Favors of Friendship

[madimpossibledreamer]

I'm wondering if the age restriction issues on youtube is spreading not only to be greedy (take money rather than pay creators), and look 'better' for ads, but also to force people to sign in so that Google can spy for ads. Tbf I don't know how many people sign out to watch youtube (maybe it's just me), but it'd be in line with the chromium changes to prevent adblockers from working.

Cast of Characters: Miyamoto Suna/Sunao (Xander), Matriarch of the Miyamoto-gumi, a Direct Subsidiary of the Amaya-kai
Amaya-kai-"Scooby" Yakuza Clan
Cordelia Chase, as herself (trying to escape a cult she was born into)
Maki Akiharu (Giles), Advisor to the Fourth and Fifth Chairwomen of the Amaya-kai
Natsukawa Renyo (Buffy), Chairwoman of the Amaya-kai
Akiyama Yoko (Willow), Matriarch of the Akiyama-gumi, a Direct Subsidiary of the Amaya-kai
Kumai-gumi-Miyamoto's former Family before treachery
Hattori Rinka (Snyder), Matriarch of the Kazami-gumi, a Direct Subsidiary of the Amaya-kai
Terms: gokudou-another word for yakuza
Author's Notes: In this universe, Japan is run by the women. At this point, Miyamoto is still trying to follow the rules and be a good subordinate, because she acts very differently with those of her own status or lesser (and probably picks fights with Hattori to let off some of that steam), partly by the fact that her own irezumi no youkai is harder to control than others' and partly because that's what she's been trained to do.
More author's notes: background notes

Main Points:
Buffy/Yakuza AU (Bloody Petals)
Chapter Summary: Miyamoto goes to ask for a favor to help Cordy.
Word Count: 520
Rating: Teen (swearing)

 

        It’s far too easy.  Sure, it might not make sense to complain about such things, but in Suna’s experience the only time it’s this easy is when it’s a trap or there’s a catch.  Every gokudou instinct in her is telling her this is a goddamn trap and she needs to be on edge.
        She’d gone to the trouble of shaving.  Digging out the most formal suit she owned, no matter how much she hated the thing.  Gone out of her way to be polite and all that shit, because she can’t afford to mess this up by being herself, not when it really could be a matter of life and death for Cordy-kun.
        Maki-chan is the only one who even bothered to voice a halfhearted objection, citing the power of the Children of the Four Gods.  Natsukawa-sama and Akiyama-san breezed right past that and are tits deep into discussing logistics.
        “It’d be easiest if you got married,” Akiyama-san suggests, sounding downright cheerful, which is actually kind of intimidating at this point.
        That’s fast.  This whole thing has been, to be fair.  A whirlwind affair, over the few months she’d been in America for business.  But it’s coming with the speed of, well, her becoming a Matriarch, and no matter how good she is (or at least shows herself to be) at rolling with the punches and coming back with a dagger to the face of her opponent, it’s knocked her for a loop, and it’s not like she can start threatening people or swaggering around with her superiors.  And sure, now that she’s thought about it, she practically had been Captain of the Kumai-gumi in all but name, but without knowing that she didn’t have the confidence to practice interactin’ with her equals.  Maybe if Hattori was here, that’d be a whole different ballgame, but on the other hand she don’t want that slimeball anywhere near discussions about Cordy-kun.
        “You’re quiet,” Natsukawa-sama observes, nudging Miyamoto, and it’s all she can do not to just lash out and run while they’re caught off guard.  She doesn’t need a drop of psychoanalysis, now or anytime.
        But then, if there’s anyone who deserves to see her vulnerable, it’s the Chairwoman of the whole clan.
        “’Member how I toldja I figured you were more off yer rocker ‘n I am?” she mumbles.
        “It’s not strange to care about you!” Akiyama-san yells, subsiding a little when the Chairwoman raises her hand to silence any further protest.
        “If you need an excuse, think of it as paying a debt of friendship.  A Chairwoman has to follow their word, don’t they?  And the same could be said of a Matriarch.”  From the way Natsukawa-sama folds her arms stubbornly, it’s clear that she’s not going to back down from this one inch.  “I trust you, unlike many of the other Direct Matriarchs, so keeping you happy is important, and from what Maki-san said I am itching to rub this failure in this cult’s face, because they sound like massive tools.”
        Miyamoto smiles involuntarily, and Akiyama pats her back, grinning.  “That’s the spirit!  Now, as for the planning…”