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It wasn't easy to do, but they eventually tracked him down. Shinobi's lackeys weren't always the quickest folk, but they tried their best. It took the whole day, actually, but one of them, easily the most capable of the bunch, managed to find Akihiro and deliver a message from Shinobi, which was that the youth should meet him at his office in the Financial District. It is there, in his office behind his desk, that Shinobi waits for the young man to arrive, having already received word that the message was delivered. He can't fathom being refused, considering the possible payoff this meeting might result in for Akihiro. Outside his office door, a very timid, pretty young girl sits typing up notes. It's well past the end of her day, but a firm request from her boss to remain until he leaves himself is not something she's willing to refuse. And, no doubt, she's well-compensated. The girl is aware that Shinobi is waiting for someone to arrive, and casts her eyes to the elevator every few seconds in anticipation, and then to the clock, in impatience. No doubt a husband to get home to, who doesn't appreciate her working late like this.
*
Thankfully Akihiro is prompt. At least once he took a shower and changed clothes. From the malas around his wrist to the leather jacket concealing the bulk of his musculature, it's obvious that he didn't dress to impress. But that doesn't stop him from offering the woman a warm smile and bowing slightly at the waist. "Hope you didn't have to wait up on me."
*
The young woman saw him the second he came in through the elevator doors, and when he approaches her, she offers a polite, demure smile in return. "Good evening, Mr. Howlett," she replies, her voice soft and sweet, with perhaps a tiny hint of flirtation. "Mister Takeda works late most evenings, and I can't leave my desk until he finishes for the day," she explains. "I'm glad to see you received his message. I wasn't looking forward to waiting until midnight, if you hadn't come," she says, offering another smile. "I'll let him know you've arrived," she says, standing up from her desk. Apparently there's no buzzer. The girl walks slowly, seemingly making a point of moving in such a way as to accentuate her various assets, and gives a soft rap on the opaque glass door before opening it, and leaning forward through the small gap.
"Mister Howlett has arrived, sir. Shall I show him in?"
"Yes, thank you Miss Clarke," Shinobi says tersely, and straightens up in his seat before standing from his chair. The secretary shuts the door, backs up slightly, and opens it again fully, allowing Akihiro to enter the room where Shinobi waits.
*
"Much as I appreciate it, you don't have to try to flirt with me. Not quite as much fun when your heart isn't into it Miss Clarke." Akihiro stops to whisper to the secretary, shooting her a wink to pass it off as flirtation of his own. With that out of the way he heads into the office.
"Mister Takeda. Last time I spoke to you I had a bomb in my skull still. I take it you've been well?" It's nice to know he can be polite sometimes. He doesn't even go straight for a chair, instead standing in front of the desk, hands clasped in front of himself.
*
The young woman gives Akihiro a bit of a sly smile, and returns the wink, before closing the door behind him and returning to her desk to finish whatever task she was in the middle of, and then presumably, to go home.
"Oh dear, that does seem like rather a problem," Shinobi says in response to the young man, once the door has been closed. "It does sound like you've managed to have it taken care of though," he says with a smile. Maybe he doesn't believe the younger man, maybe he just doesn't really care enough about him to seem overly concerned. Whatever the typical reaction to someone saying they had a bomb in their head might be, Shinobi doesn't express it. "I have been well, thank you for asking. Please, sit," he says with a motion to the very comfortable looking chair in front of the desk, and sits back down himself.
"When we last spoke, I suggested a business arrangement. Now, I am given to assume that since you agreed to this meeting, you have not summarily dismissed the prospect. If so, you must give me your word that what we discuss here does not leave this room. Agreed?"
*
"Of course. I'm more than willing to hear you out." Akihiro moves over to the chair, taking a seat. "What kind of muscle are you looking for exactly?" He fidgets with the beads around his wrist, gaze not moving from the man. Not yet, at least.
*
"The effective kind," Shinobi states simply. "There is another business I wish to acquire. A small firm. Family-operated. They've been struggling for years, but I have heard through my sources that the are about to be offered a potentially very lucrative contract. Once that is made public, they will not be willing to sell the majority stake in their company, and even now they are reluctant. There is one particular member of their board which has been a thorn in my side, as far as getting this deal done. The oldest son of the company's founder, a man named Johnathon Whitmore." Shinobi raps on the desk lightly, and then stands up, pacing a little bit behind the desk, his hands clasped behind him. "I don't wish to /kill/ Mr. Whitmore, let me be clear." That would attract too much attention, and get the police involved, and would just be messy. No. Something more subtle. "But I want it made clear to him that he is to allow this deal to be finalized without further obstruction. Whatever methods you choose to employ, I only ask that you leave him unharmed, and that my name not be brought up directly. He will know who the demand comes from, but for plausible deniability, I must not be named. Do you understand?"
*
"Of course. I'm not in the business of killing people, at least not anymore." Akihiro's gaze falls to the bracelet, and a few moments pass before he speaks again. "Unfortunately, I'm going to have to decline your offer. I'm working towards becoming a better person. I was at a pretty low point when I spoke with you, and was intent on killing everybody involved with the Weapon X program. Maybe you've heard of them."
He leaves the malas alone for the moment, clasping his hands again. "I had thought I might not have any moral objections to this, but I was wrong. Stealing from the poor has never quite been my thing, I'm more into breaking criminals personally. Something much more satisfying about that."
"I suppose what I'm saying is, I'd be willing to take out the competition. But I'm not shaking down a business."
*
"I see," Shinobi says curtly. "Then I am sorry to have wasted your time, Mr. Howlett. I had thought we had an understanding of one another, but it appears I was mistaken. The man sits down again, and opens up a drawer, rummaging for a few seconds before withdrawing a chequebook. "If it helps, the Whitmore family will profit greatly from this deal," Shinobi says idly, scrawling on the top cheque. "It is a gamble on my part to even attempt a deal, but I hope the payoff will be worthwhile. On their part, retaining ownership of their business is a risk, and most of the family has already agreed to my terms, it is simply the one holdout who resists." He slides the cheque toward Akihiro, face-down. "In case you change your mind. Bring that back to me, and I'll sign it once the job is done." The cheque is made out for two thousand dollars, payable to Akihiro Howlett, but lacks a signature. "If not, then I wish you all the best in your endeavour to become a morally upstanding young man. I will not pretend that I am not disappointed, however. Morals are so.. limiting."
"
*
"If that's the case, then I'll have a chat with him." Akihiro allows. "But if I may be so bold as to ask, have you done any of the dirty work yourself? Words are nice, but they're not quite as impactful if you haven't had a taste of it." He takes the check up, looking it over with a low whistle. "There was an incident a while back at the pier. A lot of men were murdered, mobsters picking up a weapons shipment. Maybe you've read about it?"
*
Shinobi gives a smile at the youth's acceptance of the job. But it turns to a frown at his question. "I'm going to give you a pass on that question, Mister Howlett, but never ask me such a question again," he replies tersely. "I've done more than my share of 'dirty work' over the years. I've risen to a position where I have the luxury of outsourcing such tasks when possible. If it were appropriate, or practical, for me to do such things I would do them myself, but it is not. How would it look if I approached Mister Whitmore personally, delivering threats?" He reaches to close the drawer, and then clasps his hands atop the desk. "Yes, I read about the event. Tragic, the loss of life. But I have little sympathy. One does not enter into such business without understanding the risk. And if one does, then one deserves what one gets. Crime is not generally a bloodless sport."
*
"I couldn't give a fuck less about their loss of life, honestly. Especially considering that was all me. That was the night I got the bomb out of my head." There's a soft but sharp snikt as Akihiro's claws reveal themselves. "I just want to make sure we're on the same page." He pushes to his feet, the metallic claws sinking back into his flesh. "It'll be done."
*
"Ah, well. In that case, job well done," Shinobi says, watching the claws slink back into his knuckles, but showing no outward reaction to it. "Excellent. I'm glad we have an understanding. As I said, return to me when the job is done for your payment. Alicia will provide you with his home address and contact information, if you require it." Shinobi stands once again, and extends his hand to the young man, "If this goes well, I may have further tasks for you, Mister Howlett."
*
"We'll see how it goes." Akihiro takes the offered hand in a firm shake. "I'll be in touch, Mister Takeda." And with that he turns and heads for the exit. "Try to stay out of trouble in the meantime."
*
Shinobi lets out a little laugh, and gives a nod to Akihiro. He'd offer him the same, but that would be entirely contrary to the task set before him. Shinobi sits back down, and watches to make sure the door closes behind the young man as he exits.
"How'd your meeting go, Mister Howlett?" Alicia asks, smiling as he youth emerges from the office. "I didn't hear any screaming or gunfire, so I would assume well? Is there anything you need from me? Mister Takeda told me to ask," she says softly, twirling her hair a little bit in her fingers.
*
Akihiro closes the door behind himself, sighing quietly. "Feel like I just made another deal with the devil. But, we all gotta eat." The teen approaches the desk, offering a tired sort of smile. "I was told you'd provide me with some contact information?"
*
Alicia laughs softly, "Mister Takeda's not the Devil," she says with a bit of a giggle. "More like the Devil's accountant. You know, not actually involved in the torture of damned souls, but the one who decides it can be filed it as a tax write-off," she says, still laughing. "Of course, Mister Howlett. Whose information are you looking for?"
*
"A mister Johnathan Whitmore." Akihiro shrugs out of his jacket now, revealing his t-shirt. The rebel. "Suppose that makes me the headsman then. Out of curiosity, how many people like myself have actually been invited here to do business? Hate to think a professional like myself is held in the same regard as some geek off the street."
*
"You are the only late-night meeting that I have seen Mister Takeda take, if that's what you're asking? I'm afraid I don't know the details of all of his business, however. If you've been asked to do something unpleasant, I'd sooner not know the details of that, either," Alicia says, her friendly tone faltering just slightly. "Whitmore," she repeats quietly, leafing through her rolodex. "Ah. Whitmore. Johnathon," she says, pulling the card out and quickly jotting the details down on a notepad, her penmanship superb. She folds the paper once, and hands it up to Akihiro. "If that is all, Mister Howlett, would you be so kind as to walk me to the subway? Mister Takeda said I could leave when you did, but I'm not looking forward to a walk alone in the dark.. what with all of the troubles the city has had of late."
*
"Me? Of course not, I'm a model citizen." Akihiro does his best to keep her mood from falling. "That's not an issue at all. If you're worried I can make sure you get home safe, the rest of my night is clear." He may not make the best decisions all the time, but deep down he is a nice guy.
*
"That would be wonderful, Mister Howlett, thank you very kindly," Alicia says, her smile returning. "My apartment is only a few stops away, but it's a dangerous place out there after dark. One of my girlfriends had her car wrecked by a giant ant the other day. No telling what kind of monsters are roaming the streets these days," she comments, putting the card back and closing the rolodex. After a moment, Alicia stands, gathers up her coat and hat, and looks to loop her arm in Akihiro's in order for them to walk out together.
*
"Oh those ants are the worst. No better person than me to take you back if that's the case." Akihiro may offer a pleasant smile, but he sighs inwardly. Last time he got into an altercation with one of those ants they took his foot off. Regardless he takes the woman's arm, walking out with her.
*