The meeting spot is a dingy karaoke bar at the edge of the city, a place more suited to drunken businessmen than criminal masterminds. But it's not my choice, and Megumi always insisted on neutral ground. When I arrive, Sakura and she are already waiting in a booth, shrouded in the neon glow and muffled sounds of terrible off-key singing.
"You're late," Megumi states, her tone as icy as ever.
"Got held up," I mutter, taking the seat across from them and trying to ignore the sticky plastic beneath my fingers. A greasy plate of half-eaten dumplings completes the picture of underworld elegance.
Sakura offers a timid smile, a flicker of worry in her eyes. She still clings to the belief that what we're doing is dangerous, but somehow necessary. It's a testament to both her naiveté and her faith, two things I desperately want to protect and utterly don't deserve.
"So," Megumi leans forward, "What's Shadow's answer? Did our carefully planted rumors have any effect?"
I force myself to sound calm. "No direct contact. But there have been…changes." I describe the shifts in territory, the smaller gangs suddenly hesitant to act against Shadow, almost as if they're waiting to see what he does next.
Hope sparks in Sakura's eyes. Megumi, however, isn't impressed. "That's hardly a victory," she scoffs, "Shadow's still out there, consolidating his power."
"And he hasn't attacked us," Sakura counters, her voice surprisingly firm, "Maybe this is working..."
The argument could drag on for hours. It always does. Instead, the door of our private booth bursts open with the force of a battering ram.
Three men barge in, exuding the kind of cold menace that separates wannabe thugs from true killers. Their leader is tall, heavily tattooed, a scar running from his temple to his jaw. I recognize him instantly.
"Well, well," he growls, his voice low and full of barely restrained violence, "Look who it is. The puppeteer finally shows his face."
It's Tanaka. Or what's left of him. His once-proud gang is all but decimated, but in his eyes, I see nothing but pure, burning hatred. I've made a deadly enemy.
Sakura gasps, her hand flying to her mouth. Megumi simply raises an eyebrow, as though more intrigued than alarmed.
"Didn't expect to see you again," I manage, trying to keep the sudden terror out of my voice. He lost the gang war, but a cornered animal is the most dangerous kind.
"Heard some interesting rumors," Tanaka spits, "A nobody like you pulling the strings, turning my boys against each other, making a mockery of everything I built."
Megumi chooses that moment to speak, her words slicing through the tension, "You overestimate his importance. That was all your own incompetence."
If looks could kill, she'd be a smoldering pile of ash. I shoot her a desperate glare. Now was not the time to make things worse.
"You think this is funny?" Tanaka roars, stepping closer. The men flanking him tense, ready for his command.
Before things escalate further, I stand. Not heroically, more like a cornered rat finally deciding to at least try and scurry away.
"Look," I spread my hands in a placating gesture, "That's all over. You lost. It happens. Move on, find a new racket..." My voice trails off. Tanaka isn't the type to pick up the pieces and start over. He's here for revenge.