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.
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."
The pleased smirk returned fully to Akito's features as he watched Kane go to work. Gods, what a sight the man was, some wild beast trapped in the confines of social respectability and expectation. What Akito wouldn't give to see him let completely loose, to just get filled with rage to the point of losing control. Bet he's great in bed, the prosecutor mused as he enjoyed the show, always ready to provide an encouraging, perhaps too friendly grin whenever Kane's gaze fell on him amidst the carnage. [break][break] "Do tell me I look to your standards now, Akito. Or is this not my color." [break][break] Fuck, there it was, that giddy energy only Kane could provide. Torture and paid loyalty with that ever-unexpected interjection of entertainment and pleasure. What a goddamn rush, made only more exhilarating by the fact that he knew how much Kane hated him, how much the man would surely turn him to a bloody pulp if given half the chance. [break][break] "To my standards and beyond," he cooed in return, stepping up beside his partner in crime, gaze tracing along and lingering at each splash of crimson along that muscled form. He reached out, surely a reckless move after such a brutal display, and used his gloved thumb to wipe a spot of blood from the curve of Kane's jawline. "Red definitely suits you, pup. You should let me see you covered in it more often." [break][break] Akito had to remind himself of his actual goal the evening, easily distracted by the far more entertaining man at his side, Mr. Bitori just some small pissant. But still, he was unfortunately a useful pissant, Akito forcing his gaze to part from Kane's form in the same moment he pulled his touch away. He crouched beside that battered, blood-stained form and grinned down as pleasantly as he could at the mangled mess that was the captured informant. [break][break] "Well, Mr. Bitori? Ready to actually participate?" he cooed, the small grunt from the man taken as confirmation. "Perfect!" And he lightly tapped Kane's foot, indicating for it to be removed from the man's jugular. "Now, why don't you let me know just who all you've been spilling your guts to about the Nikoyo case, hm? Specific names, if you would." [break][break] The confession came quickly enough, Bitori sputtering out names maybe a little too easily for Akito's liking; he would have preferred another reason to set Kane on the man. Instead, he rattled off a few recognizable names, some less so, Akito taking note of them on a little pad of paper tugged from his pocket. When the stuttered list was complete, Akito nodded approvingly and stood back up, glancing once more across the collection of names. Curious. There were a few he didn't see that he'd expected. [break][break] "Hmmm..." he murmured, brows knitting for a moment before glancing back to Bitori's haggard form. "What about Watanuki and Otani?" [break][break] The flash of terror and the hitched breath were enough to tell Akito there was something afoot, brows raising in what looked like displeasure, but gods it just hid that exhilaration at being lied to, at acquiring an excuse to use his little pet again. [break][break] "Tsk, tsk, Bitori," he replied, sounding like some disappointed father. He leaned over, bravely--or stupidly--touching Kane again, hand at the small of his back for the briefest moment as he murmured in his ear, "Mmmm, why don't you be a good guard dog and punish master's enemies, eh? Don't kill him yet; just bring him close."
"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.
It was difficult, even for a performer like Akito, to stifle an amused chuckle at Mei's explanation, covering up the gesture with a long sip from his glass, finishing off the last bit of his whiskey. The tale wasn't far from the truth, but his mind spent the majority of her storytelling time remembering those first encounters, those secret rendezvous behind locked doors. His hand instinctively trailed a little further up and down her curves as he recalled just how many times he'd pressed her up against the sheets while that old fool had floundered about. [break][break] Akito had made the decision immediately that he'd steal her away; she was a far too precious delicacy to possibly leave in the care of that buffoon. It had been all too easy, too; he wasn't one to beat around the bush and Mei had responded in kind. A mutually beneficial agreement was staked and the rest is history. [break][break] "He actually told me he was just trying to keep things professional until the very end of my uncles case, not many men would be so valiant~ Right, Ichiya-san?” [break][break] A laugh actually did escape him at that final remark, though he covered it up well enough with some show at clearing his throat. Gods, she was perfect, wasn't she? He made a mental note to reward Mei handsomely for that little show, his lips finding the top of her head in some theatrical affection, a well-placed facade that garnered an approving nod from the elder Uesato. [break][break] "Sounds like our Miyasaki," the old man agreed. He reached forward, placing a firm, affectionate pat on the younger man's bicep, shooting him a not-so-subtle wink. "Keep up the good work, kid." [break][break] "Oh, I intend to," Akito replied smoothly, pulling his lips away from that field of violet. Feigning apology, he added, "Unfortunately, that does mean I'll need to cut our reunion short. I promised Mei we'd grab some dessert from our favorite shop before I dropped her off." And he glanced down at the woman at his side, smile filled with that--mostly--feigned adoration. "Shall we, my dear?" He waited just a moment for her to nod or comment her approval before flashing a grin at the Uesatos. "Excuse us, gentlemen." [break][break] And with that, he was turning away, hand easily smoothing to the small of Mei's back, a show of sensual possession as much as a guiding gesture as they angled towards the door. They were by no means actually heading out on some romantic escapade, though Akito certainly wasn't planning on sending Mei home anytime soon. No, there were plenty of activities he was more interested in pursuing that evening with his enchanting date. As he dropped off his empty tumbler with one of the lingering waiters, waiting for Mei to do the same, Akito leaned down to murmur in her ear. [break][break] "Lovely work back there," he cooed, warm breath coasting across the curve of her neck. "I'll have to give you a call next time Uesato invites me over for some boring family dinner." [break][break] He pulled away to nod his thanks at the waiter before continuing their trek out to fresh air, the stuffiness of that garish event and its blustering guests driving him batty. He stopped, however, when they exited the building and found themselves amidst a heavy rainfall. Akito's lips pursed, an aggravated sigh slipping from them. He'd dismissed the driver for the evening, his penthouse just a few short blocks away, closer if they made their way through a portion of Asahina Park. [break][break] "Great," he muttered, annoyance clear in his tone. Not much of a setback, but not ideal, and Akito Miyasaki always liked his plans to execute perfectly. "We'll have to call a cab, I suppose."
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."
A far too amused chuckle left Akito at that spat remark. Already so riled up, he mused, pleased with the results of his little jab. He was going to have to watch himself, make sure he actually focused on the objective of the evening instead of getting distracted by Kane's entertaining little reactions. You've got him all night, he reminded himself, flexing the hand that his comrade had so quickly swatted away as if to stretch out the disrespectful move, Plenty of time drive him up the wall. He watched, a brow cocked in amusement, as Kane nudged their hostage to the floor. So aggravated; what a treat. [break][break] "So feisty tonight already," he teased, not an ounce of him showing a bit of fear of retribution. Someday, perhaps, he'd find a way to push Kane over his edge of control; until then, Akito would just enjoy the ride and those shows of aggravation. A wolfish grin spread across his features. "I can't wait to see how you let out that frustration; I've always thought you looked best covered in someone else's blood." [break][break] An easy enough transition. As the words lilted from his lips, Akito turned his gaze on that sniveling form before them, wolfish grin turned into some snide sneer the moment their eyes met. Gods, what a piece of shit he was. Akito would have fun watching Kane tear him apart. [break][break] "You hear that, Mr. Bitori?" he cooed, lowering himself to some casual crouching position before the man in question, confidence oozing from every curve of his expression. "Mr. Oshiro here has a tendency to get a little--" [break][break] Sh-Shut the fuck up, asshole! Wh-Who do you think you are?! I... I know people, Miyasaki! I'll fucking ruin you!" [break][break] Halted in his little threat, Akito's brows rose in surprise at the strength in the informant's voice. Surprising, considering how terrified he'd been walking in. Some consequence of the freedom from Kane's grasp, he assured himself. At least the little prick hadn't thought himself brave enough to-- [break][break] Every piece of Akito's being tensed as that pissant spat at him. The angle was off, thankfully, most of the saliva hitting his sleeve instead of his face, Bitori's presumed goal. The smile immediately drained from the prosecutor's features. He maintained that quiet, spiteful expression as he stood to his full height, no more humor in the way he glared down at the man. [break][break] "What a fucking idiot," he scoffed, contemplating just running his own foot into that man's flushed, trembling features. No fun in that, though, when he had a perfectly capable little pet at his side. "Kane," and he glanced sidelong at his companion, the ghost of that amused expression flitting back to his features at the sight of the man, "would you mind making Mr. Bitori here a bit more... open to negotiations? He clearly doesn't understand how beneficial it would be not to piss me off." He took a step back, then, nodding for Kane to take his place. He wouldn't tell him what to do; he shouldn't have to, not for the price he was paying. Instead, he let his countenance relax, hands slipping into the pockets of his slacks, preparing to enjoy the show.
"Ah, Bitori-kun, so lovely of you to come on such short notice!" [break][break] Akito's greeting was sugar-sweet and terrifyingly bitter all at once, a far too friendly smile spread across his lips as he eyed down the trembling man. How appropriate, that mousy expression, perfect for a rat like him, the man some double-crossing informant like Akito had never seen before. His gaze didn't stay on the information broker for long, however, a flash of excitement in his eyes as they fell on that familiar visage. [break][break] Oshiro Kane. He was one of Akito's favorite for-hires, if nothing else than for the way it was so tantalizingly fun to get under his skin. The man was generally willing to do just about anything for the right amount of cash, and Akito was all too willing to pay top dollar for the mixture of results and entertainment that came from a job with the other raven-haired man. [break][break] "And escorted by my favorite little puppy," he teased, flashed grin as mocking as his tone was falsely affectionate. [break][break] As he slowly stepped over, Akito nodded to his assistant to close the door and lock it, leaving the three men tucked away in that quiet top-floor office. Completely ignoring the sniveling man on his knees, Akito approached Kane first, his fingers rolling up and cuffing his sleeves in some intimidating. He chuckled; as if he was going to be doing any physical labor tonight. No, Akito wasn't one to get his hands dirty, Kane's far more pleasing to stain with any potentially-guilt-inducing reds. [break][break] "How have you been, mutt?" he posed as he stepped up, grinning like they were old friends. He even reached a gloved hand forward and placed a friendly pat against the other man's forearm. "I hope Mr. Bitori here didn't give you too much trouble. Real nice of you to bring him all the way here for me." [break][break] As if Kane had had a choice in the matter. The agreed-upon paycheck called for retrieval of the man in question on top of Kane's full participation in whatever Akito needed of him to retrieve the information from their guest. And then there was, of course, any cleanup Mr. Miyasaki needed after their eventful little evening. Best case scenario, that involved Kane dragging the man back to his shitty apartment; worst case, he'd be finding a spot in Tokyo Bay available for new residents.
"Well, I can tell you a lot of the men in my department think his dirty money isn't worth a possible drug addiction and permanent lock jaw." [break][break] It was moments like those, the brief exchanges of information and gossip, that were, in particular, setting Mei apart. Flirtation came easily enough with the other women in Akito's life, flattering as well; this type of exchange was something a bit more enticing. Why have something pretty on your arm if they couldn't be useful as well? [break][break] Unfortunately, Ichiyo had interrupted that little playful exchange, Ichiyo making a mental note to ask Mei about further details once they were back alone. With Ichiyo, though, that may not come soon enough. The man was a legend, as skilled in the courtroom as he was happy to brag about those endeavors outside of it. For as much as Akito owed him a hell of a lot of his current success, he could certainly be a bit much, and that was without mention of the lechery, dishonesty, and underhanded dealings that frequently plagued his evenings. [break][break] "Oh my, so you're the man I have to thank for Akito's success." [break][break] Well, that was certainly pleasant to hear, a pleased grin spreading across Akito's features as he glanced at Mei, appreciation and perhaps the slightest tint of admiration in his gaze as she straightened his tie. He let that thumb continue its faint caressing along her curvature as she leaned against him, his own gaze following hers back to Ichiyo's form. [break][break] "Correct. How is all of that going for you, Masao-kun?" he posed, not in the slightest actually interested, but knowing how infuriated his old competitor would surely get at having to address how severely un-successful his law endeavors had been. [break][break] "Well enough," Masao shot back, clearly perturbed by the topic, knowing all too well Akito's antics. [break][break] The latter had to stifle a chuckle as he noticed the way the other man's gaze purposefully avoided Mei's form, a prideful smile hidden behind another sip of his whiskey. He probably shouldn't have taken such pleasure in that form of flaunting--it wasn't the most productive of habits--but gods did it feel good knowing how severely and noticeably he'd surpassed that once-rival. As if fate were rewarding Akito for something, it chose that moment to interject, Masao's following words interrupted by his father's guffawing. [break][break] "Well enough!" he exclaimed, clear bitterness in his tone. "Hardly! The firm's been losing cases left and right since I retired. I don't know why the hell you didn't teach him a bit more of your tricks back when you both were in school, Miyasaki. Kid could've used them." A large, bellowing laugh left the old man, his elbow jabbing at his disgruntled son's side as he gestured to Mei. "Maybe then YOU'D have someone like that fawning over you." He turned his attention to the woman, smiling like the lecherous old fool he was, gesturing to the man at her side. "Fill us in lass; how'd you two meet? And how long did it take ya to want to follow this lad around? I bet hardly a few minutes, am I right?" [break][break] There was an expectant pause, Ichiyo waiting expectantly, Masao's face flushed with silent rage and embarrassment. This sort of show was surely not uncommon for the father-son duo, though it was certainly more entertaining with that little minx thrown in the mix, Mei becoming some symbol of power and success. Made her all the more enticing, really. Akito decided to let her lead, shooting her a quiet, brow-raised look of encouragement as he took another sip of whiskey, curious to see what she came up with. She knew how to keep secrets--the truth behind their relationship surely not about to leave her lips if she had any intention of continuing that little affair--so Akito was more than a little interested to see what fantastical story left those pretty lips.
It was a miracle that Akito managed to withstand the droll of these events, the blubbering fools who'd found a home in his profession thoroughly unfit, in his eyes, to be in their positions at all. Their ineptitude was made all the more apparent at these elitist gatherings, where they wined and dined and guffawed about their successes in the courtroom all while partaking in that ever-overflowing fountain of debauchery that was liquor, scandal, and corruption. He'd have laughed in their faces, their hypocrisy disgusting, had he not needed their support, had he himself not been actively participating. [break][break] The woman at his side was enough to warrant his inclusion on the list of power-abusing bastards that populated Tokyo's upper-class. Beautiful and exotic, adorned in those flashy fineries he'd bought for her, Mei was just another piece to that perfectly-put-together picture he'd made of his life. Bought as a piece of eye candy, invited to this event as she slowly became a favorite, she was nothing more than an adornment for him to flaunt, an accessory for him to display and an entertainment for him to take part in. [break][break] "That's Moriya Gihei, director of a local bail association," he murmured to his date, his grip firm and possessive on that red-clad hip, his lips ghosting across the curve of her ear, "You notice how he shows up as the party's winding down? Bastard always gets distracted by whatever employee he's guilted into accompanying him and just ends up late, most of the time with his damn zipper still undone." A judgmental scoff, humored, slipped from his lips. "Surprised he brought a young woman this time; you should see the old men's faces when he shows up with a young lad at his side." [break][break] The evening had been proceeding at about that pace, Mei taking on perhaps a bit more of a comforting position that Akito would have liked. Only a few dates in and that charm and wit had lent itself to a more serious invitation, the prosecutor generally only inviting his girls to these large social gatherings after a few months together; Mei had warranted an invite after three nights together. Akito tried to avoid thinking too deeply on what exactly drew him to the special treatment. [break][break] Getting to see her in something like that probably, he internally chided himself, gaze trailing that curvy form as he pulled away from her ear, whispers on his lips replaced by the whiskey tumbler in his free hand. It was more than that, though, he knew. It took far more than a pretty face to strike his interest; he could purchase that whenever he wanted. Mei provided as much mental stimulation as physical, something far more worth the price than a mere enticing form. [break][break] "Ah! Miyasaki! I thought that was you!" [break][break] Tugged from his perusal of Mei's finer offerings by the familiar voice, Akito flashed that well-rehearsed, friendly grin across his features. Uesato Ichiyo, an older man, just retired a few years prior. At his side was his son, Masao, a man near-enough to Akito's age, though far less successful than his old schoolyard rival. [break][break] "Uesa-sama," he greeted, nodding in greeting at his old mentor. "Wasn't expecting to see you here; don't you usually avoid these functions now that you're a retiree?" [break][break] "Ha! Like they could keep me from free hors d'oeuvres and booze," Ichiyo responded, flashing a particularly wolfish grin as his gaze fell on Mei. "Ah, I get it! Trying to keep all the pretty young things to yourself I see!" A large, bellowing laugh left the man. "Who's this little vixen, then?" [break][break] "Mei," he introduced, intentionally slipping away from honorifics, his grip tightening ever so slightly on that curvaceous hip. "A very good friend. Mei, this is Ichiya Uesato and his son, Masao. Uesa-sama was my mentor back during my law school days. Gave me my first job out of college."
I will rule the sky; I will rule the sea; I will rule the broken and the free... [break][break] Akito knows what he wants and is willing to do just about anything to get it. He wants power, he wants respect, and he wants filthy criminals in jail. This results in a prosecution lawyer with a heightened sense of justice and a penchant for smudging the law to reach his goals. He isn’t proud of the methods he takes, but a history of seeing just how flawed the justice system is has left him disenchanted and, in his mind, without another option. He flirts with the underground, making deals with small fish in an attempt to catch the big, even as he spits at their feet in court. [break][break] Akito wasn’t always like this, and flashes of his past self still emerge every now and then. He has a deep respect for officers of the law and defense attorneys, even if he thinks their idealized, rose-tinted view of the law is misguided, and he doesn’t hesitate to put himself in the middle of social situations he deems immoral. He doesn’t refrain from expressing his disdain towards members of the yakuza and he quotes the law like a religious text… even if he’s willing to twist that text to fit his own means. [break][break] Socially, Akito is quite adept. He’s a handsome, young, successful bachelor wrapped in a cloud of confidence and he doesn’t hesitate to go after what he wants, be that a comrade-in-arms, a romantic entanglement, or a useful tool. While he himself wouldn’t use the term “manipulative bastard,” there’s certainly ex-lovers and friends who would disagree. That said, he’s a powerful ally if you can snag him. While he does have a bit of a dark side, he is able to provide information and protection for those in his inner circle, always willing to return a favor and prompt in offering a hand to help those he actually values. [break][break]
History
Akito grew up the son of a public defender and a police officer, his parents instilling in him early on the importance of the law and its process. As a child, Akito would brag to all of his playground friends that his parents were going to save the world. He can recall to this day sitting with his mother while she went over her case files, playing pretend courtroom with his stuffed animals or cops and robbers with cutouts he made himself. [break][break] Unfortunately, Akito’s unblemished view of the justice system was shattered the moment his father died in the line of duty. Some small-time yakuza thug pulled a gun at just the right time and sent Officer Miyasaki to an early grave. He was only 36; Akito was twelve. [break][break] After his father’s death, Akito’s mother attempted to keep up a strong facade, but she wasn’t able anymore to shield Akito from the dangerous underbelly of the Tokyo streets. Nor could she shield him from the substance abuse habits she fell into, longing to numb the pain of losing her husband. Akito started acting out, going around with bad crowds, getting into fights. He kept his grades up, though, because deep in his heart of hearts he knew that he was going to be the one to make a difference in this damned town and the only way of doing that was to join the flawed system and take control of it from the inside. [break][break] And so for years he lived in duality, a charming honors student by day, manipulative delinquent by night. After graduation, he cut down on the delinquent half of things, finding solace in the books and internships of law school. Akito graduated and passed the bar exam, much to his mother’s pride, and he was quickly able to rise in the prosecution ranks. He was a young star with a strong sense of justice, an intoxicating charisma, and a seemingly endless amount of good fortune in the courtroom. If only those superiors knew where that good luck came from. [break][break]
Physical Description
Akito is a lean drink of 5’11” water, dressed almost exclusively in blacks and grays, usually a suit or similar business-casual wear. He likes to look good and he knows just how to do it, only ever wearing the highest fashion, the best cologne, and the most flattering accessories. That’s not to say he’s flashy, though, going more for a subtle success look, hoping to distance himself as much as possible from the outlandish stylings of the lowlifes he unfortunately finds himself associating with.
