“Kenji,” Simon began in Japanese, “We have information that someone in your organization may be stealing from it. It has to do with shipping containers and the ship yards. Somewhere between load and unload, whole cargo containers are being switched. To what end we don’t know, except that someone is making a healthy profit from the last minute changes. I am currently trying to track down who that is. I need a name or a location of where I can find the person who runs the docks in your district. Most of the containers are being shipped and or received in Little Tokyo. I am not here to kill or harass you. I have a job to do and I hope that we may converse as reasonable men.”
“Reasonable men do not kidnap those they wish to converse with,” Kenji replied calmly but with the same proud strong voice.
Simon glanced up at Sophia but she shook her head. This was something that seemed ingrained into his personality. He had maintained this dignity throughout the initial parts of his ordeal and even now, when he had no idea where he was or who Simon or Sophia was, he was calm and proud. Sophia found that she was beginning to like this man. She silently hoped that he would cooperate and she could take him home. But that would all depend on him and his responses.
Simon nodded, “I am not a common man with common problems. All I need is a name or a place, Kenji. It’s a simple and harmless piece of information.”
“This is not the way information is shared. I am to guess that you want me to give up what I may know for the promise of the proverbial carrot on the string. Am I right in my assumptions?” Kenji carefully chose his words and spoke in formal Japanese, a rare thing even among Japan’s natives. Simon was impressed.
“I want a name, Kenji, or a location, either will do. Your organization is being taken advantage of. These people who either you know, or know where they may be is a plague on House Himura.”
“That name means nothing to me. If these people exist, and my employers are being taken advantage of, then I will handle it on my own.” Kenji stated. He gave away nothing with his voice.
But his words told Simon that Kenji thought he had a lever to use against him. Without letting anything slip he said, “Because I know that you alone are not capable of taking this information as high as it needs to go.” Simon watched him for any signs of resignation or surrender. Kenji might as well have been made of stone. “Besides, like you said, if you suddenly had this information there would be questions asked about who you had talked to, what person’s honor you would be challenging and you would have many different fights on your hands, fights you must know that you can’t win on your own.”
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“I would rather fight the unwinnable battles ahead than betray my honor to you for nothing,” Kenji said quietly.
“I wonder if your wife or child would feel the same way.” Simon stated solemnly.
Kenji’s eyes widened and his head jerked up toward the voice of his unseen interrogator. “My wife and child are not a part of this! Only the worms of the gutters would hide behind the families of his enemies.” Kenji maintained an amazing amount of control. Even his outburst was quickly subdued. In the span of two heartbeats, he was perfectly calm once again, at least on the surface.
Simon could see every muscle fiber twitch. Kenji’s jaw was clenched. His whole body was tense. His muscles were a tight, flexed ball of energy. Kenji appeared calm but it was a riptide of emotions that the man was riding.
“I don’t want to bring your family into this. In fact, I can save you the trouble of the upcoming battles and keep your family safe. Your child doesn’t have to grow up in this world that you live in. You and your wife can be far away from here and under powerful protection that not even whoever you work for would dare go against. I am offering you peace and freedom, something you haven’t had the luxury of for a very long time. My carrot is not on a string, Kenji, it is laid on the floor, and all you have to do is take it.”
Kenji shook his head, “You have no idea who the people I work for are. They are probably on their way to my house right now to get my pregnant wife as leverage against me. They will kill her and my unborn child. Your protection means nothing to me, it will come too late. I have no family now.” The proud man had nothing left and he slumped down in his chair with his chin resting on his chest.
Simon looked up at Sophia. “Kenji, we know that isn’t true. Not even the Yakuza in the old country could claim a family or hostage this fast.” She stepped into the light and kneeled down in front of the broken man. “We have strong friends and we are well aware of yours. We can guarantee yours and your wife’s safety. But first, you have to trust us. We need to know what you know, even if it is small. Your family will be protected. You have my word, sealed in the old ways if you wish.”
Simon simply watched the exchange. He was aware that members of his team had traveled and spent time all around the world in the long years they had existed on this earth. Sophia had always been a bit vague when the matter of her age was brought up. Watching and listening to her, he found himself wondering just how long she had lived. Her unknown history was becoming deeper and more interesting the longer he knew her. He would have to ask her about it later. But then she would just deflect the question, as she always did. They had known each other for a long time, if she wanted him to know than she would tell him, and not before.
Kenji sat there quietly. For a long while he didn’t speak. He stared straight ahead, weighing his options. Simon looked from his thoughtful gaze to Sophia. She shook her head and Simon was content to wait. Minutes passed by.
“Whether I agree to help you or not, my family’s lives will still be forfeit, just by my being with you” Kenji looked between Sophia and the dark form of Simon. “Protect Mikayo and my child.”