CHAPTER 4

  If anyone ever asked Yumi who she aspired to become like, she would say her mother.

  Her father and her dad were great men, but they weren't Tomi Tokudaiji. To Yumi, she was strength and beauty personified. Her mother's persistence, quick wit, and honed strategic mind outmanoeuvred her competition on the regular, and she still would from the grave as she had left behind a fifteen-year-long business plan for Takahiro to implement in the case of her death. There were nights when Yumi would wake up for a glass of water and catch her mother in the middle of a business deal with a client or partner from the other side of the world. She was a relentless force whenever someone gave her a goal. It probably helped that her mother always kept a mysterious and mischievous smile on her face, and her honey-gold eyes would gleam like metal in the right lighting.

  She had only ever seen her mother as a fully-formed person, so it was strange to hear stories of her as a girl, similar in age to Yumi. Her mother was the youngest child and only daughter—a brazen girl, a rebellious and hard headed teen, and an intrepid young adult.

  Yumi really missed her, and she wasn't the only one.

  It seemed all of the household staff who knew her mother missed her dearly.

  Asako Furutani, most of all.

  Butler Furutani had re-introduced the two of them as formally as possible with twinkling eyes.

  "Yumi-hime, I am most pleased to introduce you to the love of my life, Doctor Asako Furutani," he had said.

  "Oh, stop it," Asako said, feigning a hit against his chest when he rose up from his bow.

  She giggled because it was a little funny.

  Now, she was sitting on the couch with the doctor and listening to her tell stories about her mother's childhood. It was rather strange, the sheer familiarity she felt in the woman's presence, but it was understandable. Doctor Furutani helped raise her mother, after all.

  Asako Furutani was a distinguished and beautiful woman with strong features and a constant mischievous half-smile on her face. Yumi could see why Butler Furutani was still hopelessly in love with his wife; she was beyond charming and enigmatic. The fact she kept her silver-streaked obsidian-black hair in a low bun and allowed a few wisps of hair to frame her heart-shaped face only added to her allure.

  Yumi could pinpoint the exact elements of the Doctor her mother chose to emulate and carry with her across the ocean for the past nine years. The Doctor wore her quiet self-assurance and subtle elegance like a second skin, and she embodied the traits her mother strove to demonstrate every day; soft but assertive, kind but unyielding. Anyone could tell that she helped mould Tomi Tokudaiji into the woman she was.

  "I remember when your mother was your age," Doctor Furutani said. "You look exactly like she did."

  "Really?"

  "Yes," she said as she reached over to smooth Yumi's flyaway hairs. "Although, she had those Tokudaiji eyes. Yours are that lovely pink, like a gemstone."

  Yumi had never heard that before.

  Everyone usually made fun of her eyes for looking bloodshot or called her creepy because they looked too much like the glass eyes in dolls.

  "Mama says Dad gave me them," she said.

  Doctor Furutani shook her head, and her hazel eyes softened when she saw Yumi peering at her. "I've met your father quite a few times. His were much more dark, nearly red."

  The rest of the long-established and loyal household staff seemed to hold the same opinion as her when they returned one at a time. All of them made some comment about how she looked entirely too much like her mother, even if she didn't act like her, and she could tell how much it startled them to see her properly. Yumi could see that it unnerved and comforted them in equal parts. They all looked at her as if she were a memory in motion, a mere ghost of time repeating the past before their very eyes. She supposed it must have felt like the world had offered them more time with Tomi, even if she was only a pale imitation of her mother.

  She was secretly a little glad.

  If anyone were to look at her as a memory or tribute, at least it was to her mother.

  Valor's Explosive Rise; Is It Enough?

  By Hasegawa Takashi for Nakano Journal

  In the wake of Lightbringer's break, Valor rises up to the occasion as the number two Guardian with his Guardian agency, Tenacity, closes twenty cases per day across Japan. But many are asking, is that enough to fill in the large boots Lightbringer left behind? As many news networks are reporting, the crime rate across the country rose one percent in the past three days alone, and many analysts predict that it will continue to rise as long as the number one Guardian remains on break.

  If Valor and any other Guardians wish to rise to the occasion, it seems that they will have to double their workload, but what does that mean for Japan on a larger scale?

  Let's take a look using the number two Guardian as an example.

  Valor (Power: Vital Energy) has undertaken the mantle of Lightbringer within the past week.

  Read More…

  Despite her uncle's resistance and Butler Furutani's attempted interference, the Clan Elders managed to call upon Yumi to lay out the terms of her stay and custody. The impending meeting left Takahiro pacing in the living room as he tried to conjure some reason to thwart their plans. She wished to reach out and smooth the frown distorting his features, but something heavy settled in her stomach enough to make her feel uneasy. Yumi had a feeling that he wasn't wrong to distrust them.

  But the meeting with the Clan Elders was unavoidable as far as she knew, and her father always told her that putting something inescapable off would only worsen the consequences.

  It seemed that she would retain the memory of her parents, if only through the lessons they imparted upon her.

  "Takahiro-sama, I believe it's best if we take the time to see what they wish for," Butler Furutani said. "You will wear a hole in that carpet if you continue on as you are."

  "You know what they're capable of," Takahiro hissed.

  "I am."

  He narrowed his eyes and glared at the ground. "Have you forgotten what they did to Tomi?"

  "I have not," Butler Furutani said icily. "I helped her escape, after all."

  Takahiro took a deep breath and exhaled. "I'm sorry. I'm just worried."

  "I know." Butler Furutani sighed. "This is not an easy decision for me to make either, but if their intentions are malicious, we must know exactly how much animosity they hold towards Yumi-hime."

  At the mention of her name, Yumi grasped Takahiro's hand and tugged on it.

  "I'll be okay," she insisted.

  Takahiro looked down at her, and his features pinched into something similar to pain. "I know you think that, peanut. I know."

  She frowned at him, but he shook his head.

  "Let's go," he said grimly. "Let's get it over with."

  Takahiro remained tense the entire trip to the main residence. His shoulders were tight and his eyes were sharp, almost threatening anyone that stepped into their path. Yumi held his hand and drifted along beside him. They walked past the paved path and up the staircase to the enormous French-style doors carved out of a dark-stained wood. The estate had more western influences upon the architecture in comparison to the other buildings in the compound, but she supposed it was the influence of the era they borrowed designs from. Although, Yumi couldn't remember if it was the Keio or Meiji era specifically.

  Stolen story; please report.

  She squeezed Takahiro's hand, and he looked down at her, eyes softening, before he squeezed her hand back.

  "It'll be alright," he said.

  She didn't know who he was trying to reassure—himself or her.

  It didn't matter though, because the feeling weighing down her stomach wouldn't go away until they met with the Clan Elders and discovered what they wanted.

  Yumi glanced up at the grand staircase at the end of the foyer branching out into the other four floors of the main house. Heavy streaks of fold accented the black metal masterpiece, and it bracketed stone stairs cushioned by a thick navy blue carpet runner. The floors clicked under her shoes as she walked upon them, clearly made out of some kind of stone as well. Intricate chandeliers and glowing wall sconces of gold and glass lit up their path.

  It was beautiful, but cold.

  The main residence held none of the warmth her mother's house did.

  Takahiro placed his other hand on Yumi's shoulder and guided her to their meeting place. It seemed that the Clan Elders didn't live in the main residence, but they held their assemblies in the conference room attached to the main library. Yumi didn't stray far from Takahiro, even if she knew he would let her. There was something stuck in her throat as she walked down the hallway to what was essentially a courtroom for her.

  The double doors to the main library swung open with a singular wave of Takahiro's hand as he bent the air to his will.

  If it hadn't led to something she feared, the library would have fascinated her and held all of her attention. The immense area was dark, moody, and warmly lit with a prominent feature of dark wood panels, vintage pieces, and gold accents throughout the deep forest green room. Old leather-bound books, fabric hardcovers, and paperback books of all kinds filled the vast stacks of shelves. Yumi's eyes flickered up to the second floor, where she could spot even more shelves and lounging areas beyond the wooden railings of the mezzanine.

  She followed Takahiro's loose guidance to the conference room hidden in the back and found herself faced with three men.

  Butler Furutani had said there were ten Tokudaijis on the Clan Elders.

  Yumi remained motionless as she observed them. They all held the traditional looks she began to associate with the name Tokudaiji. There was the thick raven-black hair, high cut cheekbones, full bow-shaped lips, and the upturned, golden catlike eyes.

  "Where are the rest of the Clan Elders?" Takahiro asked tersely.

  "We thought it best to keep our numbers low to avoid overwhelming Yumi-chan," said the man in a traditional midnight blue suit and thin gold wire glasses framing his eyes. A matching gold chain hung out of his pocket. Out of the three Clan Elders, he was the tallest, and he was slim like a well-balanced sword. "Hello Yumi-chan, my name is Kiyotaka Tokudaiji. I am your great uncle. Would you like to introduce yourself?"

  "Hello, my name is Yumi Tokudaiji." She bowed and counted the seconds she remained in the position before she slowly rose up. "It's a pleasure to meet you."

  A lie, but one she would tell again, she suspected.

  "Very good form," Kiyotaka complimented.

  The shortest man stepped up, hard eyes scrutinising Yumi. He wore something more business casual in the form of a beige-tan suit with pale blue accents, and it emphasised his lithe stature. Strands of his black hair fell into his face despite the glossy gel slicking the rest of it back. "My name is Akitaka Tokudaiji. I'm your second cousin, once removed."

  His voice was flat, nearly monotone, in comparison to the melodious way Kiyotaka spoke. He clearly had no interest in witnessing what was about to happen.

  "It's a pleasure to meet you," Yumi said again.

  "Let us save the pleasantries for another day," the last man interjected. "I believe Yumi-chan requires more time to adjust to her surroundings."

  Yumi dragged her eyes over to him.

  He was an unassuming man despite the traditional Tokudaiji features. His knife-sharp eyes carved over Yumi like she was a mere gnat standing before him. He towered over her, broad-shouldered and robust compared to the other men, much more like her grandfather and Takahiro.

  "I am Tsuyoshi Tokudaiji," he said. "I am also your great uncle. Takahiro-kun, allow the girl to sit."

  Takahiro's honey-gold eyes went cold as his gaze travelled over the three men in the room. He pulled out a chair for Yumi to sit down, and she obeyed.

  She didn't want to know what would happen if she didn't.

  "What did you wish to discuss?" Takahiro asked as he remained standing behind Yumi like a sentinel.

  "The terms and conditions of Yumi-chan's stay with us," Tsuyoshi said.

  "I wasn't aware that terms and conditions were necessary in the raising of a child."

  Tsuyoshi inclined his head. "Perhaps that would be the case most of the time, but we've found that Yumi-chan is an... aberration."

  She didn't know what that word meant, but it didn't sound good.

  Kiyotaka cleared his throat. "We, the Clan Elders, believe it would do her good to give her rules to live by if she wishes to be a Tokudaij and represent our clan."

  "And what are those terms?" Takahiro's eyes narrowed.

  "They are necessary," Tsuyoshi said. "We must remain mindful about our family's status, after all."

  Akitaka wordlessly pulled out a piece of paper and handed it to Takahiro. "These are a list of supplemental classes she must attend with an emphasis on her Japanese language and history outside of her typical schooling. We will require her to maintain her position within the top ten students of her grade at any school she attends, and she will commit to two extracurricular activities every season. For the time being, we've suggested ballet and piano."

  Yumi could feel the air shifting, and she turned her eyes up to Takahiro's infuriated expression. The slight breeze in the room disturbed her hair.

  "You have never placed these conditions upon the other children," he said.

  "The other children were born into the clan," Tsuyoshi retorted.

  Yumi reached out and grasped Takahiro's hand.

  "It's okay," she attempted to reassure him. "I can do it."

  Takahiro looked at her, pained, before he turned to face the three Clan Elders. "You have never made the same demands out of my nephews nor my cousins' children."

  Tsuyoshi raised a brow. "The other children are not powerless."

  Yumi held back a flinch.

  "How dare you—"

  "You have no right to even try to disrespect me, boy." Tsuyoshi's cold gaze speared Takahiro. "I am your elder."

  "She's a Tokudaiji," Takahiro said. "She's not less than anyone else bearing our name, and you have the nerve to treat her as such?"

  Kiyotaka stepped forward to intervene. "You must understand that this is also best for Yumi-chan, Takahiro-kun."

  "Do not bother yourself with the explanation, brother." Tsuyoshi held up his hand. "Yes, we are Tokudaiji. We've held favour with the elements from the beginning of our rise to the top of the hierarchy, and it has kept us here for the past generations. The fact we allowed your grandfather to bring her here and use our family name despite her lack of powers is beyond generous. Do you understand the gravity of what our family faces if the public ever learns that there's a powerless child of our bloodline?"

  "He's right," Akitaka said indifferently. "If we don't keep our family up to standard, the consequences will be dire."

  "I don't agree to these terms," Takahiro said. "I suppose that means we will have to take this to court."

  "Court?" Tsuyoshi asked. "Takahiro-kun, you've been away from home for too long. Do you think this will ever make it to court?"

  Takahiro shook, and the air in the room began to whip around them. He was wide-eyed and wild, like an animal before it attacked. "Does my father know about this?"

  "He does," Tsuyoshi said, a satisfied smile tilting his lips. "He agreed to it."

  "I'm a lawyer. Do you think I'm not aware of exactly how unlawful this is?"

  "Like I said, you've been away for too long. There are changes to the law you have yet to learn, especially when dealing with the powerless—"

  Yumi scanned through the contents of the paper. There were a few words she couldn't recognise, but she could glean the spirit of them. She was a powerless child born out of the Tokudaiji clan's teachings, and she would always fall short of their expectations unless they forced her to comply with them.

  And they would force it upon her.

  She surveyed the three Clan Elders standing before her. There was not a single ounce of guilt or remorse flickering across their faces.

  They all agreed that these were the steps they needed to take.

  She wasn't entirely naive.

  Her father taught her to recognise injustice when she saw it, and Takahiro fought those inequalities with each case he took on a grander scale. She always knew there was always a possibility of something like this happening to her, even if she didn't expect it from her own blood relations.

  Except she should have.

  Her mother had warned her about the Tokudaiji Clan Elders whenever they stepped into Japan. She hadn't said much besides the fact that their family had influence in whatever space they stepped in, but especially politics and law, where they built their name. They were inhospitable and rapacious in all aspects.

  Yumi stared at the papers.

  She was nine.

  There was nothing she could do.

  She was powerless, literally and metaphorically.

  Even if she had Takahiro and Butler Furutani attempting to protect her, she couldn't make their lives harder than needed. It wasn't like the Clan Elders were asking for much besides adhering to keeping up the Tokudaiji image.

  Sometimes, you have to lose to win, her mother once said.

  This was one of those cases.

  There was something deeper going on that she didn't understand or even know about. Her mother once said that Sanetomi Tokudaiji was the most powerful man in all of Japan. He was the patriarch of the Tokudaiji clan, chairman of the Tokudaiji Conglomerate, and three-time Prime Minister of the country.

  But he was still just a man.

  And she was still just a girl.

  "Do not waste your breath further, Takahiro. Either you agree to the terms or you do not," Tsuyoshi said harshly. "If you do not, we may send her back."

  "I do," Yumi interjected. "I agree to the terms."

  All of their eyes turned to her. Her heart began to race in her chest, and she wished to shrink in her seat, but she knew what it would look like. Her mother would have remained calm and controlled, like a still body of water.

  She would do the same.

  A pleased smile lifted Tsuyoshi's face as the other two Clan Elders exchanged a glance.

  "Good," he said. "I see no reason to sign a contract right now if she adheres to the guidelines set out for her."

  "I agree," Kiyotaka said smoothly. "It's best if we take our leave, then."

  Akitaka nodded. His eyes flickered to Yumi, assessing and dissecting, before he turned away and followed the other two Clan Elders out of the conference room.

  "Yumi-chan, why?" Takahiro gripped her shoulders.

  Yumi looked up at him and his pinched features. Her heartbeat slowed, and the weight in her stomach lightened. "I didn't want you to fight anymore."

  "You're my niece," he said. "I will always fight for you."

  "But you won't win," she said.

  He kneeled down to look her in the eyes, and his brow furrowed. Takahiro cupped her face between his hands, and he pressed his forehead against hers. "I'm sorry. I'm so, so sorry."

  "It's okay," she said and wrapped her arms around his neck in a hug.

  It really was.

  Her parents had prepared her for the inevitable when she entered school. They enrolled her in Wushu and Judo in preparation for it. The likelihood of other children attempting to pick fights with her or undermine and humiliate her was not zero, especially since she was a powerless girl attending a private school the wealthy could afford. People always searched for the weak link in order to ensure it wasn't them, and once they identified that it was you, then you would become the newest casualty of society. Her mother had set aside money for the possibility of a court case, and her father warned his fellow partners that they may need to defend her in said court. They had worried about her endlessly.

  Her Dad hadn't, for some reason, even though he was notorious for his constant paranoia and overprotective nature. In the end, he only said that it was the law of the land in a dog-eat-dog world. There was nothing she could do about it until she became the bigger dog people couldn't knock down.

  It wasn't fair, but when had life ever chosen to be fair to her?