Welcome to Tokyo, Japan. January, 1991. The world has entered the technology era, portable phones, home computers, internet, video games. Japan quickly became the epicenter of the latest and greatest. Companies and factories flourished. Where money was, people followed. And while many rose to live a comfortable, happy, and delightful life from this new found money... Others did not. You see, money has this effect on people that can't be outdone. People will do anything for it. And when it starts slipping into the wrong hands, it's impossible to stop. Benethe the day time laborers and the double-shift workers, a seedy underbelly of syndicates exists. Narctics, black market, organized crime, money laundering, you name it and it's been growing as fast as the upper world economy. While many do it just to stay alive, there's those who make it their posh lifestyle. Either way, there's only one question. What would you do if the money was good enough?
JAN 29 2021: Welcome!! ƎLEMENT has been open for two weeks now and we're so happy to see such a bright beginning! If you're new feel free to drop into the discord and say hi before joining.
What the hell was taking them so long? Akito had purposely arrived at the restaurant early, but he hadn't expected to be kept waiting this long. He'd even sent over a car to pick up the kid, some dual-purpose attempt to wow the guy and get him there on time. Shizue, his driver, surely hadn't gotten lost, right? No, more likely the guy had gotten cold feet about the meeting, right? [break][break] "Probably just traffic," he grumbled to himself, turning away from the expensive watch around his wrist and focusing his efforts on the glass of wine before him. He lifted it, taking a sip, gaze flitting to the doorway, catching the curious stare of the hostess on duty. She quickly glanced away, cheeks the color of those decorative flowers littering the room, providing at least some distracting amusement for the lawyer. [break][break] The restaurant, Kikko, was one of his favorites to bring "clients" to. Set amidst the traditional landscape of Asakusa, the eatery was built from the remains of some old lord's home. It was beautiful, traditional architecture matched perfectly with the elegant culinary displays. There decor changed regularly, the owner's wife some famous interior designer; Akito had been all too pleased to see the rather breathtaking adornment of reds and pinks when he'd arrived. The ceiling was entirely covered in red roses, highlighted by the warm glow of the lanterns hanging from their confines. The furniture had been adjusted to match, scarlet fabric adorning the chairs, candles burning at each table; even the gentle lilt of that Koto player in the corner was perfectly in sync with the atmosphere of the place. [break][break] Maybe a bit more romantic than I'd have liked, Akito mused, sipping at his drink, not particularly displeased, but planning on perhaps adjusting his approach once his companion arrived. [break][break] Amane Yoichi. The kid, alone, wasn't of much interest to Akito. Cute enough for maybe some fun on the side, at least from the pictures he'd seen during his research, but students had never particularly been his type. Hard to cultivate an aura of respectability when you have a wide-eyed twenty-something hanging off of you. Still, Yoichi had found himself in the company of some lowlife thug that Akito was trying to put away, sparking the lawyer's interest. He'd wined-and-dined witnesses before, sequestering them away to one of these private dinners and even beyond in order to get their assistance on the stand; a cute little university student from some podunk town surely wouldn't be hard to impress. [break][break] "If he'd ever get here," Akito quietly grumbled, trying to relax back in his chair, air of confidence never shifting from his suited form even as he, again, checked his watch and glanced at the door. "Boy better be worth the wait."
[attr="class","dangertxt"] “Ugh, I’m coming. I’m coming,” he assured whoever was so adamant to get his attention. He was just settling in to get his homework done for the night before going out with his friends later. He didn’t have a lot of time and he really did not want homework time cutting into have fun time. “Do I know yo-?” Oh, no. The suit. The formal greeting. Realization struck and his heart jumped up into his throat, blocking his words from escaping. This wasn’t the NHK man or the neighbor lady asking for sugar. Yoichi slammed the door, not trying to be rude but reacting on instinct. He twisted the lock and hesitated there, leaning back against the door. “Shit,” he hissed and covered his mouth, then pushed back his bangs as he tried to think. Crap! Crap, crap, crap! A glance at the calendar. No! That was this Friday? How could he have forgotten? This was the day he was supposed to meet that lawyer. Murasaki Akito, or whatever. “Uuuh, one second,” he requested of the urgent knocks at his door, lingering a moment longer before scurrying to the bathroom.
He stared at the cluttered vanity, water running as his hands hovered over all the products he was planning to use before this dinner. He could…he could wash his face. Spruce it up. Do his hair if he was fast. And then get dressed. But he wouldn’t have time to shower now. Luckily, he’d done so that morning before class, but it still would’ve been nice to freshen up a little extra. This was a big deal. Some big shot lawyer. He had to be impressive. He didn’t even know what the man wanted. What if he was in trouble?
Yoichi rushed through his routine of washing, exfoliating, massaging on some essence and moisturizer and topping it off with a little SPF for a soft, dewy glow. He tousled his hair to fluff it up like it was freshly done, tucking the rest of it back behind his ears since they were going to some fancy place and it was probably best to look more on the formal side. He checked himself in the mirror and...not bad. Onto the bedroom, where his clothes were already hanging ready to be put on. He yanked on socks, slipped into a thin turtleneck and a pair of relaxed fit slacks, did up a belt, and pulled on a slightly oversized calf length coat. A spritz of flowery cologne, one more check in the mirror, and ten minutes later, he was at the door. Ten minutes late. That wasn’t horrible.
The drive was fast. Too fast. Yoichi spent the time staring at his hands, out the window, at the driver. He was trying not to stress, silently apologizing to his friends for bailing on their plans and mad that he had to be at this dinner while they were having fun without him. And in the time he spent worrying (and being annoyed) about it, they’d arrived. He took a breath to calm himself down and stepped up to the hostess. Composed. Composed. He couldn’t come off as...how he really was. But he was so nervous, he couldn’t even tell himself to pretend it was a role.
Right this way.
Someone was taking his coat and they were getting closer, closer… He looked around, trying to decipher who it could’ve been. A couple older guys drinking together, a family, a table of women, and- Oh.
“Hello,” Yoichi greeted, very obviously surprised, from his side of the table with a polite bow. He was rigid enough that it had to have been obvious that he was anxious. With permission, he sat and introduced himself. If he wasn’t nervous before, he was now. The guy was attractive. Like, super attractive. Magazine cover attractive. And he was so well put together. Agh, shit. Yoichi probably looked so stupid. Even if he’d had all the time in the world to get ready, his youthfulness and trend-focused closet screamed student. Why didn’t he wear a suit? What was he thinking? “I’m Yoichi Amane. It’s nice to meet you. Thank you for having me.” His accent expressed that he wasn’t from Tokyo. He could change his tastes and mannerisms but he couldn’t get rid of that inaka twang. “And sorry for the wait. There was...an accident.” Not a lie. The accident was that he forgot this was happening.
"Hello." [break][break] Finally. Akito turned his gaze towards the greeting, feigning like he hadn't been watching the young man's approach through his peripherals. At least he'd arrived looking decent, the modern flair of his clothing fitting him well. He was definitely cuter in real life, that out-of-town twang actually adding to the charm. Unique without being too exotic. He liked it. [break][break] He also quite liked that nervous undertone to his movements. There were few things Akito took more pleasure in than knowing he, in any capacity, was intimidating to someone. That gentle waver to Yoichi's voice brought an amused smile to his lips, making that extra bit of time waiting far more than worth it. He easily ushered for the kid to join him. [break][break] "Akito Miyasaki," he greeted, flashing as charming a grin as he could, trying not to laugh at that little quip about the accident. His driver surely would have come in to explain the situation if that had been the case; though the thought of Yoichi trying to cover up whatever had actually happened was rather enticing. "And the pleasure's all mine. I appreciate you agreeing to meeting me; I know it was a bit of an out-of-the-blue request." He raised his glass of wine as he added, "Would you like something to drink? Everything's on me tonight, so feel free to try whatever you'd like." [break][break] That said, Akito took a long sip from his glass, giving Yoichi the opportunity to glance through the menu. He didn't even have to motion for the waitress to pop over and take the order, plenty of eyes on that intimate table beside the window, the two men framed by the quiet Asakusa evening skyline, the downtown skyscrapers right off in the distance. [break][break] "Could you bring us a plate of gyoza while you're at it?" Akito added after Yoichi had placed his drink order, flashing that charming smile at the young woman. She blushed, glanced between them once, nodded, and then scurried off, Akito having to stifle another laugh at her dismissal. Alone once more, he turned his attention back to his guest, resting his chin on his palm, propped up on the table, some show of deepened interest in the young man. "So you're in university, correct? What are you going for?" [break][break] As if he didn't already know, his background check on the kid plenty thorough. Still, he wanted to see how long it would take him before asking about the reason for their little meetup.
Right, right. Miyasaki. Not Murasaki. Shoot. First, he forgot about their meeting, and now his name? Good thing he hadn’t greeted him by it. God, it hadn’t even happened and he felt embarrassed about it.
I appreciate you agreeing to meeting me; I know it was a bit of an out-of-the-blue request.
The man was right. This was absolutely an out-of-the-blue request. But it wasn’t anything he thought he’d be thanked for. He didn’t have a choice in the matter, did he? Could he have politely declined? Yoichi had no idea why they were meeting. He was certain he’d fucked up somehow and convinced himself that if he didn’t really lay it on this guy and impress him somehow, he was going to get sent home. Kicked out of school or fired or evicted or...something. Why else would a city lawyer want to meet with him so suddenly? Regardless, he was off to a rough start.
“Um,” he hummed in thought and picked up a menu. What was the right thing to do? Order a drink or decline? Better safe than sorry, right? Not wanting to be rude, he ordered something small and skipped out on getting alcohol. He wanted it. He really wanted it. A drink would’ve quelled some of the nerves, lightened up the conversation, but he’d be on his best behavior and only take whatever was offered to him. He came from humble upbringings and knew how to go back to his roots when it was necessary. Refraining from burdening someone else with a big bill in a situation like this was one of those times (though his nights out at the bar were a different case). He was a guest, whether or not the guy was rich. He wouldn’t indulge.
When the waitress finished lingering, Yoichi took a breath and looked over at the man.
“Oh, um, yeah. I go to Waseda for film production and acting,” he informed and shifted in his seat. He was used to having gazes on him. Most nights, he went out seeking attention and interest, and if he’d run into this guy in a different setting, he would’ve wanted it. But right now, it was making him nervous. “Is...that what this is about? School?”
Akito cocked a curious eyebrow at the kid's order, not used to someone not immediately taking up his offer of free drinks with a ridiculously expensive order. Different crowds, apparently. Mildly endearing, if he was being honest, which was a rarity. Still, he could admit that it was at least a bit of a surprise, and not a wholly unpleasant one, though liquor could certainly make the kid's tongue a bit looser, which would be wholly helpful in that moment. [break][break] "Oh, um, yeah. I go to Waseda for film production and acting." [break][break] Correct, Akito quietly mused, as if he expected Yoichi to lie to him. Not unheard of, though the clear nerves roiling in the other man's system certainly seemed to make he concept unlikely. The lawyer was silently contemplating how to use that to his advantage when the student spoke up once more. [break][break] "“Is... that what this is about? School?” [break][break] Akito couldn't stifle the airy chuckle that slipped from him, shooting the other an apologetic look as he covered his mouth and cleared his throat. It wasn't so far fetched, honestly, that same sort of endearing innocence in the question. [break][break] "No, not at all," he replied as the laughter calmed, taking a moment to sip at his wine again, a moment's reprieve to regain his composure. "Just curious, is all. I should have guessed by the outfit; you know how to present yourself well. You'll be plenty popular once you break out into the film scene." He didn't bother to hide the way his eyes lingered across the other's form, subtlety never his forte in moments like this, all too confident in the younger man's piqued interest from the nervous tells. "No, I actually asked you out to ask for your help with something; a case I have coming up." [break][break] He paused in his explanation as the waitress rejoined them, dropping of Yoichi's drink with a courteous nod before filing away. Akito eyed the nonalcoholic drink carefully, that curious expression back on his features. [break][break] "Not a drinker?" he innocently questioned, subject momentarily changed by his piqued interest; he'd just assumed the college student would be all too willing to indulge. The flash of some wolfish, slightly flirtatious smile spread across his features, chin resting on his palm as he brandished his almost-empty glass. "We could split a bottle of wine, if you'd like."
[attr="class","dangertxt"] He laughed. It was subtle, but it may as well not have been. Miyasaki-san laughed. Was it a dumb question? Should he have known what he was there for? He felt warmth tingle in his cheeks and all he could do was blink at him, clueless. He laughed. And now he was commenting on his outfit. The boy shifted a little, all the more annoyed at himself for dressing in the same sort of thing he would’ve worn on a date instead of formal meeting attire and- Oh. It was a compliment. He thought he presented himself well. And...he’d be popular in the film scene?
The lawyer continued on immediately after to tell him it was about a case, the added information only confusing the blond further because he couldn’t see how he could possibly help him with it. If it wasn't about school, what could it have been? Work? Yoichi didn’t involve himself with people or places that could get him in trouble. He liked to drink and have fun around the city, but he didn’t do anything sketchy. He worked hard and studied hard and considered himself responsible, mostly. He had too much to lose.
Before he could thank him for the compliment or ask questions, the waitress cut in with his drink. Fingers barely trembling with nerves wrapped around the glass and pulled it closer. It was already wet with condensation and he considered the fact that if he didn’t get answers soon, he was about to be just as sweaty. He didn’t drink from it yet, only held it, thumb rubbing absently across the dripping beads.
Not a drinker?
“What? Oh, no, I am,” he assured. “I go out drinking all the time. I was actually supposed to go with my friends tonight, I just-” Yoichi cringed, begged himself to shut up or slow down, but he never got nervous like this and words were coming out before he could stop them. “I just didn’t want to be rude and order other things. And…” Struggling to decipher the man’s intentions through that flirty grin and friendly lean forward, he trailed off, his second reason that he didn’t trust himself to drink at that moment. Not with him. Not when he didn’t know what they were meeting about or how he should’ve been representing himself. Should he have brought a lawyer of his own? Was he reading things wrong? Maybe just one small glass would smooth him out. Get him to stop thinking about how dreamy he was when he should’ve been busy worrying. He drank enough that his tolerance was strong and he got the sense he was being rude by declining. It was only half a bottle.
“We can, if you want,” he decided, sitting up a little straighter to try to seem more confident. “I usually like dry reds or sweet whites, but I’m not picky.” A moment of hesitation. “You said you want me to help you with a case? What’s it about? I guess...I must be involved somehow if you know of me, right? Did I do something?”
