called forward, stepped out of the crowd and bowed before Nakagawa Shinobu, and to my surprise Hayato picked up a lacquered box and opened it offering it to her father who took out a red envelope.

 

“You have done well.” The biggest boss of the Tygers said and offered the envelope. Which was taken with both hands head bowed, and the man backed off to his seat, hiding the envelope in his clothes.

 

Huh. What was the envelope, and what was this all about?

 

I watched on, an outsider seeing something I only understood through context clues. “Fujimura.” was called up a while in, and I perked up. Jun’s Boss rose up and did just like all the others. A deep bow, basically a kowtow, and taking the red envelope before returning to his seat.

 

Jun sitting on Fujimura’s right kept glancing over but he didn’t say or do anything.

 

So Jun was interested in what was in the envelope as well?

 

Neat.

 

It took a while for the envelope thing to finish up, and then when it was over everyone clapped for each other, like they had just scored a major victory or something.

 

I just shrugged, nothing I could do about all this. Right after Hayato was pulled away by her father, and Jun was surrounded by goons talking to Fujimura, so I decided I needed a new cover.

 

I got up and headed away and then up.

 

“Scared of the big bad Tygers?” Wakako asked, tapping her cigarette in an ash tray as she continued to watch on.

 

“Only scared of listening to them.” I told her honestly as I walked over. Her little seat didn’t have any other chairs, which was a bit of a statement, so I just sat up against the bannister.

 

Wakako didn’t laugh, or make a sound, but I could see she was amused anyways.

 

“So what’s up with the red envelopes?”

“They are rewards for good work.”

“So not money, they seemed bigger than that.”

“No. Property, territory, responsibilities. Each envelope can be a grand reward, a fully working business, or a punishment. A failing business that must be fixed, but still an opportunity for those capable.”

“Huh. Why the Envelopes and stuff then?”

“Christmas spirit.” Wakako joked, and I snorted, but she hadn’t really answered but I guess that was intentional.

 

“So… I got a label deal.”

“I heard. MSM.” Wakako said bluntly, and I pouted as I sent her a look.

“It’s not fair when you already know everything.”

“Hmph. Will this be the end of our work? A new career will take up much of your time.”

“No.” I said firmly, without any hesitation. “I’ll always be a merc. I think I’d get bored if I didn’t go out and get into a gun fight or something from time to time.”

“A waste. You risk your life for something you don’t need.”