“I’ll be sure to get them on the same page, this is really inexcusable,” Kenzo sighs, though his exasperated expression softens as Kai approaches him- Already in a better mood at the sight of their favorite snack.
“I’ll make dinner tonight. Anything you want,” he promises, setting the basket on the corner of Kai’s desk before leaning back against the edge of the flat surface. Being reminded of his lofty status always manages to make him laugh- If anything, his ‘subordinates’ are more like good friends, men that he considers blood brothers. It doesn’t matter if they aren’t directly related, they share a bond that few others would be able to relate to.
“Hey now, I’m just filling in for Dad until he recovers…” he reminds his sibling, having always taken a rather casual attitude towards his future as the Boss’ successor. He did feel a sense of responsibility for the men beneath him and wanted to make them proud, but that was more out of a sense of obligation than genuine ambition. If anything, the reason why he’d accepted their father’s terms was because he’d wanted to distance his brother from a life of bloodshed.
Kai would later surprise him by willingly taking a more active role in their dealings, but he understood why ‘repaying the Boss’ was so important for him. Kenzo is certain that his sibling still feels an immense weight of unspoken guilt for what happened to their parents, even though it hadn’t been his fault. He was only a child at the time, his Quirk had just then emerged- There was no possible way he would have had the knowledge or skills to reverse the deconstruction phase of his abilities.
Folding his arms across his chest, he slowly exhales a a breath he hadn’t realized he’d been holding. He hadn’t even gone to visit their father yet… As much as he loathes to admit it, he did have a more pressing matter lurking in the back of his mind. He just isn’t sure how to approach the question without sounding insensitive or accusatory.
“I put off my meeting with the geezers for now.”
He is, of course, referring to the Shikunshi Brotherhood- A coalition of four leaders chosen by all of the major yakuza clans throughout Japan. In Kenzo’s opinion, it just just another way for the old guard to posture and maintain some connection to tradition- Otherwise, it was kind of a waste of his already limited time.
“That reminds me… I have to give them a summary of what’s been happening within the Shie recently, so you’ll have to fill me in on what I missed while I was away,” Kenzo explains factually, trying to keep his tone even and neutral despite his vague feeling of anxiety.
“I never asked you about what happened that day, when Dad got sick. I think I was in too much shock to really process it, y’know? I know you’ve probably already told the guys everything, but I’d rather hear it from you directly.”
☣▧ Kai nodded at his words, he honestly was used to the treatment. Many of the old members did not like him and he knew they’d prefer he wasn’t around compared to his brother. They loved him and perfected him over Kai. He would have been jealous if he didn’t have Kenzo wrapped around his finger and catering to him most of the time. “It’s fine Kenzo. I highly doubt they will keep to it. They will just amp it up when you leave again.”
Hearing his offer to make food Kai perked up a bit, his fringe almost seeming to puff up like a bird does with their feathers. “Mm, I’ll think about dinner.” He spoke golden eyes following his brother as he continued to eat the fruit he held in his palm. Watching Kenzo set the basket on his desk then lean against the polished wood. Kai taking in the sight of his older brother, they were both identical to a T with only one minor detail. Kenzo was bulkier than his younger brother. Mostly because of Kai’s extreme germaphobia.
Giving a short sigh Kai had moved closer to Kenzo, grabbing another fruit from the basket and throwing the peels in the trash. “Still, you are the capo. Dad isn’t exactly waking up anytime soon, unfortunately.” He let a frown cross his face while he peeled the new fruit. He was the cause behind the shift in power as he had placed the man in a coma himself, though with Kenzo being his older loving brother he would never suspect he did that on purpose or at all unless one of the elder members decide to spill it to Kenzo. Even then Kai was not worried about how his brother would react. He was his twin after all and he learned how to mimic what he needed to have Kenzo remain on his side.
He picked a few pieces of the fruit before putting them in his mouth. Golden eyes looking back up at Kenzo while tilting his head slightly to read his expressions. He was still waiting to see when Kenzo would ask him about the current situation with his father. Kai did it for the better of the yakuza, to pay back the old man for taking them in and giving them a place to live safely. Kai had to make it up to their guardian, but without being able to use what he wanted to he had to put the boss to sleep, just until he finished his plans. “Hm? Oh right the meetings...how are the old men? Still grumbling about me and how unsettling my eyes are?”
Taking a few more pieces from his fruit to eat. “Ah well while you were gone I invented a drug called trigger. It’s supposed to temporary enhance one's quirk for a limited amount of time. Right now I have genie pigs testing them out with Chrono gathering the data for me.” Kai hummed throwing the trash away before pulling off his gloves and throwing them in the trash as well. Nodding when he asked about their father. His head bowed and not looking up at Kenzo. His face really showed nothing than a blank expression, but he knew if he put a few hiccups and stutters he could make himself sound small and remorseful.
“I.....I didn’t really tell them..” moving one hand to grab at the bend of his other arm. Fingers digging into the fabric of his coat while he tried to speak evenly. “I....had one of my episodes...I can’t...really remember what happened. I just sort of blacked out and all I could hear was father trying to calm me down, then he was just lying there motionless...” he shook to add emphasis to his actions and words. “I’m sorry....I wanted to fix him, but I would cause more harm then help if I didn’t know what I changed during the episode.” He still kept his head bowed to his older brother. Even though he mimicked the body language and was able to emulate his sadness, it still didn’t change he wasn’t being 100% truthful or really felt any remorse. He wasn’t always like this or at least he assumed he wasn’t.
He had figured it was the accident that changed everything about him and something in his brain had switched off to make him able to be detached and calculated when it came to others around him, that was except for Kenzo. His brother really was the only one he could trust and the last thing that could ground him and keep part of his humanity alive.
“I’m trying to find a cure....I promise.”
