InsaneJournal

Shige & Family: Life in the Spirit Clan, First Tale
Who: Goro & Tadashi Takemoto (Plus Tiny Shige)
When: Early Fall, 1989
Where: Fushimi-Inari Shrine, Kyoto
What: Goro instructs his son on how he wants both the Spirit Clan and grandson handled.


Takemoto Goro was a man of both passion and refinement. These two parts of his nature were at times in conflict, particularly when his passion left quite a mess for his refinement to deal with.

Wiping his hands clean once again, he checked beneath his nails and saw that he'd finally managed to remove the blood from beneath them. Turning he was offered a clean towel by his lead priest. "Ah thank you, Masaki-kun." He said pleasantly. Goro's mood had improved considerably from earlier. Shifting his attention towards his son he raised his eyebrows and gave him a hard look. "If he had been intelligent enough to not get caught then we would have left him. You know my feelings on that." Tossing the towel casually back to his priest he walked towards his son.

The younger Kitsune's face tensed, the worry lines on his face etched deeply into his skin. "Yes, Father." They sat together along the outside wooden walkway, taking in the cool autumn air and the serenity of the Inari Shrine.

Nearby the pups played. Shige, as always, leading the charge and directing his cousins with the cocky authority of a spoiled seven year old. Tadashi grimaced slightly at the obnoxious behavior but kept his mouth shut. A quick glance at his father proved what he suspected. Goro was grinning, enjoying the display while he packed his kiseru with tobacco.

"You took care of the incident in town caused by our former guest, correct?" The subject was brought up as though he were speaking about the weather. Tadashi stiffened, irritated that his father always followed up with him on situations such as these. Goro said nothing but smirked at his son's predictable reaction.



"Toshitsugu-san is quite agreeable, don't you think?" Goro turned the subject to yet another thing Tadashi was sensitive about. Enjoying his discomfort he continued, hoping to press his son further in the direction he desired. "We are fortunate that he values our relationship with the Aizukotetsu enough to keep us informed....so we can deal with backwater trash treating Kyoto like their playground."

"Yes, Father." Tadashi said simply, his face a mask of tense placidity.

Goro's eyebrow raised and he lit his pipe without taking his eyes from his son. "You don't believe our Yakuza friends are worth knowing, son?" He knew full well his son's opinion on their century old relationship with the so called 'crime lords' of Kyoto. All the same, the look in Tadashi's eyes when Goro mentioned it always brought a sly smile to his face.

"They're criminals Father, what am I supposed to think?" Losing his temper, Tadashi spoke before he could stop himself but once it was said he couldn't take it back. He turned and met his Father's cold gaze as boldly as he dared.

"How crude." Goro said coldly, remembering again why he didn't want his son to succeed him. He was weak and had no ambition. Far too prudish for the sort of jobs that needed to be done as the leader of the Spirit Clan. "Toshitsugu-san is quite a gentleman, I'm sure he would be offended to hear you say such things."

"I'm sure he would agree with me, Father." Now Tadashi was simply being stupid. Goro's eyes hardened and a cruel smile spread across his face that didn't reach his eyes. He took a long draw from his pipe.

"You try my patience, pup. You forget that you are hardly necessary now that you have a son." His tone was purely conversational and he cocked his head, blowing smoke from his mouth to form perfect rings. "You are very much your mother's son."

Those final words are what stopped Tadashi's anger in it's tracks and left him cold and hollow. His mother had been a traitorous bitch and had been executed some sixty years ago by Clan law....died at her husbands own hands as was the right of the acting clan head.

The pups had finished their game, whooping and hollering in yips and squeaks at the outcome.

"Ojii-san!" Shige shouted, lanky legs and over sized black paws carrying him up the ancient wooden steps to his grandfather's side. "Ojii-san, I won, at Darumasan!" The pup's tongue lolled out of it's mouth and he grinned hugely.

As always, Shige lavished attention on his doting grandfather and ignored his father with a vindictiveness only children can display. It would be many years later before Shige understood Goro's nature enough to be afraid.

"Thats because you cheated!" One of the cousins called back at him, anger shaking it's tiny furred body as he stood with the others not far from the adults.

"Shut up." Shige snapped, turning on his cousin with a snarl on his small muzzle.

"Makoto-chan," Goro started, voice stern while he stifled a chuckle, "Do you have proof that Shige-chan cheated?" The little fox went quiet, tail drooping. "Then don't accuse him of such things."

Only Tadashi could see the look on Shige's face as the little fox looked over his furry haunches at his cousin. Smug satisfaction. Tadashi resented being denied the ability to raise his child the way he desired but rather than speak out he held his tongue. Goro had already decided how things would be handled with Shige.

Tadashi tried to turn the conversation back to the matter at hand. The unwanted guest in Kyoto. He feared there would be repercussions. "We should contact the Thunder Clan and find out-" He was interrupted before he could utter another word.

"The Thunder Clan isn't stupid enough to send such an incompetent here." Goro's amusement at his son's prudish behavior had finally ended and the satisfaction he had gotten from dealing with the intruder had dissipated entirely. His words of rebuke rang sharp in Tadashi's ears. "The fool acted alone."

"As you know I can't abide fools. He was stupid enough to get caught." Goro fixed his son with a gaze that could turn blood to ice and he smiled. "And now he's dead."