Code of Jinge: His Mafia Code

8.0

EIGHT

HIS WAYS

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“What have you done back there, JD?” CL was fuming in anger as she paced here and there in front of him.

“You don’t have to remind me of the s**t, Cynthia.” He faced the window of his room.

“You proposed to her!”She loudly exclaimed.

“She’s dumb. She won’t know that I unintentionally proposed to her.” He darkly muttered.

“Yeah, right. The elder was there. He will be demanding you to be with that woman all the time,” she scoffed.

He didn’t answer anymore but he had his eyes on the garden. What happened back there was way out of his plan. He lost control when she got the wrong person and almost gave her ought to Arvin Daclan. That was the first that he lose it and he can’t believe that he was creating a string of attachment to that girl.

He proposed to her and even made her accept it forcefully.

The kissing thing was the symbol and the wine in his mouth made it legal. They already engage all because of him! Great! Just great!

“What about Jandie?” She asked crossing her hands on her chest.

“I’ll think about it,” he dismissively said.

She heaved a deep sigh in response. Every time the elder of the clan chose an Anisan, she ended up worrying much about her friend, Jandie. The girl was her best buddy. Even though she and JD were related to the Yakuza community, she accepted them without hesitation. Jandie even want to be one of them but to CL she was always innocent even if everyone claimed that she changed drastically.

Cynthia must protect her, she once swore to herself.

“I hope you could drive this b***h outta this community,” she said to him frowning.

JD looked at her then back outside the garden.

“She’s Thunder’s sister…”

Silence suddenly embraced her before she spoke again. “What? That means...”

“ Exactly,”

"Is she really the girl-,"

The rest of CL's words were disturbed by successive gunshots after an explosion. Both of them automatically grabbed their weapons.

"I'll go to your sister," CL said while JD went to that particular room. He had gunned down several attackers along the way. One of his men ran to him after shooting the attacker from his behind.

"They are Somiyoshi," Ted then reported.

"Those bastards aren't tired of losing, huh?" JD hissed under his breath while sauntering towards that room. He pointed his gun to the two men who attempted to enter the room but they dropped dead in seconds. By the time he reached the door. He found Nabi's relaxed demeanor while guarding the door while Jared accommodate on his arms the unconscious Nee-san. He silently stepped in and blankly stared at the woman. Jared upon noticing his presence gave a bow in respect.

"She was overwhelmed, boss."

Jin's eyes observed the possessive way that his law adviser was holding her and it irritated him for an unknown reason. His eyes fled to the shining silver pendant on her necklace before he bent down.

"Give her to me," he ordered while Jared complied. Sicily's body was gently held by the family boss as if she was so fragile. He had carried her out of the room and every one carefully observed him. "Clean everything up here before she gains consciousness."

"Yes boss," Everybody complied.

Nabi ran to JD's side and spoke in a low voice. "So it's not only Jared who wanted to show her cupcakes and rainbows around here, huh?"

Nabi glanced at Sicily's face while fixing her hair. "As expected, she'd grown so pretty."

JD fought the urge to look down at Sicily's face even when they entered his room. He gently placed her on his bed, offering him a few seconds to see her face up-close. He didn't know if Nabi noticed his change of breathing and the myriad of emotions that ran across his eyes while his attention was glued to Sicily's sleeping face.

"It's great isn't it?" Nabi started sitting on JD's bed. "Just after we agreed not to look for her anymore and now those old geezers brought her before our very eyes in the middle of the f*****g mafia war. I can say they're very good at hiding her."

"Indeed," JD answered blankly while not taking his eyes off Sicily.

"So, what now?" Nabi asked not even half amused with the emotions his friend was trying to leash inside him before he forced himself to speak.

"I'll send her away,"

Nabi saw how the boss clenched his fists and his knuckles turned white. He stood up and patted JD's shoulder. Before he could even turn away towards the door to leave, he saw JD's heavy footstep towards the bed and sat on it. He can't deny the constricting pain on his chest as his eyes landed on her face.

"Or you can be selfish...even just once, JD. It has been a long time." Nabi said in low voice, leaning his back towards the closed door before he slid down the floor as if guarding against the unwanted intrusion from outside. Especially that the most formidable clan boss was at the brink of losing his mind when he leaned down to Sicily's sleeping face and once again claimed her lips to his before planting his head to her neck, breathing her and hugging her.

Nabi smiled bitterly, bowing his head after hearing for the first time in a while the impish cry from the notorious boss...his friend.

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A few days later...

“Dragon…how do you say it in Japanese?” Sicily asked Jared. They were having an afternoon tea in her room's alley. They had a good view of the garden outside the traditional house.

“Ryu…” he answered.

"So that makes me MonRyu," she said with round eyes.

"Huh? I didn't get it."

"I am Sicily Mondragon, that would make me Sicily MonRyu, right?" she said while reaching for her cup of tea. "Now that sounds more like Japanese."

"Yeah. I think so. But your name is more than just that."

"What do you mean?" she asked.

Jared's attention went to the mini man-made pond on the Nee-san's garden before returning his eyes to hers.

"Sicily is an Italian dialect for Mafiusu which means...are you ready for this?" he asked smiling now at the hint of curiosity of her eyes. " You might hit me for this,"

"I won't. Go on," she promised.

"Sicily is Italian dialect for crime," he waited for her reaction.

"What? No way!" her face turned sour.

"I'm not done yet," he said, "now next is Mondragon."

"Stop it,"

"Mon is a British variant for word 'man'." he finished.

Sicily can't tell if Jared was just playing around or he mean what he said.

"So that makes you Sicily Mondragon as the 'crime of man-dragon', quite poetic isn't it?" he said.

"Are you even serious?" she demanded.

"I am." he rested both of his hands at his back, supporting his weight while he spared one last look to her face.

Sicily just shrugged off her shoulders, placing the half-empty cup of tea on the table. After a while, someone came inside the room.

“Nee-san, you have been summoned by Elder Tahil,” Kiko appeared before them, throwing a glance to Jared who didn't acknowledge her presence.

Sicily heaved a deep sigh as she stood up and turned to Jared.

“I have a great time, thanks,” Sicily spoke in Korean. She can't be any more grateful for the company that Jared offered to her. It was a nightmare that day of the ceremony. She got to see a glimpse of the mafia world through a pool of red liquid on her floor. By the time she gained her consciousness back, she was in her room. She bolted up in panic while looking around to see if there was still blood. Her eyes went to her door. It was so damn clean that no one could tell that someone died there with their blood coloring the floor. In her dreams, she heard someone cry in agony that she suspected that it was a dead man's soul.

“Can I visit you again? Tomorrow?” He asked in Korean too. He’s quite sure that the mistress didn’t understand their conversation.

“Neh.” She answered before leaving the room. Kiko remained on her spot.

“You’re not supposed to be in Neesan's room.” Her brows furrowed.

“Should I ask permission from you?” he sarcastically asked on her.

They had a staring battle before he decided to get outside the room wearing a smirk on his lips.

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Sicily’s POV

“Are you going to kill me for insulting your grandson?” I asked, scratching my head. I am now in front of Elder Tahil in a very cozy room and those plants outside were very relaxing in the eyes.

He just let a hearty laugh then motioned me to sit. So I sat in the futon.

“Would you like some tea?” he asked.

“No thanks, I already had enough with my friend.”

“Friend?”

I nodded. “Jared accompanies me always. He’s teaching me Japanese.”

“I see.”

Silence.

I perked my neck to meet his eyes

“So, you summoned me just to sit here?” I asked and to my surprise, he laughed again.

“Sorry… it’s just.” He laughed again. “You’re funny.”

“I guess what you need here is a clown, not a Nee-san.” I pouted. “Do you often laugh at the other Nee-sans? No wonder they canceled the engagement.”

He stared at me in great awe.

“What?”

“You’re frank, I like it.” He commented.

“Just prattling, don’t mind me.” I shrugged.

He nodded to me. I noticed the papers that were laid in front of us. I guessed he noticed me looking at those and handed it to me.

“You’ll be transferred to your new apartment. The same school though.”

“My apartment’s fine, don’t bother.” I protested.

“You’ll gonna need extra space, I tell you. Anyway, you’ll be back in school after your break right?”

“Hmm.” I nodded in response.

“So I want you to enjoy Japan. You’ll be going to Tokyo tomorrow night.”

Both of our heads turned to the door when someone got inside the room.

“There you are,” Elder Tahil motioned him to sit down.

“What is it this time old man?” he wore displeasure on his face.

“You’ll be accompanying her in Tokyo. You have to escort her to every place she wanted to go. Have some break.”

'What? I don't even want to see this mongrel.' I thought.

We both stared at each other for a moment before I recovered it back to the elder.

“I don’t want to be in Tokyo, Elder. I’m already fine here.” I voiced out.

“Yeah, she’ll be fine here. Besides I don’t want this dumb to mingle in my business there.”

Dumb?

I frowned. He’s not calling me dumb, isn’t he?

“Excuse me? Mind saying that to my face again?” I said kinda ticked off.

He leaned to me“ Dumb…”

Oh, screw this! I immediately punched him in the face but he got my wrist while he glared at me at the same time.

“You got some balls to do that, huh? b***h?” he coldly retorted.

I balled my fist angrily. “Call me that…one more time…” I warned him in a trembling voice. I swore if he hadn't experienced hell, I will make him taste it.

“Dumb.Bitch.”

I forcefully yanked my wrist from his grip and managed to kick him in his middle part.

He then let strings of curses from his mouth while wincing in pain. “Damn you, woman!” he still doubled up. I dusted my palms staring at him full of remorse. I excuse myself to the elder who was beyond shock. I threw a last glance at him then smirked.

"Serves you right, jerk."

He just gave me a deranged look.

“You should not be in here.” He forcefully said in pain.

“And why not?” I asked reciprocating the danger in his voice.

“You’ll be like them, crying at the end. I swear I will make you,” he promised. He’s maybe referring to those previous Nee-sans.

“Let's see about that,” I said turning to leave the room, mumbling hateful words against him.

***

Sicily silently sipped from her cup of tea. Lately, she had been having a lot of tea. No other beverage. Kiko said it's for detox. Well, she should ask for mind detox as well because as much as Dragon was a concern, her brain cells were poisoned. Lyka's sketches of the yakuza boss didn't apply to this particular Dragon. Baldy's head? Nope. His hair was perfectly blonde healthy. Beer bellies? That can't be right because as much as he was a concern, he seemed to inherit a leaned muscles across his belly. It seemed crazy but she can tell that he had abs on that tummy on his. He got powerful hands too that made her helpless when he grabbed her during that ritual for a...kiss. And the smell of his breathe was like eating mint leaves mixed with a hint of cigarette taste that time. He's handsome. An elegantly rough kind of handsome. Summing it all up, he's a catch. He's more than that.

Jared was eyeing her trying to figure out what made her shut her mouth for half an hour already.

“So…how was your conversation with the elder yesterday?”

“Better…not until that jerk showed up and blew every patience that I have.” She darkly muttered.

Jared was sure whom she was referring to. He saw JD getting inside the old man’s room and he even heard some faint angry voices coming from the room.

“This place is boring,” she suddenly blurted out. He looked at her then smiled.

“Oh, you’re missing a lot of fun staying here all the time,” he said as a matter of fact. He stood up and beckoned her to do so. “Come on, we sneak out here.”

“What?” before she could respond for more, she was practically dragged outside her room. Her eyes widened when they took the route at the back instead of passing on the hallway where her mistresses can see them.

They found themselves outside the traditional house of the Yakuza.

“Wear this,” he put a traditional cap on her to hide her face from the public mainly composing yakuza.

“Why are we sneaking out?” she asked, amused.

“We are practicing your basic Japanese, baby.” He pinched her nose. Sicily found herself pushing her way through the mass of people in the market. The surroundings were fully alive. There were those sellers bargaining with the buyers. She looked around.

“Now, I want you to buy me that.” he pointed to the fruit that was not familiar to her.

She nodded and sheepishly greeted the seller who was smiling at her in return.

“Konban asa zembu…” he greeted her.

Her eyes lit up upon knowing its meaning. She greeted him and slightly bowed. She pointed the fruit and eyed him.”Itchi Kiro Kudasai.” 'One kilo of this fruit'

He blinked at her then he complied.

“Domo arigato…” she bowed again as he handed him the p*****t. She then proudly bounced near to Jared who was just in the corner observing her. “ How’s that?” she beamed.

“Not bad for your first time,” he commented.

They both strolled the whole market, letting Sicily do the conversion to the residents. They even lose track of the time as evening nearly approaches.

“Itte kimasu,” he slowly said every syllable of the word. She blinked, lost with the words. “ I have to go…” he immediately reinforced. She nodded in response.

Sicily grinned widely recalling all of their doings for the whole day. She had a lot of fun with him.

He then left her room. It was almost 5 o’clock and she has nothing to do except on staring the sky from her room. It was her first week in Japan, Kyushu… a few weeks to go to end her school break.

She was in contemplation mode when someone barged into her room.

“I didn’t expect you will get along with Jared,” He said almost mocking.

She heaved a deep sigh to stifle her anger from skyrocketing into the next level.

“I believed it does not concern anything to you,” she shot back turning in his direction. “ And what business did you bring this time?”

He suddenly grabbed her wrist tightly, towering over her with furious eyes.

“The clan’s Nee-san flirting with another guy concerns me, woman.” He tightened her hold into her wrist making her squirm in pain.

“Were just friends, i***t!” she fought back. Her annoyance grew when she noticed a couple of rings from his finger. “You’re maybe the clan's leader, but you can’t just order me around here. I have my life as you do. Why don’t we just mind our own business… flirt with your girlfriend or whatever? Let’s be married and go on with our separate ways.”

For an unknown reason, he suddenly felt his heart skip a beat by a mere mention that she will tie her life to him.

“You can’t survive here, woman.” He intently eyed him, slowly letting go of her hand. “I’m giving you a chance to cut off the deal in an easy way.”

“Is this your way of ditching another Nee-san and playing again with your girlfriend? “ She asked resting her hands on her hips, ignoring the pulsing of pain from her wrist. "Because as much as you wanted me out and trust me I don't want to be here, I can't just go, okay?"

"You have your choice to leave-,"

"No, I don't. You people aren't giving me choice at all!" she exclaimed in exasperation. "When I run, the charity and the scholars are threatened. A lot of them will be homeless if I even dare to think of escaping from this hell hole."

He swallowed hard, looking sideways then in her.'Of course, this is hell to her' Jin thought as he saw the thin film of water on her eyes.

“I’ll take that as a no then. Don’t forget that I tried to warn you. You don’t want to quite the easy way? Fine, let me see you cry at the end of the day.” He turned to leave the room.

With a determined look, she blurted out. “Bring it on.”

'Things will not go easier here, baby. Let see how far you can tolerate my world.' He grudgingly marched away.

***

The next day was the beginning of the plagues. A fifteen-year-old boy was ushered or rather dragged harshly by two bulky guys inside the room of the family boss. Sicily swore she smelled a mixture of piss and sweat from him when they get through her. He was wailing in a language she can't decipher. His face reddened with too much pleading and unnamed fear to the two bulky yakuza but instead, he was shoved inside that room.

“What’s going on?” she asked Kiko-chan beside her.

“ Ritual in our boss' room…” Kiko shortly answered.

'Just like the ritual for the code of Jinge?' she thought. “But why does he look like he will be chopped into pieces?” she asked her with a tinge of humor. But Kiko remained impassive.

JD was passing by them and caught a glimpse of her. He then went to his room. She straightened up and held her chin up. Any moment, Renei-chan anxiously approached her and Kiko.

“Nee-san, you are requested by the boss to witness the ritual to his room.” She glanced at Kiko who was wearing a startled look.

“What is the ritual by the way?” Sicily asked before proceeding to the room.

“Yubitsume…”Kiko answered lowering her eyes on the floor.

“Yubitsume…what is it? Hmm, Never mind. You coming with me?" She asked them.

“We are not allowed, Nee-san…” Kiko said apologetically.

As the Nee-san got on the Oyabun’s room, Kiko turned to Renei.

“Yubitsume should be an all men ritual.”

“I know…but the boss requested it. Must be his way of driving the girl out of this society.” Renei said sourly but she knew well that this one was harsh for an ordinary girl like Sicily. They had witnessed how their boss play some dirty tricks just to make those previous Nee-sans quite the engagement but why was he so desperate on driving the new Nee-san out of their community this early?

***

What the hell are they doing?!

Sicily’s face was panicked stricken as the men got the young man’s left little finger covered with white cloth and tie it with a thread. They then forcefully laid down his hand on the table and cut it without hesitation. She could almost taste the bile rising on her throat and the way her heart was pounding on her ears, made her think that she was running in a marathon.

Sicily was wide eyes as she laid eyes on the young man who was fainting. Blood was sinfully scattering on the floor and none of the men feel a slight pity towards the poor kid. He was crying in pain while he was forced to get on his knees in front of JD. He said something in Japanese which made the young lad tremble in fear even more. He barked orders to other men in Japanese. They all execute his orders and started to pull the kid outside while she remained rooted on her spot. Shocked to the fullest.

JD was eyeing her throughout the ritual as if challenging her. He picked up the severed portion of the young man’s finger and offered it to her. She immediately jumped off from her spot as she saw the blood on the thing. So morbid that she squirmed.

He smirked. “You should be honored to be the first female to witness the ritual punishment.” He waved the thing in front of her face. She looked upon him with a dead look like he was a monster.

“You’re horrible,” She then bolted into running outside, leaving him behind.

The smirk on his lips disappeared as he then let out a loud curse. It wasn't the first time he was subjected to such a look as if he was a deranged person but it felt so wrong when it was her.

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Jared’s POV

I immediately went to her room after hearing the news. She must be shocked right now after witnessing the ritual. I don’t know what was gotten into our boss’ mind of actually bringing Sicily into this kind of torture.

“Sicily-shi, ” I called out then I found her sitting silently on her futon. She was clenching her fists so tightly, and her eyes were focused on the floor. Kiko and Renei were behind her, doing nothing but stare at her in a deadpan expression.

“You’re not allowed here, ” Kiko blocked my way as she noticed me.

“Try to stop me,” I growled at her. Sicily looked up and I can see a glimpse of suppressed tear in the corner of her eyes.

“Jared,” she called out then her tears began to fall on her cheeks. She bit her lower lip. I gathered her in my arms and gently stroke her back.

She silently sobbed on my chest not minding her two mistresses inside the room.

“He’s a monster…he’s horrible,” she said between her cries.

"It's okay. You're alright." I reached to dry her cheeks with my thumbs. “Don’t worry the elder will know about this…” I assured her.

"He's bad. Did he hate me so much? It's not my fault that I'm here. Why is he doing this?" she continued to say in between her sobs. "It's not my fault that I'm here,"

"It's alright," Jared patted her back while staring blankly at the two mistresses.

It took quite a while before Sicily calmed down and started to drink her tea. Her nose pinked while her eyes were a traced of shed tears.

“Don’t tell the elder about what happened, ”she said after a while. “ Cutting fingers, huh? Let him do his way of ditching me. I will be his pain in the ass.”

I stared at her in disbelief since it was unsettling to hear her say threatening with that cute voice of hers. More like a tiny kitten raging war to an angry dragon. The resolve on her eyes made me think that trouble was a little ahead to come. This could be a nice distraction for the family boss most especially after his mulling for what happened two years ago.