Kizuna Book 4 Part 12 translation
      KIZUNA by Kazuma Kodaka
      Book 4 Part 12: pp. 52-79
      unofficial translation by Katherine






Conventions:
regular text: name of speaker and spoken lines
italics: thoughts
bold: descriptions
In a grubby-looking pedestrian underpass...
Woman: Being slammed against the wall. Kyaah!
Her money is flung at her.
(page)
Guy in hat: You just don't get it, do you?
Woman: M- My money...!
Guy: This ain't nearly enough money.
Woman: But... That isn't true!
Woman: Ask that boy! He told me 30,000 yen would be fine, just like the time 
before!
Guy: Referring to the fake Kai standing silently and wearing a cap. He's the one 
saying it ain't enough.
Guy: This is Sagano-san, as in the Sagano-gumi that controls all of Kansai. You 
better pay up just as he says or there'll be trouble.
(page)
Back to Masa's meeting with Sasadzuka.
Kyousuke: It is an honor to make your acquaintance, sir. I am Imagawa, assistant 
to the young boss of Sagano-gumi...
Sasadzuka: Let's dispense with the tedious formalities.
Kyousuke: Yes, sir...
Sasadzuka: Sit down, sit down.
Sasadzuka: We haven't spoken since the alliance meeting, have we?
Sasadzuka: The Sagano don is in good health?
Masa: Yes, I'm pleased to say.
Sasadzuka: Good, glad to hear it.
(page)
Sasadzuka: When Shouryuukai shakes, Shouhoukai suffers from the tremors as well.
Sasadzuka: Kansai's Sagano and Kantou's Odzu.
Sasadzuka: Giving Masa a drink. Japan's yakuza is made complete in the division 
of power between these two.
Masa: Clinking glasses with Sasadzuka. Thank you.
Kyousuke: Thank you.
Sasadzuka: My pleasure.
Sasadzuka: We pour the same liquor into two glasses and drink it.
Sasadzuka: But we do not drink out of the other person's glass. The contents 
represent our different territories.
Sasadzuka: We live within our glass, fighting our own fierce battles.
(page)
Sasadzuka: Creating a hole in the bottom of the glass and spilling out drops of 
liquid is against the rules.
Sasadzuka: At least, the one who spills is the one who must clean it up.
Sasadzuka: Your glass hasn't been leaking lately, has it?
Kyousuke: What the hell is this round-about way of talking?
Masa: That's an interesting allegory. However, if you're saying that it applies 
to the Sagano-gumi,
(page)
Masa: then it's something that, as a head of Sagano-gumi, I need to hear about.
Masa: Would you please explain in detail?
Sasadzuka: Pleased. Hmph. As I expected, you don't waste time.
Sasadzuka: Well, it began with some trouble our young guys stirred up.
Sasadzuka: It seemed like they were making way too much money, and it turns out 
they'd been getting involved in the drug trade.
Sasadzuka: As you know, dealing drugs is prohibited to us.
Sasadzuka: Sure, our eyes light up at the thought of the cash; our organization, 
and Shouryuukai-san as well, but some of our guys were blinded by the money, and 
they went and did it.
(page)
Sasadzuka: We're not exactly a law-abiding business. We're like a rug -- once 
you start beating us, there's no end to the dust that will come out.
Sasadzuka: If the police investigate us for such a thing, the honor of our 
organization will be damaged for a long time to come.
Sasadzuka: Based on the evidence, we convicted them right away. We had them cut 
off fingers.
Sasadzuka: If Odzu, we who represent all of Shouhoukai, had not taken care of 
matters properly, we wouldn't be able to face you without shame.
Sasadzuka: However.
Sasadzuka: While they were making restitution for their crimes, they babbled out 
something surprising.
Sasadzuka: They said the whole thing was managed by Sagano-gumi.
Kyousuke: Leaping to his feet. That can't be! What kind of proof...
Masa: Calmly. Kyousuke!
(page)
Kyousuke: Sitting back down. S- sorry...
Sasadzuka: We have no proof.
Sasadzuka: They said Sagano controlled it and the actual selling was done by a 
subordinate group named Tsuneya-gumi. But for all our investigating, we could 
not turn up any group by that name.
Sasadzuka: Although Tsuneya was a fictitious group, there was still a problem.
Sasadzuka: Our men said they were employed by people in the Kansai-gumi to make 
deliveries.
Sasadzuka: Kansai is Shouryuukai's territory. We can't make any moves without 
great care.
Sasadzuka: But it is possible for this to be the spark that ignites a 
full-fledged war between west and east.
(page)
Masa: Standing. I understand. Sagano-gumi will take responsibility for resolving 
this issue.
(page)
Masa: Until we can get to the bottom of things, I would appreciate it if this 
could remain confidential.
At Masa and Kyousuke's hotel.
Kyousuke: Aaaah! Shit! He pisses me off!
Kyousuke: Flinging his jacket down on the sofa. Looking so cool while he blames 
shit on us! That bastard!
Masa: Kyousuke. Don't take it out on your jacket.
(page)
Kyousuke: He didn't take care of his own mess, and now he's trying to lay the 
blame at our door! That bastard's trying to start a war and call it our fault!!
Masa: I doubt it'll get that serious. Although he's probably thinking to use 
this chance to expand his own territory.
Masa: Looking tired. I guess we better investigate everyone around here who we 
fired in recent years.
Kyousuke: But aren't most all of them working respectable jobs now?
Masa: They can't all have become model citizens. I wouldn't be surprised if some 
of them are still operating, and using the Sagano name.
Kyousuke: So someone has a grudge against us... Then the problem runs deep.
Masa: .......
Masa: Sitting up. Bon needs protection.
Kyousuke: Ah!
(page)
Kyousuke: Shall I stay here in Tokyo?
Masa: No, I need you.
Kyousuke: Want me to call Toshi then?
Masa: No, wait.
Masa: I know of somebody.
Masa: I haven't seen him for years, but he'd be good for the job.
Kyousuke: Are you gonna hire a pro bodyguard?
Masa: Yeah.
Masa: Although being a bodyguard isn't his specialty.
Kyousuke: I doubt he's a professional house maid.
Masa: Picking up the phone. He's a professional assassin.
(page)
At a gas station.
Tashiro: To a departing customer. Thank you!
Gas station attendant: Yo, Tashiro! Telephone!
Tashiro: Thanks!
Tashiro: On the phone. Hello?
Masa: It's Araki.
Tashiro: Nice to hear from you! How long's it been?
Masa: I want to talk to you about a job. Can we meet?
(page)
Tashiro: ...It's my policy to never meet my employers.
Tashiro: But you're a special case... When?
Tashiro: You're in a hurry, aren't you? ...That's fine.
Tashiro: You're in Tokyo now?
Masa: We're leaving the hotel tomorrow. Sorry, but I'd appreciate it if you 
could come here.
Tashiro: That's no problem, but you won't recognize me. My face is changed since 
last time we met.
Masa: I don't know your real face anyway. Come straight to the room.
Tashiro: Would you like to see it?
Tashiro: If you'll sleep with me, I'll show it to you. Chuckling.
Masa: No thanks, I'll pass.
(page)
Kyousuke: Sweatdropping. Boss... Why do you need to call in a profession 
assassin...?
Masa: You know the attacker leaves himself open to be attacked himself. And an 
assassin will be able to react quickly.
Masa: Plus it wouldn't look very classy to have yakuza men trailing Bon 
everywhere. 
Masa: Tashiro's young, but his aim is true. And he has the courage to become 
Bon's shield if necessary. 
Masa: Oh, when he gets here, you'll have to leave the room. He won't meet with 
anyone else.
Kyousuke: Boss... He's got a thing for you, doesn't he?
Kyousuke: You certainly have a lot of admirers, men and women both.
Masa: At Kyousuke's words, Masa appears to accidentally bang his head on the 
door.
Masa: Rubbing his head. .....
Kyousuke: Don't let him get too close, or you'll find yourself in trouble.
Kyousuke: Be on your guard and don't let him take advantage of you.
(page)
Outside Enjouji's host club.
Enjouji: Good night!
Co-worker: What, you're off already?
Enjouji: Yeah. I'm a student, after all.
Co-worker: So you say, but I bet you're going to your girl's place.
Enjouji: Wouldn't that be nice. See you later.
Co-worker: 'Night.
Man: Excuse me, you're Enjouji-san, aren't you?
(page)
The man holds up police identification.
The cop is an older man with a younger man behind him.
Cop: May I have a little bit of your time?
Enjouji: ...Sorry, but I haven't done anything to cause trouble for the police.
Enjouji: Walking away. Try somebody else.
Cop: Kai Sagano
Cop: is your brother, although you have different mothers, isn't that right, 
Enjouji-san?
(page)
Enjouji: I see.
Enjouji: I'll listen to what you have to say and pass it on to his guardian.
Enjouji: That's about all I can do.
In a coffee shop. Enjouji lights a cigarette.
Enjouji: Well?
Enjouji: What's he gotten up to?
(page)
Cop: Ha ha, you say that very calmly.
Enjouji: There's no need to be careful about my feelings. 
Enjouji: The Sagano family is yakuza, after all.
Enjouji: I'm sure they cause a great deal of difficulty for the police.
Enjouji: And supposing that the Sagano's Bon was under suspicion, you might be 
able to use that to take the whole organization down.
Enjouji: Is that incorrect?
Cop: Smiling. If only our job was that easy.
Enjouji: Even though we're connected by blood, I don't want anything to do with 
the Sagano family, so please consider me as completely cut off from them.
Cop: Yes, don't be concerned about that. 
Cop: So then, about your brother...
(page)
Cop: He's suspected of narcotics possession and drug trafficking.
Cop: Your brother's name turns up frequently on the papers we confiscate from 
men arrested for possession.
Cop: We are presently trying to catch your brother in the act of trafficking, 
and at the same time,
Cop: we've launched a criminal investigation into the organization behind him, 
and are preparing to strike.
(page)
Enjouji: Why don't you arrest him now?
Cop: Because we want to learn the trafficking route and round up everyone 
involved in the organization at the same time. 
Enjouji: So it's, what do you call it, a sting operation? 
Enjouji: And if no proof turns up...?
Enjouji: Then the police will have exposed an innocent person to danger.
Cop: ...Mm.
Cop: We intend to protect your brother's rights. Please, if we could have your 
cooperation.
Cop: I understand that you hate us, but...
Enjouji: What do you mean by that?
(page)
Cop: I'm speaking of the incident in which the man who struck your friend in a 
hit and run was found dead.
Cop: It just so happens that one of my colleagues was in charge of that case.
Cop: So I took the liberty of looking into it.
Cop: The injured one, ah, Samejima-san, was your high school classmate, wasn't 
he?
Flashback of the car approaching.
(page)
Flashback of Ranmaru's umbrella flying as he's hit.
Cop: The perpetrator was aiming for you, but made a mistake...
Enjouji: Crushing his cigarette in stress at having to hear about the incident.
Cop: ...and hit Samejima-san instead.
(page)
Cop: It was probably no big deal to them, just a way of throwing a stone at 
Sagano.
Cop: They couldn't strike directly at the heavily guarded Sagano, so they 
investigated and learned about you...
Cop: I'm sorry something like that happened.
Cop: In order to avoid such a thing happening a second time,
Cop: please lend us your cooperation.
(page)
Enjouji: What do you want to get me to say, dredging up my past like that?
Enjouji: Am I a suspect too?
Cop: No, Sorry. 
Cop: That's not the case at all.
Enjouji: Detective, if the police had arrested that man back then, I would think 
a little differently. 
Enjouji: I cooperated because I was told that criminals are always judged by the 
law.
Enjouji: And then the driver turned up dead.
Enjouji: Telling me to be satisfied with that is not reasonable.
(page)
Enjouji: Putting out his cigarette. I have no intention of protecting Kai...
Enjouji: and I also have no intention of trusting police who can't even bring a 
criminal to court.
(page)
Enjouji: Standing up. That's all I have to say. Excuse me.
Enjouji: Putting down some money. For the coffee.
Cop: May I ask you one thing?
Cop: Did you meet your brother around noon?
Enjouji: ...I met him.
Enjouji: For about an hour. In Shinjuku. We watched a movie.
Enjouji: The two of us.
(page)
Enjouji: I had a couple tickets, so I invited him.
Enjouji: I still have half the ticket... Want to check?
The detective and Enjouji look at each other.
Cop: No. That's fine.
Cop: Sorry to keep you.
(page)
The cops watch Enjouji walk down the street.
Young cop: Is it okay to let him go off like that?
Cop: Yeah.
Cop: He has a look in his eye you don't usually see in one that young.
Young cop: Huh?
Cop: No doubt he has something very important to protect. 
Cop: He threatened me, a detective, with his eyes.
Cop: He's got guts.
Young cop: Cluelessly. He threatened with his eyes...?
Cop: You can only dream of being a man like him.
(page)