Another Misstep

[madimpossibledreamer]

Cast of Characters (in order of appearance/mention, written the Japanese way of surname first): Miyamoto Suna (Xander), Matriarch of the Miyamoto-gumi/Miyamoto Family, a Direct Family of the Amaya-kai, nicknamed the Haiena of Hisamatsu due to her tattoo (irezumi) and first Family she joined in the Amaya-kai
Abe Mamoru (Willy the Snitch), izakaya (pub) owner, informant, and backstabbing weasel
Amaya-kai, the Amaya Clan, the Yakuza Clan that a lot of them are in
Akiyama Yoko (Willow), Matriarch of the Akiyama-gumi/Akiyama Family, a Direct Family of the Amaya-kai, legendary for her information-gathering skills
Inoue Yuu (Andrew), Captain of the Miyamoto-gumi/Miyamoto Family, a Direct Family of the Amaya-kai, and also the Family's best cook
Author's Notes: In this universe, Japan is run by the women.  Kansai-ben, the "more slangy" version of Japanese compared to Kanto-ben (spoken in Tokyo), makes an appearance again.  And it's fairly heavy in this one.  Abe's izakaya is an important crossroads for gathering information, since demons, spirits, yakuza, and civilians all gather there.  We actually get to see more of a hint of the yakuza's role as keeping the demons at bay in this one.  (Only a hint, mind you, but...)  Just showing up and standing there menacingly is apparently a time-honored Yakuza tradition/threat.  The Oden-Tal, appearing in Angel, are one of those societies that the Yakuza here would clash with with a burning passion--women in their societies are treated like slaves.  As such, the Yakuza probably look for excuses to hunt them down and butcher them, and might even join forces with other Clans they hate temporarily to organize a blood-hunt.  They also commonly offer female Oden-Tal shelter/employment, which is a large part of why they resort so quickly to violence.  Some Yakuza might not care, but for a lot keeping their word (their honor) is a big deal.  Torturing Willy is kind of a fun authorial pastime.  I can see why it happened so much in canon.
Trivia: This was actually the first piece I started writing for this 'verse.  Other trivia: I was very tempted to use a certain quote by Kanji (Persona 4) at the end of this fic.
More author's notes: background notes

Main Points:
Buffy/Yakuza AU (Bloody Petals)
Chapter Summary: Abe really needs to learn not to lie to a Yakuza clan.
Word Count: 7200
Rating: Teen

 

           “Maaaaamoru-chan,” a sing-song voice interrupts, and Abe’s hand trembles a little as he pours the next glass.  He’s not ignoring her, not really, but he can’t just ignore his customers either, can he?  The Amaya-kai only send Haiena Miyamoto when he’s really truly messed up, and, worse, she’s in a good mood, one of those violent good moods in which she’s about to get stabby at any moment.  All of his attempts at normality are for nothing anyway, it seems, because the vampire quickly stands, bows to the gaudily-dressed Matriarch (she’s wearing a fur coat, heels, leggings, and a bra, and he has no doubts she could fight in that getup, too, and probably has fifteen concealed knives somewhere, somehow), and joins the line quietly making its way out of his izakaya.  He’d only just reopened, but it seems none of them want to pick a fight with the Amaya-kai, or be around for any of what’s about to happen.
           “Miyamoto-san…” he responds quietly, still shaking.
           She places a faux-friendly hand on his shoulder.  “We were pretty clear, right?  ‘Tell us when a male Oden-Tal strolls inta town’ seems straightforward enough ta me.” 
           He’s lucky he’s not the type to sweat, or he’d be really obvious right now.  “A fight broke out.  We only just now finished cleaning up.”
           “Why do ya think y’ain’t nailed to yer bar, whimperin'?”  It’s stated conversationally, pleasantly, like she hasn’t just threatened him in his own izakaya.  She doesn’t have to brandish her omnipresent knife for him to picture the entire scene clearly in his mind.  “Ya do know you coulda just made a phone call.  We coulda killed yer two problem birds, easy as throwin’ a stone.”
           That’s not the first time she’s offered her protection services and it probably won’t be the last.  To be fair, from everything he’s heard about the Yakuza, they take those services seriously.  He’d never have to worry about rowdy customers ever again.  But they’d also be nosing around, and while they’re not Akiyama, even Miyamoto’s gals could easily stumble on a book or two he doesn’t want out in public, or a secret deal he doesn’t want the criminal overlords to know about.
           “I’m so sorry.  I don’t want to be a burden.  Surely the Miyamoto have better things to do than babysit my sorry self.”  By the way the Haiena grins, all teeth, it seems his little gamble failed.  Miserably.
           “Ya can take that humility bullshit an’ throw it out with the rest of yer trash.  Happy ta help, that’s our motto.  Now, ya got two choices ‘ere, Mamoru-chan.  Ya can tidy up all over again, or ya can have an army ‘a gals at yer every whim.”  She raises her voice.  “Miyamoto-gumi!”
           They all file in.  Some of the other civilians seem to have a misconception.  Many of them seem to think that the Miyamoto women are polite, rowdy maybe, but well-meaning.  Harmless.  But they exude such an aura of menace, now, all smiling like they’re friendly, polite creatures, and it’s all the more terrifying because he knows the smiles are practically just Noh masks tied to their faces that they could take off at any moment, and out come the bats and knives.  Some of them are better at the whole pretending to not be the thugs they are, like the Captains, but they’re all bloodthirsty.
           “Inoue-chan, kitchen’s yers.  We’ll need th’ strength ta feed an army.  So, hop to it.”  Case in point.  Inoue winks at him as she passes.  Winks.  She pretends to be all Miss Goody Two-Shoes, but he’s seen her squee at her boss systematically destroying a demon in a fight.  She’s no innocent.  They all know it’s not like he can protest them just invading his little restaurant.  Miyamoto puts a foot on one of the chairs, leaning in, single eye wide and staring, a contrast to that fanged smile. “Yer choice, Mamoru-chan.”
           No choice at all, really.  “The place is yours,” he responds faintly, flinching as the Matriarch reaches out and pats his head.  It doesn’t even feel like it’s meant to be condescending, just genuinely approving, which makes it all taste worse in the back of his throat. 
           “Ya heard the boss.  Let’s renovate this dump.”  He really, really wishes she wouldn’t do him any favors.