A Silent Human

A gang didn't always follow the same practices as a Yakuza. For instance, more often than not gangs had no cultural or ritualistic practices like hand-poked tattoos, nor did they have a proper hierarchy like the Yakuza. This brought a problem for Yakuza groups that lacked a long history namely, determining who ranked higher than whom and why.

"So, it has come to my attention that some of you are upset with how the current status quota has been formed." Renji began, his voice cutting through the air. "To remedy this, we're going to prepare for tonight. You'll all have the opportunity to challenge anyone ranked higher than you. If you win, you take their place, and they take yours. Any questions?"

I stood next to Renji, observing the members inside the warehouse. We had cleared it out both for tonight and to settle the restless members. I was surprised by the number of people who had managed to attend. 'There are nearly three hundred here.' I thought. And this wasn't even counting those out on important missions or trying to take over other territories.

A hand shot up. "E-Excuse me, Boss!"

Renji gave a nod, signaling the member to speak.

"Does that include challenging you?"

I glanced down at Renji. Without a flicker of hesitation, he nodded. "If they're ranked higher than you, you can challenge them. However, those being challenged only get to refuse once."

'Smart.' I thought. 'Gives others a chance to challenge those that refuse.'

The young man who raised his hand lowered it with a nod. Another hand went up, and I noticed it came from our Ghoul Division. 'We need to come up with a better name for that.' I thought idly.

"What about if a Ghoul beats you and takes over? Will you go back on your word, considering a Ghoul can't lead humans?"

Everyone fell silent, their eyes turning toward the speaker. I recognized her as Kanzaki Himari, a member with short pink hair and light blue eyes. She was lithe and lean, her knuckles worn, a sign that she knew how to fight. 'So she's the one that wants to avenge her brother from being killed by Kureo Mado.'

{Pic}

Renji and I exchanged a brief look before he responded. "Yes, this applies to everyone, including Ghouls. There's no reason not to. As for those who aren't here right now, those out on missions? They'll have their chances when the time is right and we're properly settled."

I could see the faint blush on Renji's face as he spoke to her. 'Huh, I didn't think she was his type.' I thought, rolling my eyes inwardly.

Himari nodded and lowered her hand. Renji clapped his hands together with a smile.

"Now, let's begin!"

With that, the event that was soon to become a yearly tradition officially started.

~Scene Change~

"Silent Giant!" I looked down from where I was sitting as I thought no one was coming over to challenge me. Himari at 5'5, was staring up at me her Kagune already out. 'I think Renji called them Rinkaku?' Her Rinkaku extended from her lower back, three dark purple scaled tentacles.

"Hey, are you listening to me?!" she shouted. I stood up and nodded. She huffed, pointing her Rinkaku at me.

"Good! Now let's fight!"

I nodded, grabbing one of her Rinkaku as she tried to whip it at me. I saw her eyes widen and with a grin, I picked her up by the Kagune and tossed her to the other side of the warehouse, where a pile of boxes awaited. 'Well, that happened.'

Turning to where Renji was battling his own opponent, he got distracted as Himari flew over his head for a moment before he kicked the legs out from under his opponent and glanced over at me. I shrugged and sat back down, knowing she would return.

While waiting, I thought over the ghouls I'd fought since arriving. Disappointed didn't even begin to describe it, but it was understandable. Ghouls and like myself, possessed the kind of strength that could overpower even the strongest humans. 'In most cases, anyway.' I looked down at my weathered hands and clenched them. Ghouls were predators, and I was born with strength that no amount of training could give a human. But that didn't make us unbeatable. The CCG for example, could kill ghouls. and I could still die from a well placed high caliber bullet, since I wasn't bulletproof.

'What a weird thing to complain about, not being immune to gunfire when I can normally shrug off most bullets.'

I sighed and stood again just as Himari returned, launching another attack.

"Fucker!" she cursed, but I grabbed her leg. She countered by wrapping two of her Rinkaku around my neck, while the third aimed for my groin.

"Yield!" she shouted. I raised an eyebrow, grabbing the Rinkaku aimed at my groin with my other hand, tightening my grip just as she squeezed my neck.

"I. Said. Yield!" she yelled again, but I kept staring at her increasing my grip. My neck muscles bulged slightly, preventing her from tightening any further.

"I won't give up." she muttered trying to hide a wince just as I felt her Rinkaku start to give under my grip. She leaned toward my shoulder, trying to bite into it.

I shifted my other hand from her leg and grabbed the back of her head,pressing down, causing her to groan in pain. 'Wish I could sign for her to yield.'

Suppressing a sigh, I let go of her Rinkaku and punched her in the gut, knocking her out. I looked over at a barely concealed concerned Renji and snorted as I tossed her at him. He stumbled to catch her.

"Wasn't that a bit far, Takeshi-san?"

I shook my head and sat back down, noticing no one was approaching to challenge us. I pulled my phone from my pocket and texted a message, showing it to Renji.

"What?! You want her to be with us tonight?!" he leaned in as he set her down.

"Didn't you hear what I told you before? Her brother was killed by one of the investigators attending the meeting tonight! That's a recipe for disaster, Takeshi-san."

I rolled my eyes and showed him a new text, which made him sit back.

"A show of strength? I guess it would be if we had a few ghouls with us." Renji frowned, cupping his face. "Yeah, that would work pretty well and if it backfires, we'd have those who can actually fight against the investigators on equal footing."

I shrugged. I had no idea how strong the investigators were. I barely remembered anything from the anime, aside from a coffee shop and a guy losing his mind.

"But that doesn't change the fact we should choose ghouls who aren't going to attack the investigators due to revenge."

I shook my head and pointed to Himari's unconscious form next to Renji, typing more words.

"A test? You'd risk a potential war against the CCG for a test?" He stared at me like I was the dumbest thing to exist, but I responded with a nod and typed that I wouldn't change my mind.

Renji sighed and slumped. "Fine... This is going to end badly, isn't it?"

I shrugged again just as Renji seemed to remember something. A small smile spread across his face.

"We got the uniforms."

I let out an exasperated sigh as Renji laughed lightly. I hated the discussion of uniforms, especially after the whole ordeal of finding something that fit back home. Here though in this world, Renji knew a few tailors and had Daiki take me to them. We spent an entire day trying on different fabrics and being pestered by tailors before finally agreeing on something.

"Oh right, I figured out the perfect name for us." Renji spread his arms dramatically.

"We're going to be known as... the Higashiyama Yakuza!"