#just how kiryu says the tojo clan needs him and daigo walks away from it here and later does everything he can to support it

[xuanelle]

After dad died, the clan started falling apart at the seams. And now? It's not even worth risking my ass to save.

[cryingcow]

Character Story - Yayoi [RGGO]

I’m gonna stop simping over Zhongli for now and post this XD For our next beautiful lady: the one and only surviving sword mom in the series! :D

Story: After Terada dies, someone needs to be the Fifth Acting Chairman.

Kashiwagi: “Since Terada got murdered and I got attacked and whoever is the leader now would most likely get killed, I would like your son Daigo to be the Fifth Acting Chairman.”

Yayoi: “. . . You’re not exactly being persuasive here.”

.

CHAPTER 1

.

|In 2006, five years after getting arrested for violating the Firearms and Swords Act, Dojima Daigo went to Osaka to take revenge against God Ryuji. Daigo, who was excommunicated from the clan and abandoned by his former friends, devotes himself to a life of drinking alone.|

Daigo: “Oi . . . I’m out of liquor.”

Waiter: “Y-Yes . . . Here you go.”

Daigo: “. . .”

Yayoi: “. . . Daigo.”

Daigo: “. . . Why did you come here.”

Yayoi: “Even though everything’s over . . . how long do you plan on living like this? It wasn’t Kiryu who killed that person . . . you already know that. Did Kiryu really leave the Tojo Clan? In that case, you shouldn’t be drinking.”

Daigo: “. . . I don’t know what you’re talking about. Please go home.”

Yayoi: “What did you say . . . ?”

Daigo: “Whatever I’m doing has nothing to do with you.”

Yayoi: “Nothing to do with me . . . ? It’s natural for parents to worry about their son.”

Daigo: “Hmph . . . now it’s just the mother’s side.”

Yayoi: “! . . .”

[Daigo gets up and leaves.}

Yayoi: “Daigo . . . !”

----

Yayoi: “. . . Mother’s side.”

Yayoi: (. . . It’s no wonder Daigo says that. Since long ago, I and that person have made Daigo feel very lonely because of the clan . . . Now, I’m not the one who can guide that child. Only Kiryu . . . can do it . . .)

Malicious Catcher: “Good evening Onee-san! What’s with the wrinkles between your eyebrows~? Is something wrong? Do you want to be surrounded by good-looking guys? Huh?”

Yayoi: “Get lost. I’m in a bad mood right now.”

Malicious Catcher: “Huh? Don’t say that, won’t you join us? Well? Come on!”

Yayoi: “Hmph. . . . Don’t complain if you die.”

{Yayoi presumably stabs the guy several times.}

Malicious Catcher: “Hiiii!! M-Murderer!! She isn’t human! Somebody help~!”

Yayoi: “. . . Tch.”

----

Yayoi: (What am I going to do with Daigo . . .)

?: “Guh . . . !”

Yayoi: “Hm . . . ?”

Kashiwagi: “Haa . . . Haa . . .”

Yayoi: “Kashiwagi . . . ?! Kashiwagi, there’s blood on your arm . . . ! Wait right there, I’ll do first aid. Let’s get you to a hospital quick.”

Kashiwagi: “No, it’s fine now. I’m sorry Neesan . . . guh . . . !”

Yayoi: “. . . What on earth happened?”

Kashiwagi: “I was ambushed earlier.  . . . by a killer from the Omi Alliance.”

Yayoi: “Omi . . . ?!”

.

-END-

.

CHAPTER 2

Yayoi: “Someone from the Omi Alliance tried to kill you . . . ? What do you mean?”

Kashiwagi: “. . . Actually, the Fifth Chairman was shot today by someone from the Omi Alliance.”

Yayoi: “Terada . . . ?!”

Kashiwagi: “Yes . . . He was immediately transported by an ambulance, but . . . he died.”

Yayoi: “What’s that . . . ?”

Kashiwagi: “The head family will be happy to have support from you, so I was looking for you with regards that matter. But in the middle of doing that, I was attacked by a hitman, and this is what happened. The Omi is trying to crush us in one go.”

Yayoi: “Is that so . . . so why were you looking for me?”

Kashiwagi: “. . . Neesan, I have something to discuss with you.”

Man with Kansai Dialect: “Found you, Kashiwagi!”

Kashiwagi: “. . . tch. Did they chase me down?”

Yayoi: “Kashiwagi. Is this the guy who hurt you?”

Kashiwagi: “Yeah . . . he caught me off guard.”

Omi Hitman: “This time I’ll stab you, Acting Captain of the Tojo Clan!”

{Yayoi and Kashiwagi kick their ass.}

Omi Hitman: “Damn it . . . !”

Kazama Family: “Boss!”

Omi Hitman: “. . . tch, are those reinforcements?”

{The hitman runs away.}

Kazama Family Member A: “Wait!”

Kazama Family member B: “Boss! Are you okay?”

Kashiwagi: “Yeah, they just got my arm. You guys . . . don’t tell anyone about this. I want to avoid making the flames of war even bigger.”

Kazama Family member B: “. . . Yes, boss.”

Kashiwagi: “Let’s go somewhere else, Neesan. We can’t talk here.”

----

Bar Master: “Take your time . . .”

Yayoi: “. . . So, Kashiwagi. What’s this story you have to tell me?”

Kashiwagi: “. . . I’ll be straightforward. I would like to ask Daigo to be the Fifth Acting Chairman.”

Yayoi: “Daigo as Acting Chairman . . . ?!”

Kashiwagi: “. . . Yes.”

Yayoi: “You . . . after what happened between Daigo and the Omi . . . ?!”

Kashiwagi: “. . . I am well aware of that. The Fifth Chairman was killed, and even I, acting as the Junior Head, was attacked . . . To be the ‘face’ of the head family now would be like walking up to the execution stand.”

Yayoi: “. . . And knowing that, you want to put it on Daigo’s back . . .”

Kashiwagi: “The Tojo Clan is currently a mess. But the Omi will not wait for us. We need someone to be a monolith as soon as possible. To do that, we need a suitable leader. I’m ashamed to say, but it can’t be me. But Daigo is a vessel that people can rely on. He will surely pull the Tojo Clan together. So, I wanted to talk to you about it first. Please . . . please understand.”

Yayoi: “. . . I understand what you’re saying. Then, I have a suggestion. Will you listen?”

Kashiwagi: “A suggestion . . . ?”

.

-END-

.

CHAPTER 3

Kashiwagi: “. . . Neesan, is that really okay?”

Yayoi: “Yeah. I’m not going back on my word.”

Kashiwagi: “. . . Understood.”

Yayoi: “But, can you give me some time?”

----

Daigo: “Oi! I’m out of alcohol! Bring more quickly!”

Man in Black Clothes: “C-Customer, if you drink too much . . . !”

{Yayoi and Kashiwagi appear.}

Daigo: “?! . . .”

Daigo: “Why is Kashiwagi-san here?”

Yayoi: “. . . Daigo. There’s something we want to tell you.”

Daigo: “. . . I don’t want to talk to you.”

Kashiwagi: “Daigo . . . be careful of how you talk.”

Daigo: “Shut up. I don’t want to get involved with anything anymore-”

{Yayoi slaps Daigo.}

Daigo: “Guh?!”

Kashiwagi: “Ah, Neesan . . . !”

Yayoi: “You don’t need to get involved, Kashiwagi. Club Manager, I’m sorry, but I’m going to rampage. Stand up, Daigo. I’m not saying this to you as a parent. I’m just angry with the idiot who drinks alone at this time.”

Daigo: “. . . What did you call me . . . !”

Yayoi: “Come on, clench your teeth!!”

{Yayoi whoops Daigo’s ass.}

Daigo: “Guh . . . !”

Yayoi: “You’re an idiot. You’re so drunk you can’t even walk properly.”

Yayoi: “. . . Daigo, Terada’s dead.”

Daigo: “. . .”

Yayoi: “He was killed by men from the Omi Alliance.  . . . There could be war.”

Daigo: “. . . So what. Are you telling me to go back?”

Yayoi: “. . . I’ve decided to become the Acting Chairman. I came here to tell you that.”

Daigo: “Acting Chairman . . . ?! Are you really saying . . . ?!”

Yayoi: “Yes. I’ll be taking over Terada’s position starting today. I will organize the Tojo Clan.”

Daigo: “What are you thinking?! I don’t think that’s sane . . .”

Yayoi: “Of course I’m aware of the danger. But I have no choice but to do this. So . . .”

Daigo: “You . . . I’m wondering what you can do for the clan.”

Yayoi: “. . . Daigo. I’ve been prepared for all this since I became his wife. Now . . . is the time.”

Daigo: “Guh . . . !!”

Yayoi: “. . . I just came by to say this. Let’s go, Kashiwagi.”

Kashiwagi: “. . . Yes.”

----

Yayoi: “. . .”

Kashiwagi: “. . . Is it okay, Neesan? Not to tell Daigo the truth.”

Yayoi: “It’s fine.”

Yayoi: “Then, I have a suggestion. Will you listen?”

Kashiwagi: “A suggestion . . . ?”

Yayoi: “Yes. The position of Acting Chairman . . . I want to take it on.”

Kashiwagi: “Neesan . . . ?!”

Yayoi: “Am I lacking the power?”

Kashiwagi: “. . . No. The breakthrough of the Dojima Family is only possible with the support of Neesan. Everyone knows that. You have a lot of trust from those at the bottom, and the perfect qualities to stand on top . . . I have no complaints. But . . . is that okay?”

Yayoi: “Like Daigo, I too have the qualities to carry the head family on my back. But for that child . . . he needs time to recover. It’s true that it is the role of parents to help their children.  . . . But I can’t do that. So . . . I want to offer up my life to give him that time. This is what I’ll do as the parent of my child.”

Kashiwagi: “. . . Neesan . . .”

Kashiwagi: “. . . Awkward people, both Daigo and Neesan.”

Yayoi: “Heh . . . that person was the same. Well, let’s go. Isn’t the head family huge? I need to start deciding future policies soon.  . . . I’m counting on you, Kashiwagi.”

Kashiwagi: “Yes. Your humble servant Kashiwagi will do his best to protect you, Fifth Acting Chairman!”

.

-END-

 Masterlist

[arysthaeniru]

aAAA the joy of seeing an update on your current favorite fanfic is just aAAA

I always felt that kiwami 1s Nishiki was just a bit too,, I dont know how to describe it; but essentially he just felt off, granted yakuza 1 is a product of its time and therefore the plot is a bit dated and whack as all hell

The way you write Nishiki just feels so much better and realistic; in the original he just seems so uncaring towards Kiryu? which just feels kinda OOC? You'd think he still cares about Kiryu despite it all, especially when you take Yakuza 0 into consideration; and i feel like you portray Nishiki much more accurately

I never thought much about Yumi, because honestly, in the original she was kinda just, there? You actually made her a very interesting person! like I'm actually invested in her in your story! (side note you ever think about her clone who got tortued and died? yeah who WAS that???? thats never brought up is it??)

Theres so much more to talk about but in short; This is the best fix it/rewrite of a game plot I have read to date and it brings me joy in my current stressful school life. and no I will not stop praising it or the author, because this work has made me very happy. ;)

I just have a gift for picking favorites that end up dying,,aand another favorite of mine is Mine

imo theres a lack of soft, reassuring Minedai, i just feel like he'd need a reminder that people love him as a person and not just for the money he can provide, even if its obvious

I'd love to see how you'd write them, but I understand if theres more interesting/appealing drabble requests!

- Carp

CARP, thank you for this <3 this is so sweet!!!!! I’m so happy you enjoy my Nishiki! I had fun playing with what Yakuza 0/the Kiwami additions gave us about Nishiki’s personality and outlook on the world, and trying to reconcile that with the plot that Yakuza 1 initially had. Ultimately, I fell on the side that you did: even if Nishiki’s ambition took him down a monstrous path, I don’t think he’s the sort of person who neglects to pay back his debts. And he’s aware of the huge debt he owes Kiryu. Not to mention, their bonds of trust and love vanishing completely because of jealousy felt unreal to me. Their relationship becoming twisted or strange? Yes, but vanishing entirely felt unsatsifying to me. 

And Yumi!! I had so much fun excavating her character from the clues we get of her in canon. I worry sometimes, that she’s unrecognizable, because you know, I’ve given her a college education, and a whole bunch of interests beyond hostessing alone, but people seem to like it and like her, which is great!! I hate fridging women characters, so keeping her and Reina alive was important to me, hahaha. (RE: fake!Mizuki, there’s this substory in Kiwami that actually addresses who she was, BUT IT’S EVEN MORE HORRIFYING. So that’s why Yumi in my fic is the one captured and tortured by Nishiki’s men, because the thought of this poor innocent woman getting dragged into the mess was just untenable to me.)  

Anyway, thank you for your support and kind words, and I hope you’ll continue to read and that my fic can continue to relieve stress. I--tried to write this about Mine, but Daigo kind of stole the spotlight a little??? I hope you still like it--if not, I will try a ficlet from Mine’s perspective too. I enjoy minedai a lot, but I haven’t had room to think out their dynamic yet, so this took me a while. 

Daigo’s no stranger to being desired. He’s attractive, he knows this—his mother’s beauty lives in his veins, and he’s always had the money to look after himself. Fancy soaps to wash his face, the invisible retainers to keep his teeth straight, fancy suits and skin-tight shirts to show off his frame. For all that Kiryu insists his charisma is something that comes from the soul, Daigo knows it wouldn’t be able to draw the sort of attention he does without being attractive.

Which is to say that Daigo’s not especially thrown off by the intensity of Mine’s gaze. It’s happened before, and it’ll happen again. The thing that surprises him is how much he relishes in being seen by Mine.

Maybe it’s because Mine’s an island in a stormy sea, one of the only yakuza his age who’s sensible and level-headed enough to make it big. Maybe it’s because Mine’s gaze is always so reserved, polite, never overly lusty or overstaying its welcome, and Daigo has so rarely been desired so quietly. Or maybe it’s because Majima and Kashiwagi so clearly disapprove of him—Daigo’s always been something of a rebel, and he hasn’t shaken that off, even now he’s in his thirties and is the arbiter of rules for the Tojo Clan.

Daigo can’t quite put a pin on why he’s so comfortable with Mine’s yearning looks, but he’s never been one to hold back when he wants to indulge in something good. Not exactly a hedonist, not by yakuza standards, but Daigo has never kept himself from enjoying life, in the name of some dubious ‘honour.’

Which is why, in an after-hours meeting with Mine, as they eat cheap takeout sushi together, Daigo takes his chance. A momentary slip, the slightest hint of wasabi left at the corners of Mine’s lips and Daigo swoops in, rubs a thumb over the corner of Mine’s lips. Mine stutters to a stop, mid-sentence through a rundown of the real-estate that the Hakuho Clan’s been purchasing up, and stares at Daigo, eyes bewildered.

“Sixth Chairman?” he asks, his voice still remarkably composed.

“Wasabi.” Daigo says, nonchalantly, as if it’s nothing, and sticks his thumb into his mouth, slowly licking it off with a lingering lave of his tongue. He feels a sharp stab of satisfaction as Mine’s eyes turn darker, and his gaze follows Daigo’s hand down.  

Daigo straightens up, languidly, and cracks his neck, casually. At this point in the day, he’s untucked his shirt, and he knows that a slight strip of his stomach will be visible when he stretches out his arms towards the ceiling. And as predictably as clockwork, Mine’s gaze darts downwards, to that pale expanse, to catch that brief second of skin. Daigo can’t help but feel warm. Something about being watched by Mine is exhilarating.

“Smoke?” offers Daigo, but as usual, Mine refuses, with a polite shake of his head.

Daigo knows from hearsay that Mine’s something a health-freak, so he’s not entirely surprised. It’s already too late for Daigo to preserve his health—he knows that his liver’s already been pretty ruined from long nights of binge-drinking as a youth, and this job’s too stressful to withhold from vices like smoking and drinking, without an optimal end-goal. So he walks over to the window, cracks it open a little, and lights up.

The breath of nicotine curls over his body, a tender caress, and Daigo feels his shoulders drop, as the relaxation hits. He pulls off his cufflinks, tosses them into his pockets and rolls up his sleeves. He takes it slow, runs his fingers over his skin a little more than strictly necessary. Surreptitiously checking the reflection in the window, Daigo watches Mine watch him, and smirks at how intense that gaze is, how Mine’s mouth has opened, and Daigo can just see the soft pink of his tongue.

“Dojima’s just fine, you know. When it’s just us two.” Daigo says, turning over his shoulder. He smiles, one of those charming smiles that had always gotten him whatever he wanted as a child, “We’re same-aged friends, after all.”

“Dojima-san.” Mine acknowledges, after a brief pause.

Daigo turns around, to properly look at Mine and lifts an eyebrow. “Dojima. Or Daigo, preferably. Dojima-san’s always my father in my head.”

Mine nods, face impassive. Daigo can’t read him like this. Maybe that’s why he likes when Mine stares at him, filled with longing. At least then, Daigo feels like he knows him. In moments like these, his implacable gazes might as well be a brick wall. “Right. Your Father was also in the Tojo Clan.”

Daigo smiles, wryly, and blows out a puff of smoke. “One of the most horrible men I’ve ever had the misfortune of meeting—and I had to call him Father. But damn if he wasn’t good at the job.” He sighs and stubs the cigarette out against the ashtray. “...sometimes feel like I’m competing with his dead spirit. Everybody’s looking at me and wondering if this is what my Father would do. Or what Kiryu-san would do.”

“You’re doing better than any of them.” Mine says, immediately, with a vicious ferocity that Daigo wasn’t expecting. He can’t quite stop his eyebrows rising in surprise, and Mine straightens upwards, looking self-conscious immediately. Daigo regrets his instinctual reaction, immediately. “That is to say, Dojima, that I think that you’ve pulled this Clan into somewhere far more respectable. From what I’ve heard of your Father, he didn’t have the temperament to do proper business on this level—too insistent on formal obeisance and unable to be flexible as the times require. And Kiryu-san might be very honourable, but we are yakuza. There are certain things you have to do as a Chairman, that he couldn’t bring himself to do. But you are practical and do what is necessary, while also not overstepping into excessive violence. You are uniquely suited for this job, Dojima.”

...he’s taken aback a little, he can’t deny it. Daigo wonders if his cheeks are colouring, wonders if his obvious shock is offputting, wonders if this is how Mine feels every time Daigo teases him lightly about his obvious attraction. A startling warmth spreads through his chest, and Daigo can’t stop the slight smile that touches his face. Has anybody ever said something so unreservedly kind and measured about Daigo before?

Maybe this is the difference between everybody else’s gazes on him, and Mine’s gaze. It’s based on something more than desire alone. Respect.

Daigo runs a hand over his slicked-back hair and ruffles it free, with a rueful smile, a smile that he couldn’t take away from his face, even if he tried. “I appreciate that. You know I couldn’t do it without you, right?”

He’d never really believed himself capable of attraction to a man like Mine. All of his previous childhood crushes had been on bright, cheerful conversational, pure-hearted people. Daigo had always figured they would balance out his sardonic cynicism. He’d never thought someone as reserved and principled as Mine would ever make his heart flutter. But then, there was something about that deep hunger and passion that Daigo craved. Perhaps it was because he was no longer the gloomy punk of his youth. Maybe his tastes have changed towards tall, dark and handsome. Maybe Mine’s just that special.

“Dojima—” Mine says, clearly trying to refute it, but Daigo cuts him off.

“I mean it. Everybody in this fucking Clan wants me to do something or be somebody else. Kashiwagi-san wants me to be my mother. Majima-san wants me to be Kiryu-san. Everybody else expects my Father. But not you. You deal with me honestly, and with candour, and never hold any expectations against me except success. I appreciate your faith in me.” Daigo takes a couple of steps forward, until his shoes almost brush up against Mine’s own. He leans down over Mine’s chair. “I could not do this without your backing and help. Truly. I don’t think I’ve ever had someone like you in my life. A true friend.”

Mine tilts his chin up to meet Daigo’s gaze, a hungry devotion in his eyes, and Daigo, for a moment, wonders if this is wrong. If he should hold back, like Kiryu would. But Daigo is Daigo, and Mine clearly wants him anyway, so he leans down and kisses him.

Mine’s mouth is velvety smooth and wet and hot and it is oh-so satisfying a feeling to put his hand against Mine’s broad neck and feel his warmth up against Daigo. He pulls back, with a satisfied sigh, and feels the burn of wasabi across his lips, a final parting kick.

[hazeldough]

okay while i’m playing judgment (i’m only at the beginning of ch 4 before meeting with higashi ahdfsdf) and i have SO many thoughts-- mainly what if 6 didn’t happen?

like do not get me wrong-- i love 6 and it’s my second favorite game, right behind 0, but i also wanna see everyone’s daughter haruka kick some ass!!!!

im gonna rattle off of headcanons and just overall thoughts

basically Y6 never happened, or won’t happen until at least 5 years later

Haruka is 20 years old

Haruka arrives in Kamurocho in 2017 and went to Akiyama for help after doing odd jobs

Stuff happens at Sky Finance, and Yagami gets involved. Haruka wants to help because Akiyama is currently indisposed and Hana needs to manage Sky Finance in his absence.

While solving Akiyama’s case, Haruka and Yagami bond a bit because they both have a past they keep on getting reminded of by other people that they don’t want to bring up.

They also walk in on Kaito’s expulsion from the Matsugane family

After they close the case, Haruka asks if she can join Yagami Detective Agency and Yagami lets her on, because she’s been really helpful and insightful when it comes to talking to people and finding clues.

Also she doesn’t fear most yakuza and honestly Yagami and Kaito are really impressed by that

The overarching story would be how Haruka is waiting for Kiryu to be released from prison, but he never turns up so she’s WORRIED

Yes, it’s Tojo Clan drama again

The main theme is everyone acknowledging how important Kiryu is to them and also acknowledging that he’s been the band aid solution to Tojo Clan problems since 2005

Haruka’s main goal is to get her dad to actually live life as a civilian

Haruka’s side story would be her helping out an agency on its last legs and offering her expertise as a former idol for the people there

She says that she isn’t sure if people would be okay with her on and each substory or progression would be people understanding that she’s a good person and so is her dad

It’d be a combo of Majima’s cabaret club where there’s some aspect of micro managing and Y5′s dance battles where Haruka has to do them again to enlist new dance instructors, vocal coaches, or security

Haruka gets 3 mentors and 4 fighting styles in total, something similar to Y0 where the 4th style is unlocked after completing her side story

Honestly, this is where most of my self indulgence goes-- as if this isn’t all already self indulgent lmao

Miss Tatsu - Beast style

Miss Tatsu is introduced when investigating Akiyama’s case and they run into her while she’s out collecting

Miss Tatsu talks about an old acquaintance of hers and Haruka connects the dots along the way.

Haruka’s brute strength is built up and it’s REALLY focused on flow and momentum.

Nair - Parrying

Nair is introduced also while investigating Akiyama’s case and she’s back because she needs Yagami’s assistance

Nair teaches Haruka a more balanced fighting style, but with a focus on parrying and using her enemy’s strength against them

Areshi - Breaker

Areshi is introduced when Haruka’s side story opens up

He’s an instructor now, but he still wants to make a break

Areshi helps Haruka develop the skills she learned as an idol into battle

Komaki is present and offers help, but Haruka would say that she wants to develop her own path-- so he’s just there as a pillar of support.

Haruka’s 4th style combines the above 3. I’d like to think that she’d basically be a human beyblade at some point, maybe as a heat action LMAO

Haruka’s dynamics with everyone!!

Akiyama, Yagami, and Kaito have BIG uncle energy lol

Akiyama watches out for her the best he can, but entrusts her to Yagami since she’s working for him

Haruka and Yagami get along bc of similar feelings towards their past

Haruka gets along with Kaito because he reminds her of her dad and Rikiya

Haruka and Hana bond too!!

Hana acts like she isn’t a little happy when Haruka comments that she and Akiyama act like a married couple

Haruka and Daigo low key acknowledge each other as siblings because of how Kiryu’s acted like a father towards them

They both bond over how they were in a position they were too young for but how they grew from it

They think about while it Was troublesome along the way, they’re just glad that Kiryu put That much trust in them and that’s what motivates them

Saejima really watches out for Haruka because she kind of reminds him of Yasuko

He talks a lot about Yasuko to Haruka

Majima and Haruka are only A LITTLE awkward around each other

They haven’t really seen each other in over a decade-- maybe a LITTLE bit but not much

Majima gives Haruka a legitimate apology for kidnapping her when she was 9. Haruka says that she gets why he had to do it, but she hasn’t really held a grudge over it-- especially after Saejima told her what Majima said to him.

TEAM BATTLE THROUGH TOJO CLAN WITH HARUKA, DAIGO, SAEJIMA, AND MAJIMA!!!!

Final fight is up in the air but wouldn’t it be something if Haruka fought essentially a girlboss character LMAO

Basically the main antagonist is trying to take over the Tojo Clan and honestly she makes some good points-- but she has horrible execution of it

Since this is self indulgent: Haruka may not shoot to kill, but she may shoot as a warning

I want Haruka to be the type of character that Does refuse to kill, but also wouldn’t leave a weapon lying around within reach of the antagonist or she’d do something if the antagonist is threatening multiple lives

At the end, everyone reunites

Kiryu sees how Haruka’s metaphorically and literally fought for him and his freedom and how Daigo’s been doing his best to keep the Tojo Clan in line

One nice happy family :^)

I mainly focused on Haruka here, but I feel like it’d REALLY work if the second protagonist would be Daigo

Yes, he’s the chairman, but he has to be on his own away from the Tojo clan for Reasons lol

And then Y6 happens ( but with some differences )

[lavavulture-blog]

The Tale of a Reluctant Ex-Yakuza

       (Pictured above: A man who just wants to have one nice walk home)

I want to talk about Kazuma Kiryu for a red-hot second here, folks.  Specifically, I want to talk about his attempts to leave the yakuza world while simultaneously making it impossible for him to leave and what that says to me about what he wants out of life.  This is very spoilerific for most of the series (and super fucking long) so here’s a cut:

One of the most interesting aspects of this series to me is the push-and-pull between embracing the “cool” aesthetic of the yakuza lifestyle while also trying to show how damaging that world is.  Kiryu lives at the center of this dichotomy, with all of the games showing him being pulled into yakuza business, against his will in most cases.  However I think that the games have also shown that Kiryu actually wants to be pulled back in and will sometimes even set up the situations that he will later have to come back and solve, although he doesn’t do it purposefully.

Kiryu says that he doesn’t want to be a yakuza and certainly the games go to great pains to make sure we know that he’s a good guy, going so far as to minimize what crime we actually see him commit.  The brutal beating he doles out in Yakuza 0 is really the worst thing we ever see Kiryu do in all the games, despite the fact that he was grinding the crime wheel long enough to almost have his own family in 1.  The games want us to side with Kiryu when he tries to escape from the yakuza underground, despite the fact that many of Kiryu’s closest friends are active yakuza, undoubtedly involved in a myriad of dirty businesses (drug trafficking, arms dealing, prostitution, etc.) but which happen behind the scenes so that we don’t associate those characters with the nasty shit Kiryu encounters with random yakuza in the substories.

                           (The worst thing this crime boy ever does)

But what about Kiryu himself?  If he really wanted to get away from the Tojo Clan, why would he continually feel obligated to come to their rescue every year or so?  If he truly believes that the yakuza underground is inherently harmful, why wouldn’t he let the Tojo Clan eat itself alive, as it’s prone to do whenever he looks away?  The games talk a lot about the Tojo being a stabilizing force in the criminal underground (debatable) and that if it were to collapse then other syndicates would move into Tokyo and make things worse.  The last part is almost certainly true since the Omi Alliance and the Snake Flower Triad watch the Tojo Clan so closely that it’s a wonder other groups don’t steal their turfs.  However why does Kiryu feel like it’s his responsibility to keep it going and why, if he feels this burden is partially his, does he continue to help the family in half-measures, swooping in when it’s about to collapse and slapping a bandage on it before diving back out?  

Let’s turn to the games and look at the ways in which Kiryu has gotten involved, why, and what he did to get back out.

Yakuza 1:

This is the game where it makes the most sense that Kiryu is trying to get away from the yakuza underworld because he has no other choice.  He was expelled from the Tojo Clan for committing the worst crime in that world (killing his boss) and when he gets out of prison, most of the families are out for his blood.  Plus he meets Haruka early on and many of the side stories in the game are about fatherhood (Kage and his son, Date and his daughter) and how the criminal machinations in Kamurocho ruin lives.  

Conversely Kiryu helping the yakuza also makes sense in this game.  His own father-figure needs his help nearly as much as Haruka does and Kiryu struggling to keep her safe while also trying to help Kazama fill the power vacuum at the top of the Tojo Clan is narratively appropriate.  In the end when Kiryu temporarily becomes the Chairman only to bail out so that Terada can take the wheel, it makes sense and feels right. Kiryu needs to be a father now and he’s lost all the other important people in his life due to yakuza bullshit. He wants out.

                (I lied, this is the worst thing he ever does.  Kiryu, holy shit)

Yakuza 2:

So now Kiryu is chilling in Kamurocho with Haruka and everything is fine despite their crippling poverty and emotional trauma.  That clever last-minute drive-by at the end of 1 definitely solved all his yakuza problems and he’ll never have to do anything for them ever again.  Smooth sailing into single-fatherhood ahoy.

And then Terada gets killed. Fuck.  And Lady Dojima, interim Chairman of the Tojo Clan, is getting a lot of shit on all sides from her lieutenants because she can’t be the Chairman forever, my god, she must have a ton of woman stuff she needs to do.  Plus the Omi Alliance is eyeballing them like they’re the last pork chop on the plate and not having a “proper” Chairman makes them vulnerable.  But Lady Dojima has a plan, a super-great plan.

She’s going to get her punk-ass son to be the next Chairman.  You know, that adorable little boy in Yakuza 0 that made Kiryu take him to a karaoke bar except now he’s grown-up and can take himself to karaoke bars.  But a plan of this magnitude takes cunning and subterfuge. So Lady Dojima summons Kiryu and basically tells him to convince her punk-ass son to be the next Chairman or she’s going to make him do it instead.

(The best interim Chairman of the Tojo Clan.  Not pictured: her punk-ass son Daigo)

Of course Kiryu definitely doesn’t want to be the next Chairman, heavens no, so he tracks Daigo down, probably assuming that he’ll be easy to convince because he used to have such enormous respect for him.

The exact conversation between Kiryu and Daigo Dojima:

Kiryu:  Your mom wants you to come home and be the next Chairman.

Dojima:  Shit no, I’m rude again and I don’t want to take off my cool puffy jacket or slick back my hair.  Tell Mom to get bent.  You’ll have to fight me forever to convince me to come with you.

Kiryu:  *Sighs*

To the surprise of no one, Kiryu kicks Daigo’s ass so hard that it turns him back into a halfway respectful boy but Lady Dojima isn’t done with Kiryu yet, no sir.  He needs to go to Osaka and try to chill out the Omi Alliance already.  Kiryu goes because fuck you, that’s why, and takes Daigo with him so that both of them can have manly sexual tension with Ryuji Goda.  Then, as will become a reoccurring theme, things go ass-backward, betrayals and shocking revelations occur, and Kiryu has to punch a million faces until finally everything settles down again.  Kiryu getting involved here also makes some sense narratively; he helped put Terada in charge and he cares about Daigo Dojima, although not enough to convince him that he doesn’t want to travel down the devastating path of yakuza leadership because it’s fine for him apparently.  Look, he really just doesn’t want to do it himself, okay?  

Yakuza 3:

Here’s where things start to get really interesting.  Daigo is in charge of the Tojo Clan and he’s a fresh-faced baby yakuza with little to no support system because Lady Dojima has fucked off to the Yakuza black hole for characters that never appear again.  He could really use a friend to watch his back as he tries to show the families that he knows what he’s doing (he doesn’t).  Hint, hint, Kiryu.  But Kiryu wants to get the fuck out of Kamurocho already because he just noticed that living five seconds away from Crime Avenue is a bad choice for raising a young child.  

Enter Majima. Finally, right?  Let’s back up a bit.  At the end of Yakuza 1 Majima’s boss Shimano got blown up on a boat and everybody rejoiced because he sucked hardcore.  The next time we see Majima in 2, he’s out of the Tojo Clan and running a construction company made up of his yakuza family.  We don’t know the exact circumstances of him leaving but Majima said that he didn’t like Terada’s leadership style (not enough torture dungeons, I guess).  But he seems pretty happy; he’s got a successful business and he drove Kage and all the homeless people in the West Park away so he has Purgatory all to himself. Life is coming up aces for Majima.

So Kiryu needs to fuck all that up.  You see, he’s decided that the perfect person to provide rational, dependable support for Daigo is Majima, the man who earlier made him fight in a death arena for his pleasure and once nearly beat a man to death for not laughing with him. Here’s the catch (other than it being a bad idea), Majima doesn’t want to come back to the Tojo Clan.  He gives Kiryu some pretty good reasons why: he’s happy with his current situation (he’s super into Death Arena Brothel World), he really doesn’t want to be that responsible because he’s already responsible for his rowdy boys, and he doesn’t think he’ll be able to influence Daigo to do anything because Daigo is just like a baby Kiryu and probably won’t listen to him.

Kiryu nods because he’s a very good listener and waves goodbye to Majima in the rearview mirror of his car because he won their shirtless rooftop fight so he knows Majima will do it despite all his many reservations.  Majima watches him go with the saddest face in the world because it’s just like Kiryu to invite him to a sexy fight to the death and then leave before either of them got stabbed for reals.

                           (Look at how sad he is.  Kiryu, you monster)

Things go tits-up, largely because Daigo is surrounded by shitty subordinates and Mine, who is sexy and clever and evil, and Majima isn’t able to do anything about it, despite his clever strategy of not trying very hard.  He seems to spend most of his time rocking out in Purgatory, which was what he wanted to do in the first place, Kiryu, you dick.  Kiryu comes back and fixes things and nearly dies and probably vows to never get involved again.  He leaves with everything basically back to where it was before he left town the first time, except now Majima doesn’t have his stressball death arena anymore because Kage is down there again.  Thanks, Kiryu!  

In this game we see Kiryu actively make steps to fortify the Tojo Clan but refusing to deal with the follow-through, even though nobody asked him to get involved in the first place this time.  He knows Majima and he knows Daigo and if he thought about either of them for three seconds, he would know that both of them need a different sort of buffer than each other to be effective, somebody steady and straight-shooting and Kiryu-shaped or Kiryu-adjacent.  But Kiryu doesn’t want to stay involved, he just wants to swoop in and punch faces and swoop back out to his dad-simulator game at the beachfront orphanage.  

Yakuza 4:

Here we finally get to the logical conclusion to all of this build-up.  Daigo completely loses the thread of this whole yakuza quilt and things start imploding.  Long-buried secrets pop back out of the ground, Majima’s steady, straight-shooting, Kiryu-adjacent ex breaks out of prison and brings some delicious Majima-centric woobie flashbacks with him, people fight over Majima’s beautiful construction baby shopping center, and Kiryu eventually leaves the orphanage to settle everything because of course he does.

              (Everybody got dressed up to strip down on the roof)

He finds out that Daigo was at the end of this particular set of shocking betrayals (my god!) and as they prepare for their final shirtless rooftop fight, Kiryu actually apologizes to Daigo for placing the burden of the Tojo Clan on his shoulders because he realizes that Daigo wasn’t ready for the responsibility.  He beats the ever-loving shit out of him, everybody hugs except for the dead people, and Kiryu tells Haruka to wait for him while he helps put the whole shebang back together again, this time for reals.  Haruka nods and Kiryu goes to attend what honestly looks like it’s going to be a banger party, no kids allowed.  We all breathe a sigh of relief because Kiryu won’t have to be dragged into the next adventure, no sir, he’ll already be in the thick of it. Kiryu has realized that he can’t be half-in, half-out with this stuff anymore, he needs to follow through on the commitments he keeps making to the Tojo Clan.

Yakuza 5:

Kiryu is a taxi driver now. You know what, fuck off, Kiryu.  

No okay, let’s back up. He’s a taxi driver almost two years after the end of 4 so he probably spent a lot of time with the family, helping Daigo get everything back together.

          (This is the face of a man who has solved all the Tojo’s problems.)

What, no?  He actually just almost immediately went back to the orphanage?  Without helping Daigo do much of anything?  But first he made Saejima promise he would definitely go back to prison for two years, thereby sending Majima into a lonely, existential spiral that rendered him even more useless for watching Daigo’s back?  You couldn’t even stick around for those two years, Kiryu? You and Majima could start a book club or something.

But whatever, Kiryu is a cab driver now because he can’t be with Haruka or the orphans but he doesn’t want to go back to the Tojo Clan because then he couldn’t race taxis in the streets of a new city.  Still, Daigo seems to be doing okay.  He’s brokering peace with other yakuza groups and has a small contingent of loyal, not-shitty subordinates and everything might actually go okay this time.

Oh, wait, no, everything goes oopsie-daisy yet again.  Majima gets to be a reason for a lot of the bullshit this time around because he probably feels like it’s his turn and Kiryu gave his freaking death arena back to Kage and he couldn’t hit a baseball in front of his best friend so life isn’t worth living. Or something like that.  Betrayals happen, people die and then aren’t dead (as is Yakuza tradition), and Haruka is endangered yet again so Kiryu really honestly has to get involved this one time, last one, I promise.  Except this time Kiryu actually admits that he loves this crazy shit before throwing himself into the fight like an overexcited wolverine.  This should be a huge revelation except that it isn’t because everybody knew already, Kiryu, you drama llama.  

So What Is His Fucking Deal Already?

Kiryu wants to be a yakuza. I don’t think there is any way around this.  He wants to punch faces and get embroiled in yakuza politics because he genuinely enjoys it. He can’t stay away from the Tojo Clan, not just because he feels an obligation to it but because he loves everything about the life it represents to him, the danger, the excitement, and the comradery.  

But Kiryu also wants to be a good dad.  Haruka means everything to him and since he doesn’t see a way to be both, he tries to be one all the time and the other when he just absolutely has to because he doesn’t want to say no to the Tojo Clan.

And Kiryu also wants to be a good person.  Being a yakuza is equally about crime and murder and betrayal.  All the people he trusts the most in that world have dipped their toes into these waters and Kiryu doesn’t want to do that.  Even when he was fully committed to the life, Kiryu was resistant to giving in to the darkest impulses inherent to the job.  He held Majima back from his worst behavior, even though within the structure of the family he had no right to do so, because Kiryu doesn’t want the nastiness that comes along with the work, he wants the exciting glossy parts of it.  In this way Kiryu is maybe like some of the people who play the games and who want all the bone-breaking action but don’t want to see their favorite characters do bad things even though they are real-deal criminals involved exclusively in real-deal crime.  You see this in people who find the revelation in 4 that Saejima didn’t actually murder a baker’s dozen plus of people a relief, despite the fact that he was perfectly willing to do it and thought for decades that he had, making the revelation more of a narrative gotcha than a moral revamp.

                               (Attempted mass murder is fine)

I don’t know many of the details of what happens in Yakuza 6 but from what I’ve heard, the game brings this paradox to its logical conclusion.  Kiryu can’t have everything and sooner or later he has to choose for real, the Tojo or his family.  Personally I think that it’s obvious which one he’ll pick but hopefully this time he’ll actually stick with it and maybe everybody will stop betraying each other AND stay out of prison for five freaking seconds.

Wait, Yakuza 6 starts off with everybody going to prison?  Goddammit.  Kiryu, just let the Omi Alliance take over already.  They couldn’t possibly fuck things up worse.