Breaking Tradition

[madimpossibledreamer]

man i hate it anyway but the changes to ESO made it even worse than normal

Cast of Characters (listed the Japanese way of surname first): Wakabayashi Mishiko (Kendra), Lieutenant of the Amaya-kai (answers to Chairwoman Natsukawa herself)
Kuroba Raimu (Faith), Chairwoman of the Osato-kai
Miyamoto Suna (Xander), Matriarch of the Miyamoto-gumi, a Direct Family of the Amaya-kai-not tagging it as she's barely mentioned but Suna was born female here (& is also genderfluid but none of this is important to this particular story)
Amaya-kai, the Clan Miyamoto & the rest belong to and that Natsukawa runs
Oni Alliance, also known as the Osato-kai, rivals to the Amaya-kai
Satou Karina, second to Wakabayashi
Natsukawa Renyo (Buffy), Chairwoman of the Amaya-kai
Author's Notes: In this universe, Japan is run by the women. This particular story occurs in media res.  I've mentioned the concept before but not gone into specific detail.  Before their death, the Chairwoman can leave a document with the people she'd like to try to come retrieve her soul from the Underworld before a different Chairwoman is named.  It is forbidden to destroy the document.  It is forbidden for anyone other than those named to enter and try to help.  It is forbidden for those from either Clan to interfere.  It is tradition for the second-in-command at Headquarters (i.e. Wakabayashi) to stand vigil for the traditional amount of time and not enter along with the others.  Should they come back with the Chairwoman's soul, she is named as her own successor.  It is not usual for it to succeed.
Terms: Kansai-ben-as mentioned both Kuroba and Miyamoto generally speak with the slangy Kansai-ben accent
Irezumi no youkai-tattoo spirits and the sign of a yakuza (elsewhere I've messed this up and written it as irezumi youkai which if it was actually japanese would be incorrect so I need to fix that). Invoking gives you a battle aura and basically invites the full power of the spirit.  Largely, this is done before combat, and if not for the fact that this is in the line of duty and Kuroba's breaking the rules here, Wakabayashi shouldn't be invoking before a superior.  Other uses involve intimidation and, in this case powering up for spells.
gokudo-another word for yakuza (& preferred by those actually in those organized crime groups)
Kendra (Wakabayashi)'s irezumi-with the jagā (jaguar) and washi (eagle)
More author's notes: background notes

Main Points:
Buffy/Yakuza AU (Bloody Petals)
Chapter Summary: As per tradition, Wakabayashi is sitting vigil at the entrance to the Underworld. She's interrupted.
Word Count: 640
Rating: Teen
Warning: A hint of racism

        “Tell me why I shouldn’t run you through on the spot for disrespecting one of the longest-lasting traditions,” Wakabayashi states seriously, sword pointed directly at Kuroba’s throat.
        To the Chairwoman’s credit, there’s a mere moment of shock in her widened eyes before she quickly responds like she’d been expecting this—and yes, she probably already was, just not to be noticed this quickly. “’Cause I’m here ta help?” she suggests, hands raised in surrender.
        Silently, Wakabayashi compares Kuroba to the only other person she knows with a Kansai accent. The comparison is not flattering. Miyamoto is more ridiculous and sing-song about her mannerisms, but similarities still exist—for one thing, they’re both playful and don’t seem to be taking anything seriously.
        “To help,” she repeats flatly, not buying that for a second.
        “The hell with a new sixth Chairwoman. Best medicine for that’s makin’ sure I got my pick of Chairwoman, an’ that’s the devil I know. An’ if I double cross ya, it’s easy enough for ya ta send a message across, kill me before I even make it back ta my own body.” It’s clear enough she’s thought about it. What is less clear is if this is better or worse. Chairwoman Kuroba has a well-earned reputation of being best at improvisation. If she’s actually thought out a plan, it might—might—end up being a weakness. Maybe.
        It’s tempting to go to someone else. To demand orders, to make sure if this all goes downhill it’s someone else’s signature on the page. All insecurities she thought she’d killed years ago, but then, sometimes it’s hard to shake the words you’ve heard your whole life.
        She’d been promoted to Lieutenant for a reason, however. And technically, until the problem of succession has been dealt with, she’s the highest ranked gokudo in the Amaya-kai right now. This is her problem, and she is more than capable of dealing with it herself.
        She’s fairly certain, as little sense as it makes right now, Kuroba is telling the truth. All she really wants, and needs, is a confirmation.
        Fortunately, her irezumi no youkai are just what she needs, to separate the liars from those who tell the truth, to learn if the Osato-kai Chairwoman can be trusted with the life of her own. “We’ll see,” she responds as she invokes.
        Kuroba hisses, pulling a dagger from her sleeve almost immediately, but the training of the Oni Alliance appears to be just as good as for the Amaya-kai, for those of higher rank, because she doesn’t attack, understanding that this might be a test. It is, but not of the sort Kuroba thought. Still, irezumi no youkai with the ability to see through deception are not uncommon, so perhaps she understood the true purpose after all. It’s the work of a moment to contact Satou, the current second in command, the blue of the washi twisting around her form, and then, with her subordinate looking with her, the white of the jagā joins the spectral flames of the invocation.
        Kuroba is not lying. In fact, although she did not voice her concerns out loud, she has reasons to believe Natsukawa is necessary to maintain balance, and of more than simply the Clans. She fears those within her own Clan who wish for more power, even at the cost of selling out to, say, the Oni. Specifics are, for the moment, out of reach, but then, she doesn’t need them. Not for the present.
        Satou’s irezumi no youkai will allow her to replace Wakabayashi’s vigil in less than a minute. “We will go when I say. Stay close and do as I say.”
        Kuroba opens her mouth to argue, but closes it again, probably realizing that she needs Wakabayashi for her trip to the Underworld to go unnoticed by the factions she dislikes.