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Chapter 1: OLD

Word count: 4.8k

Character(s): Goro Majima, Arika Namikawa (OC)

Story Summary

Goro Majima has been a slave to Sagawa for longer than he cared to admit in an attempt to buy his way back into the fold, to no avail. The bastard was never a man of his word but that doesn't discourage Majima from working his ass off until he gets what he wants. Until then, he has been cautiously navigating a civvy life that has kept him sane for the last year and a half by making life in Sotenbori feel a little less bleak and lonely. It's not until a brutal incident occurs that incites a chain of events that disrupts the false sense of peace he'd once sought solace in.

This forces him and the woman that he loves, Arika Namikawa, to become brutally honest with one another about the secrets they've kept throughout the course of their relationship. From there, they must decide whether or not the skeletons in the other's closet are too much to stomach and if not, where do they go from there?

See disclaimers and warnings here or blog description. Too long for tumblr? Read on AO3

Before you begin, please note that this is a full rewrite from the test chapters posted a couple of years back. Also, the canon story takes place in 88, but this fic begins in 89. Not many of the canon y0 events have happened yet or will never happen at all.

Spring ‘89

Fssssssss.

This was the first taste of tobacco he was able to allow himself since before coming in today. Gratifying wasn’t even the word. Since The Grand was dropped into his lap, Majima had come to depend on his smokes more than he ever depended on anything in his life. He couldn’t help himself. The buzz helped him coast through the day. He leaned on the roof’s rusted balustrade for support, scanning the world below him as he lost himself in thought.

He believed this about most of his shifts but today was certainly his least favorite of them all. He was serious this time! It was the worst by far.

Murphy’s Law: Anything that can go wrong, will go wrong.

Flaking hostesses, kitchen disasters, missing vintages– these were among just a few of The Grand’s list of issues today. Usually he got away with an incident or two per shift but he wasn’t used to this rapid fire shit.

It was ridiculous.

That was why this cigarette tasted so good. It was his little reward to himself for not losing his mind and begging to be tossed back in the hole or a real prison. He had goals and dying in a cell wasn’t among them.

But fuck was it tempting sometimes.

Getting away from the chaos, sucking at a nicotine stick and counting the bird droppings was usually enough to rewind his tape. All he needed was ten minutes alone… He’d be fine then.

Just ten minutes.

That was all.

He watched his smoke disappear against the murky, gray sky. He thought the weather was just perfect for the day he was having. Stiff wind, overcast sky and a slight chill caressing his fingertips.

It was warm just yesterday.

His eye trailed down from the sky back down to the hustle and bustle below, making eye contact with an unpleasantly familiar face: Sagawa’s laziest watchdog.

Sotenbori, his cell.

He bounced from a small cage to an even bigger one every day that he left home for work. There was only one place in this forsaken town that he could shut his eye and pretend that wasn’t true, even if only until he walked out of that door once more.

He couldn’t help but count the hours until he could make it. Just four more hours and he could cosplay as a free man.

Four.

He was right in the middle of taking in a celebratory puff when he heard the door behind him swing open. It escaped him along with one of the deepest of sighs. At least he was almost done with his smoke.

“Ain’t that a bitch…” he muttered to himself.

Great. Another issue to present itself.

There was only one person in the whole damn building with balls big enough to interrupt his breaks on a day like today and he never did it without cause.

It irked him beyond belief but he’d deal with it because the math was really quite simple. If his breaks weren’t interrupted, shit didn’t get done. If shit didn’t get done, no one got paid. If no one got paid, he’d have no staff. If he had no staff, he didn’t make quota. If he didn’t make quota, he didn’t get out… Everything went blank in his mind after that.

He had to get out.

He grunted out an inquisitive huh but he never turned around. He would finish this cigarette yet. Just one more big drag. He could do it.

“Sorry to disturb you, sir,” the man bowed at his back before continuing, “but just a moment ago, Meiko-san was injured.”

“Injured?!” he repeated, finally facing the short man. “The hell is with these women today?”

It was clear in the floor manager’s face that he agreed with the sentiment but his opinions often took the backseat. That was why Majima liked him so much.

“While headed over to greet a new table, she stumbled down the stairs and twisted her ankle. It would seem that her heel was caught on a loose nosing strip.” he said. “She doesn’t seem to need any significant medical attention as far as I’m aware. However, I still thought it best to send her home for the day.”

“Ya made the right call. Can’t have girls limpin’ around on the floor.” Majima stamped out his cigarette after finishing his final drag. “It’s gonna be a bitch missin’ out on those sales though… She’s the best we had on the roster tonight.”

The man nodded. “I’ll make some calls to see what I can do to sidestep that loss of sales, then.”

Majima walked toward the door, “Guess I’ll join ya… We ought to get maintenance to look at the step though. We can’t afford a customer bustin’ ass on ‘em tonight too.”

“Of course, sir.”

Annnd one more issue resolved.

It was only four more hours until the curtains would close for the evening and he couldn’t help but wonder how many more incidents would present themselves just to mock his irritation.

No matter.

He was short one girl, a popular one at that and ¥300M or so shy of Sagawa’s newest quota but this too, he would figure out. He didn’t care how many shitty asses he had to kiss or how many muddy boots he had to lick.

He would figure it out. Proudly. Just like he’d always done when the goalpost was moved.

Just like he’d done these last three years.

CLOSE.

“Ya really saved our asses tonight Kanae-chan, fillin’ in for Meiko-chan like ya did.” Majima clapped the chalk dust off his hands after writing her earnings on the board.

The beautiful woman smiled, ducking her head with an air of humbleness. “I did what I could, sir.”

“You were really on fire tonight,” he said.

She brought a hand up to her face to hide her smile, pretending as if she wasn’t eating up the praise but Majima and every other woman in the room knew better.

“Enough, boss. You’re embarrassing me.”

“That goes for the rest of you too. We did some damn good work tonight.” he said, scanning the dozen faces scattered around the room. “That said, if ya got the time tonight, run downstairs and grab yourselves a shift-cap drink on me. Nitta, make sure everyone else knows to have them something too before they leave tonight.”

Scattered cheers and clapping filled the room as Majima made his way through it for the door.

“Yes, sir.” the man said. “But are you not having one as well?”

“Not tonight. I’ve got somewhere I need to be.” he said, twisting the knob. “But y’all have fun for me, alright?”

Majima was in a rush and he knew full well that joining them for one drink would have easily turned into a late night chat session. With his motivations being what they were to run The Grand, he generally didn’t mind wasting time or energy into team building. The more his staff enjoyed him, the harder they’d work to impress him. Tonight though, he was on the hunt for something in particular– the plug for the void inside of him.

And he knew exactly where to find it.

All it’d take was a little aimless walking through here and there, a cab going exactly where he directed it, a bit more walking and a couple of stops at the convenience store along the way before he arrived at the place where he’d find himself a warm meal, a cold beer and a good nut to take the load off… For his troubles, see.

He jogged up a set of old iron steps with a bag of sweets in tow, rummaged through his pocket for his keys and then let himself into apartment 6-B.

The long haired man kicked his shoes off, locking the door behind him. “I’m home!” he called loudly.

He could hear the hardwood clicking, settling beneath sock-clad feet. “Oh, hey! Welcome back, Goro.”

Warmth seeped into the void that’d weighed him down all day. He loved to hear that phrase. He was home.

About time.

Of course, this wasn’t his home. He was only a visitor but he never felt like one here. He felt at home.

A young woman with soft, tawny skin bathed in warm lighting, dressed comfortably in a long burgundy sweater came from around the corner and met him at the door. Her light brown eyes had a sparkle to them and had a way of smiling even before her mouth did. A couple wrinkles appeared along the bridge of her nubian nose as her full lips spread into a broad smile.

This never got old.

He always felt as if she’d stunned him to death, took away his ability to breath but when she wrapped her arms around his neck and placed a tender kiss to his lips, it was like she breathed life into him once again. He wasn’t sure what it was about her today but she was glowing, more so than usual.

“Arika,” he whispered, wrapping his arms around her waist.

Mindful of the silver sticks in her hair, holding the high bun together, Goro pressed a kiss to the crown of her head as he squeezed the woman into him.

She smelled so sweet, floral even.

As if she could hear the barrage of compliments swirling around in his mind, she squeezed him. He’d have liked to think that she was thanking him.

“You know, you could have called me.” she was muffled by his chest but she continued. “I was worried you weren’t going to show.”

Once more, he kissed her crown and then her forehead and then finally, her lips before whispering to her, brows needled together apologetically. “Forgive me, yeah? I even brought ya treats.”

With hesitation, he released her so that he could hand off the bag from his convenience store run. She nodded her head with a cute giggle upon seeing a couple of her favorite snacks inside. It made his heart flutter.

“Fine, you’ve worn me down!”

“You’re too easy, sweetheart. You let an ice pop and a bag of chips whittle you down just like that?”

She furrowed her brows. “You prefer me pouty?”

“You’re so cute and sweet when you are.”

“You’re a freak, Goro Majima.”

“Hey, now.” he chuckled, squishing her face. “I thought you liked freaks.”

“Well, sorry to disappoint but I’ve chosen the route of forgiveness today. It’s like you read my mind that I wanted these. Now I’m in a better mood.”

“You weren’t before?” he asked, releasing her.

“You gonna shower? I can heat dinner for you while you’re doing that.” She said, abruptly turning away from him, grabbing his hand to have him follow her through the narrow entryway.

He heard the mention of dinner but his eye was feasting upon a different kind of meal as she walked ahead of him. Beneath that sweater, she hadn’t been wearing much else. The realization made him bite his lip.

“Ari-chan, you bathed without me?” he groaned. “I’m hurt.”

When they reached the kitchen, she fumbled through the wooden drawers beneath the counter until she found her box of matches. “Oh, no way! You’re not gonna guilt me this time, Goro. Honestly, you barely even caught me awake but I tried to wait until you showed up to eat.”

“You could wait on me to eat, but not to bathe?” he asked, tilting his head at her as he slipped out of his black coat.

“Listen, you showed up two hours later than your usual late!” she snickered. “Give me a break. I had a long day and needed to wash it off.”

“I could’ve washed it off for you.” he said, his voice flirtatious and she smirked when she picked up on it.

“Perhaps, I’ll make it up to you.”

“I’ll hold you to that.” he said, beginning to unbutton his shirt before nodding toward the stove. “How long we got?”

Arika tried her best not to stare at the muscular man nearly baring it all in her kitchen. She should’ve been used to this by now. “Fifteen minutes, give or take. I need to get the table ready and everything.” she said, lifting the lid.

“Alright, guess I’ll get to it then.” he said, turning on his heels toward the bathroom down the hall but he was stopped by the stern purr of his name.

He smirked back at her then chuckled before tilting his head back as she tiptoed behind him and gently worked at removing his eyepatch, hair tie and gold chain.

“Showering with a ponytail isn’t good for your scalp.” she started and he mouthed the rest of the words along with her, “It needs to breathe, Goro.”

A shudder came over him as his hair fell in a curtain across his bare shoulders.

“Yeah, yeah. I get it, ma’am. Thank you.” he said sarcastically, quickly stealing a kiss along with the items she’d just removed.

Arika watched as the hannya on his back grew further and further until it disappeared behind the bathroom door. There was a repetitive popping noise behind her. She turned to investigate only realizing that she’d forgotten that she was reheating dinner and the pot was beginning to boil over.

“Aw, shit!” she hissed, running over to turn down the flame.

Lathering up the foam in his hair, he took in those floral notes that he’d picked up on Arika not that long ago. He turned his back to the stream beating down on him and peeked down at the bottle of shampoo before the soap started to trail down to his brow.

Rose water, camellia and honey.

He pursed his lips and nodded as he smoothed his hair back, rinsing it. He liked this new stuff! It had a nice cooling effect that really tingled the scalp. It smelled nice and… other things he’d never once thought about when washing his hair before trying his hand at the play-domestic life.

Crazy how much a woman can change a man in just over a year or so, huh. He thought.

Dangerous shit.

Goro thought back to the night he approached her in that karaoke bar. She stood out in a room whether she wanted to or not. She was unique looking– It wasn’t often he met women with big curly hair, dark skin and eyes like those. Not naturally anyway. He’d have been lying if he said that wasn’t part of what made him do a double take when he spotted her but there was something else entirely that he couldn’t quite place which really drew him in.

He thought she was beautiful the moment he got a good look at her but a pretty girl was nisoku-sanmon– a dime a dozen, especially in his line of work.

There was something in her eyes that made him want to dig deeper. He’d learned everything there was to know about her and yet, that intrigue still hasn’t gone away. He still hadn’t gotten to the bottom of it.

Whatever it was.

And he’d completely fallen for the woman in the process.

Like a fool.

Before this, he’d grown weary of his life in Sotenbori– aimlessly dancing like a suited monkey for Sagawa to turn The Grand around and bring in more money than either of them knew what to do with. He’d hit his quota already but the old bastard went back on his word more times than Majima could count. Then, demanding more as his reward for working so hard before.

Deep down, he couldn’t even blame him. After all, who would willingly put down their fattest cash cow without good reason.

And to the boys in charge, wanting back in the game was hardly a good reason.

Besides the notoriety, what did he really have to show for the blood, sweat and tears he’d poured into getting The Grand off the ground?

No, really?

He wasn’t rolling in dough. He pinched himself just to top off the funds for his quota. He didn’t feel fulfilled. Seeing The Grand thrive was not for him to feel proud of, it was for him to be reminded that that was all he was good for.

Until his relationship with Arika, he wasn’t sure he’d ever really taste a slice of happiness again and even that was conditional.

So long as neither of them knew the other existed, he could come here and play pretend. He could play the role of the honest, hardworking man of the house while she was the supporting, loving and not to mention attractive woman on his arm. He could lock the door behind him and pretend that if he just stopped showing up at work, everything would be okay until he could find something new. They would make ends meet with her salary for a while and then soon, he’d get back on his feet.

He could pretend that everything outside of apartment 6-B was the way that it was because it was optional. He made it that way because this was the life he chose for himself.

This was his escape away from the hell uniquely tailored for him.

So, he wasted time running in circles until he shook off Sagawa’s stupid lackeys and he kept up the appearance of a single man to everyone who wasn’t her to keep anyone from sniffing out the little sliver of paradiso he’d found.

Just hair away from crossing Sotenbori lines. Oh, so dangerously close.

He’d keep being cautious though, so that he could keep playing pretend, keep taking showers that felt like self-imposed spa services, keep having dinner made for him, keep having some of the best sex of his life and no one would be any the wiser.

Goro exited the shower and grabbed the white towel from the warming rack to dry himself off enough to slide on his underpants. He draped the towel over his head and went to the living room where he’d find Arika kneeling at the wenge low table, flipping through a magazine.

Just as she said she would, she’d set up the table for dinner. All he needed to do was join her.

The hotpot had been boiling atop a portable double butane stove. The cast iron skillet was already heating up next to it, just waiting for the pretty cuts of marbled beef below. There were little porcelain bowls of veggies, soup and rice at each place setting with an ice cold glass of foamy beer to top it all off.

Glee lit up his eye as he scanned the table. He’d never tire of having a home cooked meal prepared by a beautiful lady who loved him.

Sagawa be damned.

He kneeled in his usual spot to her right and grabbed his lacquered chopsticks. “Smells good, Arika-chan. I’m gonna be sure to enjoy this.”

“Please do.” she smiled, grabbing her own.

He could’ve forgotten about the day he had if it weren’t for her asking about it over dinner. That shower and this meal was nearly enough to wipe his memory of it all. Afterwards, he took initiative to help with the dishes while she cleaned the table and the floor around it, the usual routine.

Once she was done with her part, she stretched out onto the floor instead of the tan couch and stared up at the ceiling.

“It still blows me away that ya know how to cook like that.” he sighed, rinsing his final dish. “You could be a grandma hidin’ in a 20-somethin’s body for all I know. And yer pops taught ya that?”

Her feet had been propped up high on the arm of the sofa and one arm was stretched out at her side while her other hand traced at her pink lips.

Something wasn’t right.

Goro approached her as he dried his hands on a towel.

“Oi, ya payin’ attention to me woman?”

His damp black hair fell in front of his face as he looked down at her before he brushed it back with his fingertips. Arika’s sweater had risen above her hips, exposing a bit of her soft, rounded belly. Just as he’d expected earlier, she’d been wearing nothing beneath it but a pair of fine mesh panties. He felt himself hardening at the realization and the moment their eyes met, gravity forced him to his knees.

Fuck me, he thought.

He meant that two ways.

He’d have pounced on her right then and there had it not been for the fact that she seemed so far away despite being mere inches apart.

He stretched out onto the floor as close as he could without his semi poking her. That could wait. He had to get to the bottom of something.

A subtle smile lifted the corners of his mouth as he pressed at her baby hairs with his thumb and watched them curl back up. “Ari-chan…”

“Hm?” she hummed, meeting his gentle gaze.

“You notice ya got real quiet toward the end of dinner?” he asked. “Somethin’ ya wanna talk about?”

Arika’s eyes swelled with tears and his heart immediately started racing. He sat up at her side and looked down at her, whatever arousal he’d felt before was replaced entirely with concern and confusion. Had he done something wrong?

“O-oi, Ari-chan? What’s the matter? You cryin’?”

She squeezed her eyes shut, tears raced down the sides of her face.

He always got so panicky any time he found himself a crying woman but he felt he was doubly so now. “T-talk to me, Ari-chan. Don’t ya dare say yer fine or it’s nothin’!”

Her palms were shaking when they reached up to cover her face. The tears were really flowing now.

Alright, looks like I’ll be playin’ the guessin’ game til I can get her to open up.

“Ya upset with me?”

She shook her head.

“Somethin’ happen at work?”

He could see that she tried to swallow the sobs that were threatening to spill from her but instead they turned into unpleasant squeaks as she nodded.

“Ya get fired or somethin’?”

“N-no.” she managed.

“That old dude try somethin’ with ya?”

She shook her head as she attempted to regulate her breathing. She was coming around. Goro rubbed at her belly, patiently waiting on her to regain her composure all the while whispering the occasional word of comfort.

“It was the kids…” she said through a shaky sigh. “They um… They learned a bad word today.”

He knew precisely where this story was headed but he’d let her be the one to tell it. Arika’s entire body trembled as she finally released a heavy wail. He wondered if she’d held this in all day.

On weekdays from the early morning hours to some time in the evening, Arika worked as a nanny for an affluent family in uptown Osaka. Her resume boasted all manner of families since high school but her most hirable quality always seemed to be that she was bilingual: Japanese and English, on account of her African American mother and Japanese father.

With her background and her degree in English, the Hanada family, like others before them, hired her to teach their children English while also helping instill Japanese values into them. The parents respected her and the kids adored her but even so, it took some time to get them to see her as Japanese and not a foreigner despite Japan being her only home.

Goro let out a sigh as he stretched back out at her side and returned to thumbing the curls just above her forehead. It had a calming effect for both of them. “So, what’d they say to ya?”

She shook her head, “It wasn’t what they said to me. It was what their school friends said to them.”

She blew into her hand, summoning the courage to retell the story aloud and once she had it, she let go.

Arika, with the help of the family’s chauffeur, often saw the kids to and from school or special weekend club meetings in place of the parents. It wasn’t uncommon for her to interact with staff, the parents of their friends or even other nannies. Today, after kendo, the boy she cared for ran over to her in tears. He told her that one of his clubmates said that he wasn’t allowed to play with someone being raised by a kuronbo. Clearly parroting the words of some adult in his life. That wasn’t exactly the type of word a child picked up from tv or the radio.

“What the fuck?!” he fumed. “Yer just as Japanese as the rest of us goddamn bastards!”

He wiped the tears away from her face, doing his best to remain gentle despite the fury raging inside of him.

“And?” he said, “Ya tell yer bosses?”

“I didn’t need to.” she said with a bitter smile. “Sho-kun told them himself right before I left for the day. They, of course, apologized profusely and sent me home with a bonus that I can only describe as more than generous… I’d hate to say it was hush money but… Who the hell would I even want to tell that story to? It’s more embarrassing for me now just having to repeat it to you.”

“Ari-chan, I’m sorry.” he said, then pressed gentle pecks to her puffy eyes. “Folks really oughta watch the shit they spew ‘round kids.”

“No kidding.” she sighed, relieved at the release of pressure in her chest.

Goro turned to lie on his back, joining her in her staring contest with the ceiling. This was far from the first time she’d told him about the rude things people said to her on account of her being mixed. Hell, it wasn’t his first time hearing the word in general. When they first started dating, he’d sit there in silence and let her wallow in whatever she was feeling. He thought the silence would help but over time, he’d learned that she wasn’t one to dwell on things. This was simply the reality of her life as shitty as it was.

All he could do was help her move on.

“Actually, on the topic a’ rude kids,” he began. “On my way to work today, I came across this little girl outside a’ the arcade and the little runt kept callin’ me sir!”

There was a silence that filled the room before Arika scoffed and belted out a belly laugh. She rolled onto her side, tear stained face lit up with amusement as she met his small smile with a big one of her own.

This was more like it.

“Of course because ‘sir’ is quite possibly the cruelest slur of them all.” she teased.

“Hell, it is when you’re only 24 years old!” he whined. “Shit made me feel like a relic!”

She listened to him recount his interaction with the child and his quest for red chestnut the squirrel, losing her mind with laughter the more he explained his frustration at the kid’s politeness.

“O-oi! The hell’s so funny?!” he growled against her ear as he playfully pounced on her.

“That explains why you had so many coins in your coat pocket! I noticed it when I hung it up for you… Wow, I’m under the gaze of a celebrity right now. Majima-san, UFOCatcher National Champion!”

“Watch your lip. It’s Goro-chan UFOCatcher National Champion.” he said, pinning her wrists to the floor. “I’m the best damn crane operator ya’ve ever seen.”

“You did a really sweet thing today, Goro.” she said. “And you’ve met a kid that clearly respects her elders. That’s a rarer quality these days, I hear.”

Feigning shock, he hung his mouth open and his eye widened before he assaulted her belly with his fingertips. “ELDERS?! You callin’ me a geezer now too!?”

“O-of course I’m not! You’re only a year older than me. So that’d make me a geezer too!” she laughed as she wiggled vigorously beneath his tickling fingers. “It’s no one else’s fault you’ve got such an old spirit, Go-RO!”

“Haaaah?!” he halted his attack on her belly to press his forehead firmly against hers. “Wanna say that shit to my face?”

“Relax, relaaax. It’s okay. I’m actually into older men.”

“Oi! Alright,” he said, stealing a peck from her lips. “That’s enough outta you, woman.”

He stole another and then another too until the laughing ceased and the couple found themselves sensually locking lips. Their hands roamed each other’s body, gasping between the grinding of lower halves, silently praying that the other would relieve them of what little clothing kept their warm skin apart. Goro Majima always knew what it took to diffuse his woman. Now, it was time for his woman to diffuse him.

Please do not reupload/repost/rewrite but reblogs ALWAYS appreciated. Thank you for reading!

#sins of the father #goro majima #arika namikawa #yakuza 0 #yakuza fanfic #q

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