Is That A Katana Or Are You Just Happy To See Me?

Yamada sipped his tea, skimming his newspaper over a pair of angular sunglasses.  This cafe was his favorite place to start his morning.  Some would say that kind of predictability was a weakness, but he had never had to fear much; he had far too many important people under his thumb.

Of course, all of this was just foreplay for something more important--his real morning truly began after breakfast, when he would check his phone and count the hits on his new videos.  He absentmindedly toyed with his long, sleek ponytail as he thought about it, excitement welling up in his chest.

There he was, where he always was in the morning. Tenshin didn't know him well but other people did and once you roughed them up enough they always spilled information. Although, what consequences that would have for them, Tenshin didn't know and he didn't care.

The truth was, he'd had his eye on Yamada for some time now, but had wrongly assumed he was into women, as most yakuza around here were. It wasn't really the constant gay orgy porn had promised him it was. But that didn't mean he couldn't find one or two men willing.

Tenshin ran a hand thorough his messy white hair as he approached his target, appearing as casually as he could possibly make himself look.

"Ah, Yamada-san, is that you?" He smiled widely at him but he truly had no idea if he would recognize him.

He wasn't very high up on the food chain, after all. He was well known for his rambunctious style of doing things that often ended with him injured and on bed rest, which most older members frowned upon. But he always got the job done, no matter what.

He lowered his shades, frowning vacantly.  "Who're you?" he asked in a flat voice.

Ah. Guess he didn't recognize him after all.

"It's Tenshin," he said, his smile unwavering. "Tenshin Minato."

His expression didn't change much.  

"Ah.  Okay.  And you're here because...?"  He rested his feet on the only other chair at the table.

Nothing. Figures. The cold approach it was.

He took a seat next to him without permission and laces his fingers his together.

"I know," he says with a stupid grin on his lips. "About you."

He pursed his lips, and took a prolonged sip of tea.  Returning his gaze back to his newspaper, he did his very best to appear nonchalant.

"Oh?  And what do you know about me?  My career?  My favorite places to eat?  Because I hate to break it to you, but none of that's really a secret."

Tenshin reclined in his chair.

"Well I know about your career but that's not exactly what I was talking about. I was more talking about the nature of your preferences," Tenshin said.

He chewed on his tongue, still unconvinced.

"I told you, everyone knows about my taste in cafes.  You seem young, so I'll give you some advice--don't interrupt a man's breakfast unless you have something of worth to say."

"I know you like fucking men," Tenshin said finally, a bit irked by that comment about his age, despite it being very true. He crossed his arms over his chest smugly.

That got him to put down his newspaper.  He removed his sunglasses, examining Tenshin up and down.

"So that's what you've heard, eh?  No matter--hardly the most illegal thing I've been accused of.  What's your aim, here?"

"Uh," Tenshin said and it was only now occurring to him that he wasn't entirely sure how this plan was supposed to go, again. "Well, I mean, aren't you worried about other people knowing? Or...something...?"

A smile spread across his face.

"...You're trying to blackmail me?  Son, I'll say it again--don't interrupt people's meals if you've got nothing of worth to say.  Imagine, blackmailing a man with no demands ready!  Kids these days."

"Wait, I, uh, I know what I want!" Tenshin insisted. "But, uh, should we really be talking about this here?"

"You're not very familiar with yakuza, are you?  Fine, where would you prefer to talk?  This is your blackmailing operation, right?"

He stood up, pulling some cash from his wallet and placing it on the table.

"Oh, I'm familiar with the yakuza," Tenshin flashes him a proud grin despite his best intentions to look serious and cool earlier. "That sushi restaurant, Sawada. Tonight. 6."

He hoped it sounded like he knew what he was doing.

"See you there," he said curtly, speed-walking out of the restaurant.  He needed some time alone to plan his next move, after all.

-x-

Yamada made his leisurely arrival at thirty-five minutes past six, hoping his tardiness had given that young man plenty of time to sweat.  When he spotted the tell-tale poof of white hair towards the back of the restaurant, he made his way toward the booth.

"Are you ready to blackmail me?" he asked dryly, barely hiding the smile in his eyes.

"Uh, yeah, sure," Tenshin said and he had definitely not started to drink a little bit before Yamada had arrived. He quickly pushed his empty sake glass out of sight.

He sat down across from him, folding his hands neatly.

"I'll let you start.  Since this is your dastardly plan."

"Oh," he said and then, "oh, right. Well. Then since I'm calling the shots, why don't you spill whatever it is you've got to say?"

"I'm sure whatever I have to say can wait until after I hear exactly what you have on me, your methods for exposing my secrets, and your demands," he said, hoping he would take the hint already.

"Uh, sure, fine," Tenshin rubbed the back his neck nervously. "I just. I have. Proof you're into men, so what I want is, uh, well, I want you to do whatever I say."

That was good enough, right.

"Well, you drive a hard bargain," he said, nodding solemnly.  "What do you want me to do?  Or should I just patiently await your instructions?"

"Uh, yeah, just wait for my instructions," he said and his stupid grin was back.

He nodded.  "Good to know," he said, standing up again.  

"I assume you've also gleaned my personal number from your extensive investigation into my private background?"