Hello again. We're on the third chapter of Hana's story and I hope you're all still enjoying it. Thank you for the kind reviews. They mean a lot.
*****
They let her undress privately. Hana shimmied the dress down to her waist and sat in the modified chair. As she leaned forward, the leather of the chest rest chilled her skin. She took a deep breath to settle herself. The young woman knew what was coming and even if it frightened her there was no going back.
"I'm ready." Hana called out behind her.
The door opened and another priest came in with a wooden box followed by Kuro, Tomiko, and surprisingly Shouichi. The sound of the wood box being set down on a table beside her tore through the room with a deafening 'clack'. A cold wet cloth smoothed over the skin of her upper right shoulder, cleaning the area. Tomiko took one trembling hand and Kuro took the other.
She tried to brace herself but the first needle pierce made her cry out. It was tattooing the old way. She was part of a traditional family now.
Hana's cry turned into a scream but two hands cupped her face and Shouichi's eyes locked with hers. "It doesn't hurt. Each prick is your home. They are your destiny."
Her scream faded into whimpers as she looked into his eyes. His thumbs wiped the tears away from her cheeks as he held her face, eyes never breaking their lock.
"It doesn't hurt." Hana focused on him and those caramel eyes. "Each prick is my home. They are my destiny. This is my destiny."
Her tears slowly stopped and though she had to grit her teeth, as long as she was within his eyes, the pain seemed to fade. The priest continued to tattoo each prod and poke brought it closer to completion. At last he stopped and leaned back.
Hana collapsed forward in relief. Tomiko looked at the completed work and then back at her before smiling. "It's a black frog."
"A black frog? Why?"
Kuro leaned in and smiled. "Black is your family color and the frog has multiple meanings. It is your return to us and it symbolizes luck. You are very lucky."
Hana smiled and nodded. "I am very lucky to be here."
Tomiko chuckled and Shouichi shook his head and spoke. "No, you are a lucky charm."
He ran his fingers through her hair which was drying curlier and tighter with each passing moment but pulled back at a look from Kuro. The older man cleared his throat as the priest applied a large bandage over the new tattoo.
"We'll leave you to get dressed now."
He rose and Tomiko gave her hand a final supportive squeeze before standing as well and she was once again alone. Sliding the dress back up was much more painful as she was careful not to upset the bandage. Once it was done, she exited the room and bowed to the priest.
"Arigato Gozaimasu." She thanked him, still bowed.
He nodded to them all and left quietly. Kuro gripped her free shoulder and guided her closer to him. "Hana, it's time to return home."
Shouichi watched him with careful eyes and set himself on the other side of his sister to alleviate his suspicion. Kuro had always had some sort of extra sensory perception to him and now that Hana was his daughter, he would be hyper vigilant. He didn't need to be barred from seeing her.
It wasn't that he was a player or a bad man but there wasn't a good run of boss's sons with the daughters of their subordinates. Too many took advantage and left ruined women in their wake. He wasn't that man but he could understand his thinking so.
Tomiko held Hana's hand as they walked out. It was just so nice to finally have her friend where she could see her and not worry if that day she would be found dead. The fact that she was alive and with her was a true stroke of luck. She really was the frog.
Outside, Kuro instructed Hana to say her goodbyes. Tomiko hugged her and promised a lunch as soon as she felt up to it. Shouichi nodded to her from just behind his sister and they left with in a Bently with their driver. The boss had left long before.
Kuro guided her to his car and helped her into the passenger seat, easing the buckle over her. "How do you feel?"
"It's not that bad." Just thinking about those eyes eased the pain.
He nodded and closed the door before getting in, buckling, and starting the drive back. He opened his mouth to warn her, shut it, and then opened it again before letting out a sigh.
"What is it Otousan?" Hana looked over at him and smiled softly.
"Hana...Do you know why I became your father?"
"No, but I'm so grateful."
Kuro smirked. "You walked miles in the pouring rain with a gaping wound because you wanted to survive. You lived through Martin Cole, a man I know to be a monster even to his own men. When I look into your eyes, I see a soul that is like my soul. You were of my line even before I met you. You were my child even before you were born."
Hana watched him and thought of Linda and her parents, the ones that died so violently in that crash. For the first time since then, she didn't feel alone in the world. Even with Martin she felt alone. Tomiko was a glimmer of hope but it had been so fleeting. The Kuro family felt solid, like she'd finally made it home again.
"I hope I bring luck to our family." She said softly.
"You already have."
*****
Hana started her day as she had for the past two months since she'd been a member of the Kuro family. She woke up, made her bed, showered, brushed her teeth, and slipped on a black swing dress and flats. Her mother insisted on dresses, even on her way to training as she was today. Her hair had been protein treated so it could be easily straightened for ceremonies and now fell in loose curls around her shoulders. They were constantly pushing her father for an introduction ceremony for her but he seemed hesitant to thrust her into the rest of Yakuza society.
As she was applying her eyeliner she paused at running footsteps. She pulled the pencil away from her eye in preparation as the door burst open and she was bombarded by Suki. "Do mine! Do mine!"
"Only gloss and mascara or Dad will kill us." Hana chuckled and kneeled to apply it to her little sister.
As soon as she was done, Suki ran off to show their mother. "Kaa-chan! Do I look pretty?"
Hana finished her makeup and walked downstairs to have breakfast with her father and brother who were already at the table. She bowed her head to her father before sitting and eating what her mother prepared: fried eggs, toast, green beans, and coffee.
"Are you ready for more training?"
"Hai Otousan."
"Good. Finish up so we can go."
She nodded, finished, said goodbye to everyone and grabbed her bag before riding in the car with her father, off to the gun range. For this training she wouldn't need to change so she just unlocked the gun case in her bag and removed her .22.
Hana stood in front of the target and dropped her head, relaxing her shoulders and breathing in and out. She focused on relaxing each muscle, one by one. As she did so, Kuro stood beside her and began the training.
"Who are you?"
"Kuro Hana."
"What does that mean?"
"Black Flower."
"What is your clan?"
"Kuro."