[Bakiri Retsu]

Awamori Liquor was a store with a long history dating all the way back to the previous turn of the century and perhaps even a bit before. Retsu wasn't sure and to be honest she didn't care either. Originally founded in Okinawa and eventually establishing several branch stores in Kyoto, Tokyo and half a dozen other places she didn't bother to remember every store in the chain had gradually closed down for a variety of reasons. Tax evasion, embezzling funds from the MEXT or management getting arrested for unrelated crimes for the majority, association with a bad name for the rest. She supposed it didn't matter. In the end only the one in Shinjuku was left.

The very one they were standing in front of.

Besides the name it barely had anything to do with the historical Awamori Liquor. Hells, even the owner was in no way, shape of form connected to the original owners. The only trait he had in common with them was his inability to stay on the straight and narrow.

It wasn't just liquor being sold from behind the counter here, that was for sure. 

Then again not much was being sold here at all which, coincidentally, was why Retsu found herself here. She didn't know how their previous 'business partner' did things but she wasn't gonna let a money drain be. Now that this turf was hers it was high time to do some clean-up.

Sure, she could've delegated the whole thing to someone else but she'd had a rough day and figured she might as well nab herself a bottle or two in the process. What was he gonna do, complain? When there was a solid 280 lbs of muscle looking over her shoulder? Yeah, she didn't think so. And on the note of said muscle...

"Well den, let's get dis party started shall we, Eugene?" Retsu said while gesturing for the front entrance just in case her words didn't get through. She had no idea how much Japanese the man spoke and quite frankly that was another thing on the long list of the things she didn't bother to find out more about. 

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Tags: Eugene Butler

[Eugene Butler]

Butler smiled and nodded, he didn’t understand a single word Retsu just said. He did guess that it was time for action based on her gestures and general context. He cracked his knuckles and and kicked in the door. He screamed as loud as he could to everyone in the liquor store in the little Japanese he could “Do a handstand or I’ll cook you some chicken.”
He had now been taught some Japanese at the local req center, under a fake name of course, could never be too sure. How he thought anyone would think he, a two meter tall caucasian male, could really be named Li Xin and be from Shanghai, was only one of many mysteries.

[Bakiri Retsu]

Some days Retsu was pleasantly surprised by the competence of her subordinates. Today, unfortunately, was not one of those days. If nothing else she supposed his methods were intimidating as demonstrated by the cashier literally shaking in his boots.

"What mah friend here's tryna say is ya better turn this place upside down to come up with some money or we'll be raking ya over the coals."

To be honest she had no fucking idea what Eugene was on about but she figured she might as well roll with it. No point making stuff worse for no reason, right? Situations tend to do that by themselves. Case in point, the shutters at the front of the store suddenly slamming shut the moment she finished speaking.

"Gutentag fraulein. What a pleasant surprise to see you here!" A blond man said while standing up from behind the counter before giving a mock bow which coincidentally brought his pistol into view and away from the cashier's back. "Mein name is Kommando. An alias, of course. I'm sure you two understand."

"Sure." Retsu doubted either of them did. "Now get the fook out of my store."

"Come now, fraulein. Ze Akimichis aren't even cold yet and you're already laying claim to their turf? Surely even a -pardon ze choice of words- miscreant such as you can see ze problem?"

"Ah'm seein' someone itchin' ta meet 'em."

"Please, fraulein. Look around you." Kommando continued with a wide sweep of his arms. "A single bomb in here and you're gone too. Zere's nothing you can do to stop us."

For a moment he stood in place, all dramatic and smug. Then he surreptitiously cleared his throat when nothing happened.

"Damian. Damian that means come out."

From the back room of the store came a large man with gorilla hands -only the hands- and a large scorpion tail. On second look Retsu realized that maybe his hands were just hairy. She supposed she'd find out in time. Or have someone else find out.

"Vell then, vhat vill you do now?"

To that, Retsu had one very simple answer.

"Eugene."

Surely he knew that word, right?

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Tags: Eugene Butler