Nik placed the bag of ice against his aching head, leaning against the plush seat in the back of the expensive limo. Musashi and Ryuji were jubilant thanks to Nik winning his sector, and securing the bet.
"I have to give you credit, Gaijin, you did the impossible. I only heard rumors and speculation about what happened with the Highlander," Ryuji commented, clinking his can against Musashi's.
"Tell us how you beat him?" Musashi asked before chugging his drink.
"Beat who? The weirdo who called me a brother, talked nonsense and then walked off? That was this Highlander person?"
"If he made a big deal about your Muramune, then yeah, in the flesh," Musashi replied.
"There is my report. He takes the ink more serious than he should."
Nik's head ached. His entire body ached. All the punches he tanked did a number on him, and he knew he'd be feeling every bodily function for a week.
"I still have to give you credit. You could have bullshited us and hoped we wouldn't ask Daisuke or someone else in your sector. We have ourselves an honest man, brother," Ryuji observed.
"Yay for me. So mind telling me what I won that is so valuable to you that you're celebrating over my pain?" Nik asked, shifting to lay on the plush seats.
"The three of us are celebrating getting an exclusive, foreigner-popping contract with Jessica," Musashi grinned.
Nik blinked a few times, the name ringing a bell. Turning his head, he saw Musashi nod at him as if he knew the next thought inside his head.
"I think the gaijin is going to like his next gig, brother. He might even crack a smile and not be a mopey wreck for a hot minute."
"Jessica, seriously? Isn't that going to ruin her image to get fucked by a foreigner on screen?" Nik asked.
"She is getting up there in age. If she didn't want it, I told you before, she has the clout to say no. Hell, nothing stopping her from retiring tomorrow if she wants. Only so many teacher gangbangs and behind the husband's back scenes before it gets stale. Scaling that Ivory Tower of yours is fresh, even if the film setting is the same," Musashi explained.
"Whatever, fine with me."
"Not even a minute," Ryuji stated, shaking his head. "Good thing you deliver when the time comes. We got her for a full movie, not a one-scene handoff. That means you two are going to get close, so don't break her like the Ueno women. Treat her like your new backseat friend."
"How many people saw the tape?" Nik asked.
"Just us two. Don't worry, people have done far worse on a security camera than fuck in the backseat of a car," Ryuji replied. "Much worse. Remember that muscle we hired who we found out had a thing for twinks?"
Ryuji took another can from the cheap cooler on the backseat, tossing it to Musashi.
"That was a wild security tape," Musashi said, grabbing the can out of midair.
"When is the next rumble?" Nik interjected.
"Don't know yet. Far enough away that your body can heal. Ryuji, next shoot, give Nik a script that makes use of his bruises."
"Already ahead of you on that."
"Do it with a cop," Nik commented.
"A cop?" Ryuji asked.
"Yeah, something physical. You want the bruises put to good use, have me set as some kind of criminal character opposite a female cop."
"Sounds like a plan to me," Musashi said.
Ryuji shrugged.
"I won't argue with the logic. Cop it is. Speaking of cops, they've been poking their nose in our territory more. I got word from some of the clubs that more officers have been showing up, supposedly off the clock."
"As long as they pay their tab, don't bother them," Musashi stated. "I'm sure one or three of the ladies can charm a couple of them well enough to let some info slip."
Ryuji nodded.
"That actually work?" Nik asked
"What? Getting info from a cop? You're too used to getting all the pussy you can handle thanks to that giant cock of yours, Gaijin. Some of these guys work shit hours, for shit pay, and won't get looked at twice by a six out of ten. Have a ten chat them up, and inflate their ego for a couple hours, they'll pay their tab with info if it means more ego boosting."
"Sounds like a source you can trust. What happens if he blabs to another family?"
"What would he blab about? We don't tell them anything we don't want them to hear. Besides, we run the vice in Nagoya, the best vice. We slip the right amount into her purse, and one of those hostesses will happily go suck him off and make it seem like he charmed her. Putty in her hands for intel."
"You're getting a top tier education, Nik. I hope it is all sinking in," Musashi added before chugging down the ice cold liquid from the fresh can.
"I'm soaking it all in like a sponge. When am I getting the test, sensei?"
"I think he is lightening up through all that sarcasm," Ryuji smirked.
Musashi knocked on the window behind him. The driver put it down, allowing Musashi to talk to him.
"When we hit the city, take us to the Chinese restaurant. You know, the one with the great spring rolls. Winning worked me up an appetite."
"Yes, sir," the driver simply replied, putting the window back up.
"I know you're going to eat the table," he added on. "Don't worry, it is on me tonight, so make it a feast. They do a good Peking duck as well."
"I hope they have fresh ice," Nik groaned, shifting his body again to find a comfortable position to rest.
"What kind of restaurant doesn't have ice?" Musashi replied. "With the dough we'll be spending tonight, they'll special order it if need be."
"Going to need all the energy you can get, Gaijin, with your shooting schedule coming up, if you truly want to make use of those bruises. Most likely you'll shoot tomorrow, if I can find the right actress for the gig."
"The way you're inflating my ego with all the talk about numbers and sales, there must be a long list of women waiting for a shot with me in the next film," Nik commented.
"That is half true. There is a line-up, but you're still a gaijin. Mask or not, the advertising lets the cat out of the bag, so some bigger names want to keep their pure rep intact, like you stated earlier," Musashi explained.
"It is the twenties, Musashi, I've no doubt there are a few young and open-minded women who'd not think twice about getting fucked by a foreigner on screen. Fresh enough to not worry about ruining a non-existent rep."
"I know who to pair you with, Gaijin," Ryuji interjected. "Just be ready for tomorrow. You're going to need to do some running."
Nik waved his hand, turning over on the plush chairs in the back of the limo. Eyes closed, he tried not to move to kill off some of the aching before needing to sit up for the victory feast.
X
Nik ran down the alleyway, losing his balance from the sudden drop in the pavement as it sloped downhill. His body crashed against the hard cement, rolling around haphazardly. He tried to pick himself up quickly to continue running, but he heard a voice shout out to him.
"Stop! Police!" a feminine voice called out. "Move and I'll shoot."
Nik turned around, looking bruised and beaten. Blood ran down his mouth outside the mask, and his knuckles looked cut up.
"Alright, alright, I'll give up," he replied, putting his hands up in the air.
The flat officer jogged over to him in her patrol outfit, gun pointed directly at him.
"Don't move, I mean it. I've been practicing. I'm a crack shot. This bullet will Spring clean your skull" she boldly stated.
"I get it. You don't need to tell me twice."
As the officer got closer, Nik remained calm, his breathing only heavy due to a long chase away from the cops. Somehow this lone officer found him. She took out her set of cuffs, latching one onto his wrist immediately. However, Nik's ears strained to hear the subtle sound of freedom. The officer had to put her gun away to cuff both hands. A rookie mistake to not get him onto his knees or stomach before cuffing him. Once both ears heard the sound of metal rubbing against leather, he quickly bolted around to tackle the woman.
The pair hit the cement hard, knocking the wind out of the officer. Dazed, and very confused, she let out a startled scream as he just as quickly mounted her. His hands reached for the gun, taking control of it.
"Too cocky for your own good, Officer," Nik gloated.