I meet with Kenji

The morning starts off somewhat bleakly. Somehow, just over night, the city had transformed into a winter landscape. Working in snow wasn't anything new to you, but wasn't really something you looked forward to. You don't bother with a heavier coat either, as most of your work is going to take you inside. You meet Kenji in the lobby, where you both exchange your morning wishes and then banter for a few minutes before braving the short trip across the street. Contractors weren't expected to be in until about an hour or two after the regulars, so you had the luxury of seeing all the dancers just beginning their routines.

Kenji finds a chair and sits down on it, sucking on the dry end of a cigarette before the music even starts - his eyes aren't on the stage, but is instead scanning the area. You sit beside him and start to watch the stage, waiting for something worth action to happen... It's all boring until you see Mikka poking around. He wore the same suit as you and everyone else did, but he was missing the blazer. He was drinking with Zuprik. They chattered, not noticing you for a good amount of time.

You lick your lips and shift your gaze to Kenji. He's already beamed down at them...

"Warren." He says, not looking at you. "You're sure about last night?"

"I am," you say. "What should we do?"

"Follow me."

Half-reluctantly, you follow Kenji towards Mikka and Zuprik. After the first steps are committed to their location, you can feel there's a shift in the atmosphere that tells you that you're about to do something considerably dangerous. You swallow and adjust your belt, the weight of your firearm shifts with you. Suddenly your boring babysitting job has turned into an intimate and personal matter that in multiple parties involved. These aren't just blurry faces or even random strangers. You knew the names and had a decent idea what their backgrounds were about. Contracts never came in at a personal level - this was the first time that a personal matter had been brought into your line of work.

Kenji is the first to break the ice, but they had both noticed you approaching when you first so there was already friction before the first introduction is even made. "Fun night." Kenji offers.

Mikka shifts his gaze to your eyes briefly, piecing the puzzle together in a single second. Both Zuprik and Mikka all change their stance. Everyone one of you brandish your firearms while they are holstered. The contrast of the black grips on your pistols print against the white undershirts. "It was a good night, wasn't it? I think it couldn't have ended ANY better..."

"I'm sure you could think of something that could have made it a bit better." Kenji is quick to chase Mikka with a rather poisonous retort. You glance at the stage as the music starts again - noise fills the room. It does not, however, distract you from the task that is now on hand. "I find it a little hard you're aren't brain dead, but perhaps we should take this some place else so we can discuss this issue we find ourselves in."

Zuprik shifts. "Kenji, just forget about it."

Kenji tenses. "If I considered you a threat I would have already shot you. But, if I had to be honest, I get the sense that are probably figuring there's a way to get me to keep me from telling someone I shouldn't."

Suddenly, Mikka doesn't look so tense. You yourself are surprised by Kenji's sudden change of heart. What's he getting at with this now? You suppose a Contractor is a contractor, no matter where he/she is from. It always runs down to it being about money... It's a little pathetic, but you didn't get here because you're all that decent either... Mikka clears his throat and stuffs his hands in his pockets, covering the handle of your gun. "Oh, is this what this about? God I love you contractors."

He looks around nods. "Sure, we can talk about this. Let's go down to the music room shall we?"

Zuprik doesn't seem to believe Kenji's change of heart either, so he still keeps free access to his pistol. The four of you go to the backstage area and go there the same set stairs that Sachio took you on a few days earlier, where she opened up her feelings to you. You didn't like where this was going still. You figured this was going to lead to something dumb happened. Nonetheless, you weren't going to keep this discussion from going somewhere else in the meantime...

The speakers play the music. The dancers thump the floor. The silence of the hallway is more eerie than it was before. No one dares to say anything, even Mikka, despite this being his idea. Eventually, you get to the end of the hall where the double doors had been securing the music room. It's empty of anything new. The violins, the piano, and all the cellos with the other instruments are in here. Mikka leans against the wall and rolls his hand. "I paid Warren 1,200 for his help...He's still 1,000 short, but I'm more than willing to pay the same Kenji."

Kenji shift legs. "What else?"

"You're one the smartest contractors we've hired. I saw a little peek at your background and noticed you fabulous track record. Ex-Yazuka member, veteran gun runner, and wet works for the Japanese government that have all the details blacked out with new ink." Mikka frowns. "Why you're in Deadwood...It's clear you're here for the dancers..."

Kenji stares, waiting for the point. "I...want Sachio...so badly...She's so sexy! Yet so cute too. When I first laid my eyes on her I wanted her. I wanted to feel and touch her...Kenji...I know you want the same thing too, but you don't want to tarnish your record or to dirty her name...But how can you get what you want and still keep your criminal record as professional and have no one figure out you have a lover in the background? You'll get the first dibs on Sachio and I promise you...PROMISE YOU....there won't be a single word of this deal that escapes this room."

"I do...have feelings for Sachio." Kenji admits. "And I have ties with her background..."

Mikka snaps his fingers. "She wants you man. She wants you to fuck her. She's willing to sacrifice her track record too. You think she's going to tell anyone about this? I get what I want, o-on occasion! I gotta make sure I get my cut of the girl too here, I trust you understand, but she's gonna be happy she gets to have a sexual relationship with you. She's gonna be so willing to be with you, dude."

He spreads his arms, looking at you both. "Forgive and forget. The 4 of us will get what we want! What do you say, guys?"

Kenji looks down and sighs. "I know what I'm gonna do..." He looks at you and puts his hands on his hips. "Warren, how about you?"

You internally curse. These guys are going to fucking **** me if I don't accept!