Hallow White Letter

Short story.

Min and I stared at each as the hanging light of the warehouse began to flicker. Ken was sitting at the chair across from us, his gun recklessly hanging between his crotch, his tattoos on his arms shown from his sleeves. Ken rolled his eyes, then asked both of us, “Is nobody going to say it?” 

I looked at him, then at his gun, then him again. “Hey!” He exclaimed as he snapped his fingers in front of my eyesight. “Stop looking at my damn crotch, my eyes are up here.” 

Min scoffed and turned away with his arms crossed. “This is stupid…” He muttered, pissed. I looked at Min and denied, “This isn’t stupid.” Min turned away. “Yes it is!” His voice echoed throughout the warehouse.  

“Dad fucking abandoned us and now suddenly we have to fend for ourselves!” “He didn’t abandon us, Min!” “Then what did he do?” “I-I don’t know!” 

Ken watched both Min and I argue. He yawned from boredom and itched his puffy hair with his gun

“Could you guys shut up?” Ken ordered us. 

We both turned to him as he stood up. “I really do hate babysitting, so I’ll say this once and only once.” Min and I both looked at him. 

Ken pointed his gun to Min, then insulted, “You’re an overachieving bastard who was an accident.” Ken pointed his gun at me. “And you… Well, to be honest, Jackson… You’re just annoying to listen to.” I pouted a bit and just sarcastically responded, “Thanks..” 

Min scoffed and stomped towards Ken while arguing, “Don’t think because you take after dad it means anything. You clearly have some bias towards him.” 

Ken pointed the gun to his head and cursed, “Shut up, bastard.” 

I looked at them, then glanced away. We each got a letter relating to our father’s death. He was the leader of the yakuza and had a lot of money. Even though we didn’t want to say it, it was the reason we all were here-- if not also for answers.

“Guys, please.” I pleaded to them both. They looked at me as I walked over. “We all know why we’re here.” I pulled out the white envelope that was delivered to each of us, and held it up. 

“We each got a letter to meet here after our father’s inheritance.” Min glared at Ken while muttering, “Ken probably sent it here..” Ken smacked him on the back of the head with his gun. “Ow!” “No, I didn’t. I got that same letter too.” 

I looked at the two of them. “Wait so… If you guys didn’t leave it then… who did?” 

The warehouse door then began to open and we all turned around. 

A tall figure stood there, so confidently. 

“Boys!” The man called out to us. He took a step forward, then grinned. He held up the exact white letter we each had, then ordered us with a smile, “Come with me, I’ve got your answers.” 

We all looked at each other, then followed the man. 

…

The man that walked us out the warehouse and into his van. It seemed weird to follow a random guy into his van but with the lifestyle you grew up with, you can tell whenever danger is in your face or not. 

Besides, Ken had a gun so who was really worried. 

Min was sitting in the passenger seat, arms crossed and looking out the window.

Ken was sitting next to me, man-spreading and gun between his crotch, no seat belt. 

The guy who picked us up was driving with a grin and one hand on the wheel. 

I looked around at everyone, then blurted out the obvious, “Is nobody going to say it?!” 

Ken groaned, then pointed his gun on my head and pushed me away. 

“Could you shut up. This is what I meant when I said you were annoying to listen to.” 

The guy looked back and cheerfully assured me, “I could turn on the radio, although I only have one station.” I leaned forward and asked him, “I want to know where you’re dragging us to.” The guy exhaled with a smile. “All these questions. You know, Min and Ken haven’t uttered a word and there you go asking questions. That’s how you get killed in the yakuza.” 

What? He knows our names. 

I looked back at Ken, he didn’t even flinch. Damn, as kids we weren’t even allowed to call him without him chasing us.

The guy began to speak again, “Dad wanted all of you to know three things in that letter.” Min held up the letter without looking at him and sarcastically stated, “Yeah, like it being blank.” The guy chuckled, “Haha, no. Well… Yeah but, other things.” The guy continued, “One, he wanted you all to know he loved you guys.” 

“Hm.” Ken just reacted. 

“Two, he did make it clear he had favorites.” 

“Hm.” Min just reacted. 

"Wait!" I interrupted. "Yes?" The guy smiled happily as he asked. I laid back and glared at him through the review mirror, he stared at me back. "How do you know this and... Why?" He continued to stare at me, then gave out a light chuckle. "You really don't remember, huh, Jackson?" I was hesitant, but shook my head.

The guy parked the car. "Your father was the head of the yakuza, yes. That is clear, however there was always something he left out, it's why he was never home. He left that for me to explain."

He looked back at me, then told me, "He wanted you to see his prize possession, and that starts here.” 

I rolled down the window, then stuck my head out the window as my eyes widened. 

The yakuza base was in front of us with two traditional Japanese doors ahead of us, and what seemed like a mansion that was brightly lit was ahead of us. 

The guy looked back at us, then smiled and asked us, “Shall we go in?” 

End.