Starting Out.

It was five years ago since Madam Takuya had made the decision that she had had enough of being the dutiful wife to a Yakuza crimelord. She had married young though her husband had been quite a bit older and it was on her tenth wedding anniversary that she decided that she wanted something more than the life of luxury her husband had provided for her. Yes she had a fabulous house, the best clothes from the Western fashion houses and it would be fair to say her husband had provided her with everything she had ever asked for or wanted. But it still wasn't enough.

It had taken her time to discover the extent of her husband's criminal activities and when she had it only seemed right and fitting to her that she should inherit her husband's enterprises if anything should happen to him. But Yakuza rules did not work like that. Women had no place in their society so it seemed only obvious that she would have to start her own, from nothing. If the existing crime lords had discovered the existance of a new unauthorised crime ring, no matter who her husband was, she would be very dead. So she knew that she would have to recruit from a section of society where the Yakuza had no influence. People like her, women. Ruthless, ambitious and amoral women. But first she had to prove that she she herself fitted the profile she was expecting others to follow.

And so, on her thirtieth birthday Kujiira Takuya had promised herself a very special birthday treat, a test of her determination, All of her husband's lieutenants had been expected to buy her a small gift out of respect to her husband. She had confided in one of them that she knew of her husband's activities and wanted a gun to protect herself. It had duely arrived mid morning in a gift wrapped box when she was alone in the house.  She opened the box and looked inside. And there it was, cushioned within the box amongst layers of colourful crepe paper.

She picked it up, gingerly at first, and balanced it in the palms of her hands almost mesmerized about what she could now do. She then gripped the hand in one hand with her other hand gripped around her outstretched wrist, just like she had seen in so many western movies. She  liked the way it fitted so neatly into the clenched palm of her hand. She looked at herself in the mirror and liked what she saw - a woman embarking on a new and dangerous life She smiled at her reflection and pointed the gun at it... 'Goodbye old life' she said to herself and squeezed the trigger. 'Click', nothing happened. 'Damn'. She opened the box once more and found what she was looking for under more of the crepe padding. A box of clips  for the gun. She looked into the clip and saw the enclosed bullets which glittered under the bedroom lights. No one had ever taught her how to load and prepare the gun but it was almost as if it were second nature to her. Once again she stood before the mirror, this time holding the gun in just one of her petite hands and squeezed the trigger. 'Bang' the mirror shattered into satisfyingly small shards of glass and Kujiira almost cried with excitement. The phone rang and she picked it up with her free hand.

'Madame Takuya, you received my gift?' said the voice.

'Hiroshi! It's wonderful. It's the best birthday present I've ever had. But I'm not sure how it works. Maybe you could..."

'Madame Takuya. It would be my honour and my pleasure. I am sure there is much I could teach you'.

And that was about it. Kujiira was to meet her husband at 8PM for a celebratory dinner but she still had most of the afternoon and evening free to meet Hiroshi. They had never been lovers but Hiroshi had frequently made his fondness for her plain. Of course, if her husband had known of his attentions the consequences would have been swift and terrible.

It was late afternoon before Kujiira had driven to her country residence, far from the hussle and bustle of Tokyo. Hiroshi was already there and she found him lounged casually on a chair in the main room, a glass of her husband's finest scotch whiskey already half consumed. He smiled his most appealing smile. 'Good to see you, Kujiira. We have much to talk about and you have much to learn'.

Kujiira returned the smile. 'But maybe not as much as you think' she said sweetly. Her hand reached into her shoulder bag and the large black automatic he had given her appeared in her hand. She fumbled momentarily with the safety catch.

'Not like that. Let me show you' he said.

'I'm sure I can work it out' she said and the black automatic now seemed held much more confidently in her small hand. The muzzle of the gun focused in his direction.

'You must never point a loaded gun at anybody unless you have the intention of shooting' he admonished gently.

She raised the muzzle of the gun slightly and it was now pointing very definitely at his heart. 'What makes you think I don't intend shooting?' she said sweetly and then the tone of her voice changed, harder and colder. 'Hiroshi, you have served your purpose. Your puppy dog looks are childish and embarrassing and now I don't need you any more'. She raised the gun to her head and posed briefly with the barrel close to her cheek. She was almost inviting him to try and disarm her but the attempt never materialised. Whether it was due to cowardice or just surprise of the situation she was unsure but once again, with all the speed of a somebody who had been handling firearms for all of their lives, the gun was lowered once more, the muzzle pointing directly at his chest. 'Goodbye Hiroshi' she said sweetly once more. The gun jumped in her hand as she squeezed the trigger. The report of the shot echoed around the house but her aim had not been true.

Hiroshi felt the bullet hit him in the chest but the wound was not immediately fatal. He suppressed a cry and turned to run anywhere away from this maniac of a woman. He could feel his strength sap but still he stumbled up the large marble staircase which ran from the living room to the upstairs bedrooms. BANG. A bullet whizzed past his head and his flight took on an even greater urgency.

He stumbled around the upper landing looking desperately for signs of a room which had not been locked. Kujiira seemed in no hurry to pursue him up the stairs, it was almost as if she was enjoying the chase.

He heard Kujiira's voice at the bottom of the stairs. 'It is no good Hiroshi. I will find you'. And then he heard the sound of her footsteps as she began to climb the staircase. "You really can't run from me. You're leaving a trail of blood. All I need to do is follow it. It would be easier if you just faced me'. And still the click, click of her heels resounded around the house as she navigated the steps towards the upper landing.

He looked down. There was indeed a huge swath of blood documenting his flight and his suit and shirt was sodden with his own blood. He looked up and there she stood, the gun still held firmly in her delicate hand. He sat crumpled against a locked door his life trickling away with each second. And still the end didn't come. She approached him slowly but resolutely until he could almost touch her. She bent down, her lips nearing his ear.

'This time it really is goodbye Hiroshi'. The gun had never left her grip and she maneuvered it into position even as she spoke. Once again the gun jumped as the bullet shattered what had once been Hiroshi's head.

Kujiira raised herself and stood over the body. She stared open mouthed in a mixture of awe and wonderment at the carnage she had just inflicted. 'Did I really do that?' she thought. Her face broke into a huge smile 'What a buzz she  whispered softly to herself.

She turned and descended the stairs, the gun held by her side. She knew she was at no risk, the murder would be covered up by her husband and he would attribute it to some Yakuza feud. She was almost light headed as she headed towards the front door when she almost had the shock of her life. As she was about to exit through the front door Megumi, a maid came running into the house.

'Madam, what's happening? All the noise. Is everything all right' Megumi said urgently.

Kujiira stood open mouthed thinking what to say. 'Up there' she mumbled and pointed towards the trail of blood which ran up the stairs. 'Help him!'.

The maid looked at Kujiira momentarily and then walked rapidly towards the stairs.

Kujiira had always liked Megumi. She was older than herself but still retained her youthful looks. She had two children who depended on the meagre income her husband paid her for keeping the house tidy. Kujiira's hand dipped into her shoulder bag once more. At this range she couldn't really miss particularly as the maid had no suspicions of what was happening. Her back was turned to her which made her a very easy target.. BANG. The bullet caught her in the back and threw her forward. She was dead before the second shot also slammed into her. Kujiira scanned the corpse for any sign of life. 'Don't worry Megumi. I'll make sure your children are taken care of' she said. Kujiira had always been very thoughtful in her treatment of her domestic staff.

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20:00.Three hours later Kujiira entered the restaurant where her husband was already waiting.  She had changed and was now dressed in an elegant ball gown, her hair tied tightly into a bun at the back of her neck. 'Kujiira, you look fabulous' he said. 'Did you have a good birhday'.

'Marvelous. I feel like a new woman'.

THE END.

Special Thanks to Ena for many of the accompanying images.