Honor and Power

So-honbucho to the Matsuoka-gumi, my name is Nitori Aiichirou.

[awalkingaesthetic]

Splash Mafia (Thread 2) (Closed RP Group)

[kindheartedcaptain]

The tension in the air was clear, anyone who knew the situation would know it was there. Rin seemed more stressed then Seijuuro first thought, which wasn’t exactly good. But, he was trying, an at least that was a start. At least until the funeral was over, Seijuuro wasn’t going to push any matters onto Rin. He knew that anyone would need some time to grieve. If it was his own father he would have wanted the same thing.

"Yeah, you guys eat up." Seijuuro didn’t have any appetite. Not like he would be able to hold down anything he ate anyway. He would just think about everything that happened, and then get sick, and no one needed to see that right now. 

Right now, they all just needed to be close to family, because who knew when another one of them would be taken away. “Take your time while you’re gone, I’ll make sure no one does anything stupid.” He figured the most he could do was to make sure that things were at least a little bit orderly before Rin came out. Besides, he was more than happy to get his mind off of things.

[awalkingaesthetic]

Rin nodded absently at Nitori’s suggestion that he eat. He felt a little disoriented, and remembered that he hadn’t managed to keep food down since before he’d learned of his father’s death.

He reminded himself that he had to keep up the mask in front of the general masses. Once the three of them had retreated, he was allowed to let it down.

"Seijuurou," he said flatly. "Keep them busy. I won’t be long."

He led his sister into a room off the hall where they would be able to eat in peace, and he waited for Nitori to return.

"Gou, how are people reacting? I need to know what I’m dealing with."

[nitoritheyakuza]

Seeing the others into the room off the main hall, Nitori went back for the tray of food and grabbing a younger male to carry it while he carried the drinks. He directed the young man to set it on the table and stand guard. "Kimichou is inside with his sister and Seijuurou-nii. You let no one in. If someone wants something, knock and I'll come out. Understood?" The poor guy nodded, eyes wide.

Despite his fairly kind and youthful disposition, Aiichirou's tolerance for disappointment was notoriously low and his abilities with the straight razor were infamous. The younger brothers of their group were nearly as afraid of him as they were of Rin. Smiling pleasantly, he had the underling help him balance both trays and open the door for him.

"I've brought sandwiches and drinks. Water and juice. No alcohol, I'm afraid." He directed the last line at Rin as he set the trays down and stepped back to stand out of the way. He knew his place, and he wouldn't join the conversation unless invited.

[awalkingaesthetic]

Splash Mafia (Thread 2) (Closed RP Group)

[kindheartedcaptain]

Things had just been far too hectic for Seijuuro’s tastes. He already had enough on his plate when it was a good day. And now, with the death of their previous boss, and their new one ‘taking the reins, it was pretty much just adding to his list of problems. At least the new boss was Rin, someone he actually knew fairly well, and was on somewhat good terms with.  It was pretty much the only thing he could consider as lucky in this situation at all.

After sorting out any further financial issues caused by the funeral, Seijuuro figured he needed at least a little break. Well, that wasn’t going to happen, seeing as Rin was finally out and about. He had to make sure that he was willing and able to lead them. Even though Seijuuro was older and in turn, more experienced than Rin, he wasn’t bitter towards him. It was his family, and there was nothing he could really do about it. He was just going to help everyone here however he could.

Right now, that was seeing if Rin’s mental health was alright, and to see if he had anything planned for Iwatobi. He did just lose his father after all. He hated prying, but having Rin being his normal, secluded self. At least Gou and Nitori were there, so if anything happened that he couldn’t help with, they were sure to help out.

"Matsuoka." He said, making his way over to his new boss. He gave a wave to Gou and Nitori. "Glad to see you’re up and about now. How are you holding up?"

[awalkingaesthetic]

Too many damned people, too much damned activity, especially after three days shut up in his dad’s office. Rin would have loved to scream.

He patted his sister’s shoulder and offered a nod to Nitori.

“I’m fine,” he replied flatly to Seijuurou’s inquiry. Even to his own ears, he sounded hollow. “We’d better move. They expect me to speak, I’m sure.” Rin had prepared himself for this. He wouldn’t incite war just yet. He would honor his father’s memory, promise to hunt down his murderers, and show the face of power that he’d been constructing for days.

Rin would lead. He would not disgrace his father or Samezuka’s name.

But he knew he’d never convince Nitori or his sister that he was all right. They knew him too well, and there was a cold light in Rin’s eyes that had never been there before. He’d killed men before, but he’d never looked like this.

[nitoritheyakuza]

Having Rin to care for allowed Nitori to put his own grief on the back-burner, at least for now. His gaze shifted between the other two, returning Seijuurou's nod. It wasn't the best time of the other man to approach, but it wouldn't be a good time until it was too late.

Making eye contact with Gou, he mouthed, "Keep him here. I'll be back," and stepped away. The last time he could remember getting Rin to eat was on the day after he had been informed of his father's death, and it hasn't stayed down. Now that Rin was out, Nitori had to at least try to get some food in him.

Heading back down the hall, he turned off into the kitchen. A brief conversation later, Nitori had some simple foods on a tray and was heading back to where the three redheads spoke in the hall.

"I hate to interrupt, but this conversation is probably better had in private, and you two should eat," he interrupted, directing the last bit to the Matsuokas, giving them all a cool gaze that suggested arguing would get them nowhere. Nitori wasn't a leader by any means, but he knew how to get what he wanted from people. Especially when it came to those he cared for.

[awalkingaesthetic]

Splash Mafia (Thread 2) (Closed RP Group)

Rin had been holed up in his father’s office for three days.

His father was dead.

He was the boss now.

Rin sat in his father’s chair, holding his head and staring blankly at the floor. His sister was preparing for the funeral, along with just about everyone else. Rin’s father had been a popular man among his subordinates, well known for his fairness and logic, if not for kindness. He’d been a powerful, decisive figure who inspired strength.

Rin suspected that he wasn’t up to this. But he had to be up to it. He couldn’t let Samezuka fall apart just because he didn’t have the guts.

His face twisted into a snarl. Iwatobi. They’d been on decent terms once. That tenuous truce was broken now, with Rin’s father dead at their hands. Rin had been fully prepared to start killing, to rip apart as many of them as he could get his hands on before he fell. He’d had to be restrained. His father’s lieutenants – his lieutenants now – told him that he had to take up the mantle, to lead the way his father had, to be a symbol of power. Rin didn’t feel strong. He felt like a kid for the first time in a decade.

Heavily, Rin lifted himself from the old armchair. He grabbed his suit jacket off of the desk and roughly pulled it on – wincing as the movement aggravated his right shoulder, injured years ago and never fully healed – before walking to the door. It took more willpower than it should have to turn the doorknob and leave the office.

Everyone was waiting for him. He couldn’t show weakness. Rin’s face hardened into a stoic mask.

[dontcallmegou]

     Gou had been to too many funerals in her life. It was a bit annoying, considering how much black she now owned because while she might not want to be there, she couldn’t wear a bright red dress to a funeral. While it wasn’t a requirement for her to go to the funerals of past Samezuka members, she was still the boss’ daughter. It was more of a statement than anything.

     But now it wasn’t just some faceless member of Samezuka, and she was still having trouble processing it. She wasn’t just there to do her duty anymore. Her father was dead- and while she knew that this would eventually happen, she never expected it to happen so soon. She spent the first two days either crying or sleeping, the third making sure that the funeral plans were going smoothly.

     It wasn’t fair to her that she didn’t get to find out how her father died. No one knew, really, other than the Iwatobi leader, and he was dead too. And whatever the Samezuka members had said about it (“He must have died trying to defend himself! Iwatobi only organized that meeting so they could kill him!”), she wasn’t sure she could believe it. Hadn’t they been on good terms?

     Either way, she didn’t have time to think about all that right now. She saw her brother start coming their way, and she couldn’t help but smile a little. He had been locked up for days, “Hello, Rin.”

[nitoritheyakuza]

Since the day of Matsuoka's death, Nitori had been holding vigil outside the boss's office. Every few hours, he'd knock and offer Rin some food or at least something to drink. It was currently day three and he was starting to wonder if he'd need to pick the lock to get in and make Rin eat something.

He had just sent one of the younger members off to get his pick kit when the heavy door swung open. Scrambling to his feet as Rin brushed passed him without seeing him, Nitori followed. He wanted to see where the redhead would go before calling attention to himself.

Seeing the older boy run into Gou made him rethink that plan, however. Smoothly, he walked up behind Rin, nodding to Gou as he made his presence known. "Matsuoka-taichou, Matsuoka-san." Nitori flicked his gaze to Rin's face, gauging his irritation level. For years now, he'd been Rin's right hand in the darkness. He'd become very skilled at reading Rin's moods and running interference as necessary. If his instincts were correct, that skill would be vital now that Rin was boss.