Hey Neighbor Pt 8
A/N Sorry this is long with a lot of dialogue don't even know if it's good ugh
{previous}
cw: mentions of weapons wc: 1.5k
Toji
“A phone call in advance would’ve been nice,” Toji says, allowing his visitor to enter.
“Couldn’t wait,” the man states, his hands clutching the briefcase behind his back. “This just came in and requires extraordinary expertise and precision.”
The two men walk to the kitchen, both taking seats opposite one another. Though in the intimate setting of his house, Toji knew he was here for business. “I take it you don’t want a drink.”
The man chuckles, “Perhaps once this is completed.” He sets the briefcase on the table and enters the 3-number key. “I would however like to see my godson. Where is—”
“SHIU!” Megumi rushes in excitedly.
“Ah, there’s my boy,” Shiu bellows in equal excitement. The stoicism and business facade immediately fade. He picks the child up with a grunt and sets him on his lap. “You are getting big, pup.”
Megumi giggles at the nickname. “I’m not a pup, I’m a wolf.” He mimics a wolf’s howl.
Shiu pats his head, “Ah, the mighty wolf. Mostly prone to travel in large groups.” He glances up at Toji. “Though some are known to stray from the pack.”
Toji glares, aware of the obvious dig.
“We’re not alone. We got you, Shiu,” Megumi’s comment breaks the tension. “And we got y/n,” he lowers his voice and leans into Shiu, “That's dad's girlfriend.”
“I see,” Shiu again stares at Toji, this time with a look of both confusion and annoyance.
Toji responds with an eye roll. “Megs, go to your room for a bit. Gramps and I have some business things to do.”
“I am not gramps!” Shiu quickly blurts back, which sends Megumi into a fit of giggles. Toji, however, isn’t up to joke. He gives Megumi the look that quickly tells the child that this isn’t playtime.
Once Toji hears the door to Megumi’s room shut, he takes a deep breath. “So, what are we looking at here.”
Shiu opens the briefcase, presenting Toji with a thick manila folder. “The usual. But the window of opportunity we have—”
“Me.” Toji corrects.
“You have is very small. Meaning—”
“I have one shot.” Toji finishes in a bored tone. “What else is new.”
“This target has been of interest for some time. Most who have gone after him are usually shot within a 500-foot radius.”
“So you need a sniper?”
“I did say we needed precision.”
“What’s his deal?” Toji asks, flipping through the folder. Pictures from CCTV footage and shakey smartphones paint a very broad image of the target—tall, slender build, blonde.
“Big name in tech, took over after his father died. The other son is scorned, but you know we don’t go into too much detail, nor do we ask. They hire us and we do our job”
“I do the job,” Toji corrects, again.
“And you do it well.”
“How long will I be gone?” Toji continues flipping through the files, pocketing the provided fake passport and plane ticket.
“3 weeks, we want you to have ample time to scout the area. Where he goes and when. There can’t be any mistakes.”
“And my son?” Toji looks up from the papers.
“Of course, he will be staying with me. You may be on the outskirts of our society, but we still wish to protect our own while they are working. Our in-house nanny is superb at her job, both as a sitter and protection. I provided you with her credentials as well.” he gestures to the pages.
“That’s a long time away” Toji remarks. “How much is this man paying?”
“Though he’s not as wealthy as his older brother, his father left him a good chunk of money in his will—”
“How much,” Toji was getting impatient.
“$500,000. And to show his confidence in you and apologies for the short notice,” Shiu turns the briefcase around to Toji. “He made a downpayment.”
Indeed, the briefcase was lined with stacks of crisp 100s. Toji swallowed. He can’t remember the last time a client had paid a portion upfront. Collateral maybe, but never cash.
“$300,000. Thats—”
“60%. That’s suspicious. Are you sure this isn’t a setup? Are you sure these aren’t fake or marked?” Toji gently runs a finger over the bills, feeling for the telltale sign that it's fake.
“We had eyes on the bank.” Shiu answers, confidently. “So are you in?”
“Mind if I check,” Toji asks, still not convinced.
Shiu gestures to the money, “Be my guest. Though I’m rather insulted you would think I would fall for a scam.”
Ignoring him, Toji walks to the hallway closet. The small space housed various coats and toys of Megumi’s. He pushes aside the clothes. The wall at the back of the closet would appear normal to anyone else–basic wood paneling. Toji traces his finger along one slat of the wood, finding the slight give and pressing it.
A small portion of the wall retracts, revealing a safe locked by a keycode. After entering the key code, the thick metal door opens. Inside are various passports, stacks of cash, guns, and accessories. He pushes aside the knives sheathed in sleek leather. Once finding the detector, he returns to the kitchen.
Toji turns on the LED, aiming the purple light at the briefcase. The bills show up clean. “Nothing,” Toji grumbles.
“I told you,” Shiu crosses his legs.
“Doesn’t mean the ones underneath aren’t or the one in between” Toji continues to scan the stacks, all turning up clean. After his meticulous searching, Toji turns off the light. “I’ll put it through the counter, check every single one–”
“You’ve always been thorough,” Shiu jokes, standing and straightening his suit jacket. “So are you in?”
Toji mulls it over. Finally, after a few moments, he complies, “Yeah, I’m in.”
“Great the car to pick Megumi up will arrive the night before. Flight information and itinerary are all there.” Shiu strides to the door, opens it, and stands on the front porch. His eyes are on y/n’s house. “Is she aware yet?”
“No, not yet,” Toji joins him on the porch.
Shiu widened his eyes. “What is causing the delay.”
“I” 'm trying to leave this way of life, why would I want to bring an innocent woman into it, regardless of contracts.”
“She is rather…fawn-like. But I think with proper training she could be a great addition to carry on her family name,” Shiu takes a long drag, blowing smoke out of the corner of his mouth. “Or perhaps the two of you could produce—.”
“Megumi can carry my name just fine in a life that doesn’t consist of looking behind his back.” Toji retorted, narrowing his eyes.
“Of course. Megumi is an exceptional child. Regardless if his mother wasn’t of our kind, and remember, I fought for you harder than anyone to be able to live outside of this society. Luckily, the higher-ups thought you to be such a precious asset the thought of losing your…services is why you now live so comfortably on the periphery.”
“Comfortably,” Toji tsks, “worrying about my son every second; how I’m going to be able to know he’s safe once he starts attending public school.”
“You could easily come back which would guarantee his safety at our school.” Shiu bargains.
“I told you. I’m done with that life. Megumi will get a choice in what he wants to do with his life. He deserves it and so does she,” Toji jerks his head gesturing to y/n’s house.
“She seems very…present in your life, already. Even Megumi seems to think so.”
Toji rolls his eyes, “She’s been here a few times, that’s it. She watched Megumi one day and—”
“You put her in charge of watching Megumi? Very trusting of you.” Shiu interrupts, his cigarette dangling from his lips.
“It was a few hours,” Toji said. “And he needs some female interactions every once in a while. I can’t play the role of mother very well.”
“Already considering her for a mother figure,” Shiu continues, smiling wryly.
“Are we done here?” Toji turns back to the door, wanting to end the conversation.
Shiu knows when to quit, at least, because he tips his head goodbye and lopes down the stairs, heading for his black sedan.
He turns halfway before getting into the passenger side door that is being held open by a man in a similar suit though 30lbs worth of muscle heavier. “I do suggest you make her aware of your agreement with her grandmother. You know how our dear Mrs. Ruth hated a procrastinator.”
Toji doesn’t respond, instead, crossing his arms and waiting for the car to drive Shiu away.
“And do not underestimate how powerful the two of you could be together. A child from two strong lines would be world-renowned.”
Again, Toji didn’t respond. He watches the driver return to the driver's seat and drive off down the road. Once sure he was indeed gone for good, Toji reenters his house.
He doesn’t know how to broach the subject of his agreement with y/n. But 2 things were for damn sure.
She would get a choice, unlike him.
There was no fucking way any child of his, either the one he has now or any in the future, would be ever handed over to the people he was trying to leave behind.
