The next day, after staying at Yuna’s house, Jin drove his car 20 minutes until he reached the Omi residential district. It was a cold and clear day, and most leaves had fallen from the trees, but he knew at the lake that most would retain their leaves a little longer. The cemetery of his family was next to this lake in a cozy corner filled with red maples in the fall and white dogwood in the spring. There were garden paths all around in between many other clan cemeteries.
The message didn’t specify what date, but Jin presumed that any noon would be fine. He wore the same cheap suit he acquired before, and had enough food and water in the car to subsist for a few days. There was a feeling of dread but also hope. Hope that perhaps things could be bygones.
After parking his car in the parking lot, Jin walked a fair distance til he came to the edge of the lake. He wished he could have a little music to ease his mind, but he sat down and meditated in silence, listening to the waves and the wind blowing through the trees. It was a beautiful day after all.
After an hour, he heard footsteps and turned around. It was his Uncle, also in a casual business suit, one when not making public appearances. Jin wore a faded black and gray jacket while Shimura wore a neutral beige jacket, no tie. Jin stood up and bowed to him respectfully. His Uncle looked him in the eye with what looked like a feeling of awe.
“Jin,” his voice was soft.
“Uncle.”
“I wasn’t sure if you would come.”
“I wanted to talk with you. If we work together, we can start rebuilding the company, fixing the — ”
“That is no longer your duty,” Shimura waved his hand. “Tokyo Inc. has dismissed you from your position. As of today, you no longer work for Tsushima Holdings.”
Jin’s heart sank. He shouldn’t have been surprised, but it still hurt to hear.
“I knew they would make the connection eventually. I sacrificed everything for the people… and I would do it again.”
“There will be new executives from Tokyo Inc. coming in to replace you, and other jobs we lost.”
“So I guess I’ll have to leave town.”
Shimura closed his eyes for a second. “Walk with me, Jin.”
Together they found a path and started walking around the lake. It would take a full hour to return to where they were now. Jin walked half a step behind his Uncle out of deference. Shimura’s face was all gloom, and he walked quite a bit slower than he normally did.
“You will remain CEO of Tsushima Holdings?” Jin ventured to ask.
“Yes. The President of Tokyo Inc. wants me to remain there, as well as train their other subsidiaries in security, cybersecurity, and investigation of illegal activity. I will oversee all probes into various sectors of the conglomerate.”
“So it’s a promotion after all? Congratulations. Let’s hope those businesses in Inner Mongolia know what they’re in for next time.”
“I will spend what years I have left ensuring they fail, to protect our customers from the breach. A task I hoped we would face together… as father and son.”
Jin had nearly forgotten about that after all the recent trauma. It sent a sting throughout his body and he took a breath in.
“Even though they’re coming to replace me, you can still remarry… start a new family?”
Shimura looked up from his staring at the ground, but not at Jin. He didn’t respond for several moments, making Jin wonder if he had even heard him.
“I suppose I can,” he finally murmured. Jin stayed quiet and they continued on their walk in silence. Jin peered at his Uncle now and then, but he never looked back at Jin. The CEO seemed completely lost in thought, but there was nothing to be said. Nothing wanted anyway.
Jin was glad for this secluded walk. Few people walked by, and those who did didn’t recognize them at all. Perhaps their troubles were more remote to the world than he realized. Maybe it would all blow over after all.
“Look, that bike cart seems to be broken down,” Jin pointed up ahead. It was one of those traveling ware bikes that sold food and drink at touristy areas. One wheel was lodged into the edge of the sidewalk, stuck deep into the mud.
“You there! Need our help?” Shimura spoke up.
“Don’t trouble yourselves sirs, I got myself in this mess!”
“Nonsense,” Shimura dismissed.
“You can’t pull that bike out alone. Let’s go.”
It felt nice to help a young entrepreneur in need. After pushing the cart from the back, the wheel managed to come out. The man cleaned up the wheel with a towel.
“You’re much too kind! Thank you so much!”
“That’s quite a cart you have to pull all by yourself out here. Where are you headed, the park center?”
“Not at all! I’m traveling far from here, downtown to the Komoda district.”
“Komoda? What’s there?”
“You haven’t heard? A huge protest rally is happening! Tens of thousands up in arms about everything that happened with the terrorist attacks! No one trusts the government institutions anymore, they want a complete overhaul of everything in Nagasaki. Let’s hope it doesn’t get too big though, or else there could be a riot! That’s why I’m packing heavily. The Ghost Army is formidable and hungry!”
“… Ghost Army?”
“Yep, that’s what they call themselves! You should check it out! I’ve never seen so many Yakuza in one place out in the open too!” they laughed.
“… We’ll pass, but you have a safe trip. Stay clear of any thugs,” Shimura warned him.
“You too!” the man took off on his bike carrying the cart behind him.
“I have no idea what he was talking about.”
“The protests have gone for five days. I thought it would stop with the layoffs being put off but… it’s gotten out of hand. Every day more people flock to your cause. The Nagasaki and Kyushu government is concerned… and so am I.”
“You don’t have to be afraid.”
“When our business returns to being fully operational, will the people accept our terms, or betray them in the name of the Ghost?”
“I won’t let that happen! They’ll listen to me!”
“You openly defied me, Jin. My most trusted advisor. You showed everyone the advantages of taking the law into their own hands! What makes you think they’ll listen to you now?”
Jin had no response. This conversation went a lot differently than he expected. As the sun set in the sky, they returned to where they started. Jin’s parents were buried a little ways off on a secluded hill.
“Follow me.”
Shimura led the way as they walked passed the graves until they got to a red-leafed tree. It shaded a big stone that marked the whole clan.
“The resting place of seven generations of Sakai, including your mother.”
“And my father.”
Shimura made no response. Jin walked up to the tombstone and read what was written on it.
“The strength we need is all around us. The mighty fall at least, to be no more than dust before the wind.”
“Who is dust, and who is the wind?” Shimura murmured, almost more to himself than Jin. “Let us pay our respects.”
Jin and Shimura bowed to the grave and said silent prayers. They stood where they were as the sun descended ahead of them over the small lake.
“I will miss this,” Jin said, trying to be tactful.
“So will I.”
Jin took a deep breath. “I guess I must find my own path now, is that it? And leave Nagasaki? I’m willing to do that.”
Shimura remained silent and took a few steps toward the tombstone. He was so engrossed in his thoughts that once again he didn’t seem to hear Jin. Jin paused and waited for a response. Shimura worked his mouth as if trying to say words.
“Tokyo knows everything you’ve done.”
Shimura turned around and looked Jin straight in the eye, peering into his soul. Jin almost took a step back.
“… They … you… you wouldn’t,” Jin’s face went white.
“The Ghost was an outlaw. He taught the people to commit crimes against their leaders.”
“To defend themselves!”
“With hacking? A gift you gave to our enemy!”
“I had to stop you from throwing away this company!”
“… You have no respect.”
“And you are a slave to the bottom line!”
Shimura looked away in dismay and worked his jaw before speaking again.
“You were my son,” his voice broke. “Now I must continue my family line without you… I must start over.”
“And I’m the sacrifice,” Jin spat.
“… It is my punishment.”
Jin looked in shocked dismay at his Uncle. Tears were streaming down the older man’s face. He sighed and looked back out at the lake.
“Our final day together… it is beautiful.”
Jin choked up. “You’ve betrayed me.”
“… You left me long before. It is time. Are you ready?” Shimura held out a hand.
Jin looked around to see if there were police, but there was no one. He wanted Jin to give up out of honor. Tears flooded Jin’s eyes.
“No… I won’t go with you… I won’t,” Jin gnashed his teeth to keep himself from sobbing.
“… It’s what I believed you would say.”
Shimura took his hand and put it into his inner jacket. He pulled out a pistol and aimed it at Jin’s heart.
“No… no no no! Uncle!” Jin gasped in terror. “This isn’t you!”
“… No, Jin. It is.”
Jin spun to the side as the gun went off, narrowly missing the bullet. He rushed to his Uncle’s side and tried to disarm him. They struggled with the gun for some moments until it was knocked to the ground. They rushed to retrieve it.
“Let me go in peace! I’ve done no ill to the people!”
“The wounds you have dealt my spirit will never heal!”
“Killing me will only make them worse! I don’t want to hurt you!”
“I can’t fail Tokyo!”
Shimura was much stronger than Jin expected. He flipped Jin on his side several times but Jin managed to hold the gun. Shimura wouldn’t let go of Jin no matter how hard he tried to squirm. He was trying to get Jin in a headlock, a jiujitsu form.
“You want revenge for my failure!”
“This is not my revenge! It is my punishment!”
Jin was forced to jab him with his elbows to get loose. Both of them had firm hands on the gun and wouldn’t let go. Jin started firing the rounds out so that no more bullets would remain. As he did so, Shimura got even more desperate and tried to pin Jin face-down on the ground.
“Don’t put this upon yourself!” Jin sobbed.
“I deserve it!” Shimura yelled in a broken voice. Jin fired a few more rounds until there was only one bullet left. Shimura poured all his focus into getting the gun, and Jin rolled onto his back. The barrel was pointed out to the lake and Jin was so close to getting rid of the last bullet. Shimura was panting from exhaustion but Jin still had some strength left in him. He shoved Shimura down onto his back, but no matter how many times he hit his Uncle’s hands would not let go of the gun or Jin. The barrel was pointed straight at his chest.
“Let… me… go…” Jin said through his teeth.
“If you won’t give this to me…”
Shimura sat up unexpectedly and let go of Jin’s arms. Jin gasped at the freedom and immediately turned the barrel away to fire the last bullet. In his haste, he was unable to stop Shimura from pulling the barrel back to himself, and it fired into his lower chest.
Jin dropped the gun in horror. Shimura gasped as his wound began to bleed and the pain set in.
“Where is your phone?! I must call an ambulance!” Jin pressed his hand against the wound.
“No, Jin… it’s better this way.”
“No no no! You’ve lost your mind!”
Shimura put a hand on Jin’s shoulder and gripped it tightly. Jin wanted to pull away to get help, but it was no use. He burst into tears.
“Jin… stay…”
Jin held his uncle in his arms as he continued to bleed out.
“I’m sorry,” Jin sobbed.
“No… you will be hunted the rest of your days… because of me.”
“None of it was your fault.”
“You were right, Jin… I fail everything I touch, even you.”
Jin shook his head. “I won’t let you die believing that. That isn’t you.”
“… Then what am I?”
Jin composed himself, determination building within him. “You are everything you were meant to be. A great president, a wise leader… and a father.”
Shimura’s eyes went wide in surprise. His breathing was shallow, but it became calm.
“… So… you do forgive me…” Shimura put a weak hand to Jin’s face. “Find me, in the next life.”
“I will.”
Two days later
In Tokyo, next to a common rail line, was an old izakaya. The weather was cold and sunny for a sleepy afternoon. Mr. Sato was preparing lunch for his guests, and Hana was close at hand pouring the drinks. A soccer game was on the television overhead and all was peaceful.
“Thank you for the respite, Mr. Sato,” one patron smiled as he drank his sake. “It feels like all we hear about is tragedy in the news these days.”
“I appreciate that, Mr. Miyazawa. We see enough on the nightly news. Why not sit back and just watch a good game?”
“Glad that Hiroshima finally got out of their losing streak!” the guest smiled as cheering was heard on the screen overhead. Mr. Sato smiled knowingly as he refilled his glass for him.
It was a quiet day with not too many visitors. When it was near closing time at 8pm, Mr. Sato got out his broom and started cleaning. He overheard a conversation between some clients.
“Did you hear what happened to Mr. Shimura of Tsushima Holdings?”
“Yeah! That just happened the other day, how awful!”
“People think the Ghost did it, what do you think?”
“Why would the vigilante go after him after stopping Khan Enterprises? It makes no sense!”
“Well now seems like the Ghost may have been identified. They think it’s actually a family member, his nephew.”
“What?! That’s insane!”
The conversation was in heated whispers but it intrigued Mr. Sato. Like everyone else, he was following the news on Nagasaki over the past few weeks, but not too closely. He was too busy taking care of his business to be troubled with things on the other side of Japan.
“You can probably turn in for the night, Hana. You did well today,” Mr. Sato came over to Hana’s side.
“What a strange story,” Hana murmured as she was watching the television. Even though it was on the sports channel, news lines were streaming on the bottom.
“It really is. Best to leave the drama to those who create it, am I right?” Mr. Sato shook his head with a sigh. He finished brooming and went to clean the counters.
“Uh… sir?” Hana said a few moments later.
“Yes?”
“Does he… look familiar to you?”
Hana was pointing at the screen which was out of his view. He left the counter and came to her side again. His heart leaped and dropped simultaneously, and his mouth fell open.
Nagasaki authorities have confirmed the death of Tokiasa Shimura, former CEO of Tsushima Holdings to be a homicide. There is evidence at the scene that points to his Vice President Jin Sakai as the potential suspect. Surveillance cameras show the individual leaving the Omi cemetery park shortly after sunset on Wednesday, as well as personal logs by the CEO of their intended meeting. Jin Sakai’s whereabouts are presently unknown, adding to his list of crimes including multiple counts of murder, assault, theft, and cyber attacks to his name. He went by a vigilante alias “The Ghost” as a part of his now-exposed elaborate criminal organization. Jin Sakai is the nephew of the late Tokiasa Shimura, and the motives for his erratic behavior as of yet are still unknown.
On the screen was a dignified photograph of the CEO, in a full suit and tie standing with his board of executives. The younger man was seen on his right, so confident and happy to be at the CEO’s side. The CEO did not smile, but his whole presence was one of serene contentment.
An expression Mr. Sato had seen all too many times.
It started as a wordless murmur under his breath, with every breath becoming more hysterical until he was crying out in pain. Mr. Sato went into a wail and leaned against the counters as the remaining patrons in the izakaya looked on in shock. What had just happened hit Hana like an oncoming train.
“Oh gods,” Hana held her mouth as she began to silently sob. She quickly gestured for the patrons to leave the izakaya immediately, signing that their tabs would be paid. One patron came by the doors with a most annoyed look.
“For the love of the kami, Mr. Sato, hold yourself together! Why on earth is he crying about some privileged multi-millionaire on the other side of the country? This is ridiculous!”
“Because… because he came here,” Hana sniffed.
“Really! What are the odds of that?” the patron scoffed skeptically. “If he really did, why are you acting like you knew him?”
“Because I did know him, fool!” Mr. Sato turned around in a rage, his face red of sobbing. “Remove yourself, now!”
The patron backed up in alarm and left without another word. Mr. Sato sat down at the counter while Hana closed the shades and put the “We’re Closed” sign up. She went to Mr. Sato’s side and embraced him. He was inconsolable for many minutes.
“How… how could I have been different?” Mr. Sato finally whispered. He put his head down in his arms and remained silent for a long time. Hana got up went to the old guest book, and out of curiosity ran her finger down the list through the months. A name did show up now and again: Mr. Unagi. Mr. Sato even wrote it in his own handwriting just to keep note of the visits. Hana pulled out her phone and found more related breaking news stories. The faces finally shared with the photographs…
“You did well, Mr. Sato,” Hana finally said.
“… Did I?”
“… You’ve never said a dishonest word to a patron all this time I’ve been here… you stood on your principles, and always cared… that’s as much as we can do sometimes.”
“Thank you, Hana,” Mr. Sato sat up and took a deep breath while wiping his eyes. He turned around and gave the young woman a sad smile.
“So what do we do now?” Hana bent her head down in despondency. Mr. Sato stood up and held her chin up.
“We’ll do what we always have… serve every man and woman, one at a time. Because each one matters… and I’m proud to do that with you at my side.”
“… Thank you, Mr. Sato,” Hana smiled tearfully and hugged her mentor. Whatever would happen next, they would stay firm at each other’s side, master and apprentice, sensei and student. Father and daughter.
The world would need to see that more than ever.
Endure together
Chop wood and carry water
Overcome the odds
