Note: This recap will contain information from both Yakuza 2 and its remake Yakuza Kiwami 2, as well as unmarked spoilers.
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Chapter 1: Letter of Blood
The Early 1980s
Officer Jiro Kawara sneaks through a disco to get to a nearby building, drawing his gun and stepping inside. There, he hears a fire alarm going off and witnesses a man, a Korean, being gunned down by Shintaro Kazama. Kawara rushes to the dying man, who begs him to find his child before he dies. Kawara hurries up the stairs to find the building ablaze, and after searching several rooms he finds a woman with an infant boy. Kawara tries to get the woman to give the boy to him, but she refuses and prepares to jump from the window to spare him from dying in the fire or at the hands of Kawara. Kawara intervenes and insists he's there to help, eventually getting the woman to give up her son.
December 14th, 2006
Tensions are rising in Kamurocho; foreign gangsters have begun moving in and harassing the locals, shown when Yuya (the bouncer at Club Stardust) beats down a gang of Chinese that had come to extort money from the club. Osamu Kashiwagi (now Patriarch of the Kazama Family, based out of the Millennium Tower) is informed of the incident but takes no immediate action, as he fears the wrong move could spark another gang war. Worse, there is news that the Omi Alliance (based in Kansai) is looking to push into Kamurocho now that one of their number, Yukio Terada, is Fifth Chairman of the Tojo Clan. After his subordinate leaves, Kashiwagi asks himself what Kazuma Kiryu would do in this situation. Several levels below him, a man speaks with a compatriot about a coming attack on Kamurocho, whispering that the time for their vengeance is nigh.
Meanwhile, Kiryu awakens from a nightmare about the events of Yakuza 1, and is greeted by Haruka Sawamura carrying a bouquet of flowers. The two are going to visit the graves of Haruka's mother, Yumi, and Kiryu's father figure, Kazama, where Kiryu promises that now that he's free of the yakuza, he'll bring Haruka up right. Just then, Terada arrives to speak with Kiryu: to avert a war that the Tojo Clan will lose (as they're still reeling from the civil war the previous year), he plans to swear an oath with Chairman Jin Goda of the Omi Alliance. Kiryu is dismissive of the idea as Goda holds all the leverage, and he refuses to get any more involved now that he's retired. Terada begs Kiryu for assistance, but before Kiryu can give an answer Terada is shot by assassins sent by the Omi. Kiryu fights off the assassins, but one shoots Terada as the Chairman steps in to shield Kiryu from an attack and escapes. Kiryu and Haruka call an ambulance for Terada, but the Chairman dies before he can get to the hospital; before he expires, Terada gives Kiryu a letter with instructions to bring it to Goda, lamenting that the two of them are cut from different cloth and perhaps his death is for the best.
While Haruka goes back to Sunflower Orphanage for her own safety, Kiryu takes the letter to Tojo Clan headquarters. Acting Chairwoman Yayoi Dojima, Sohei Dojima's widow, asks if Kiryu's insistence on carrying out Terada's final request and going to Kansai is his way of trying to atone for Akira Nishikiyama's murder of her husband. Kiryu admits that, as Nishiki's blood brother, any debts he accrued over the course of his life now fall on Kiryu. Yayoi agrees to allow Kiryu to go, warning him that failure will probably mean his death at the hands of the Omi and all out war between the Alliance and the Tojo Clan. Kiryu has one last request before he leaves: he wants to speak with Yayoi and Sohei's son, Daigo Dojima, to try and convince him to step up and take control of the Tojo Clan. Yayoi is dismissive of this: Daigo has changed since Kiryu last met him, and after a failed push into Kansai and prison time has given himself to drink and debauchery in Kamurocho. Still, she won't stop Kiryu, and Kiryu heads to Kamurocho to find Daigo.
In Kamurocho, Kiryu searches for Daigo among the various clubs and bars around town, beating up a number of his lackeys that cause trouble for the locals. Eventually, a grateful hostess takes Kiryu to Club Shine, where Daigo and his men are partying. A number of Daigo's followers try to drive Kiryu off, but Daigo dismisses them after Kiryu beats them senseless in a nearby alley. Kiryu asks Daigo to rejoin the Tojo Clan, but Daigo sees the Clan as a lost cause that he has had no stake in since his father was killed and he was sent to prison. Kiryu agrees that the Clan is in a sorry state, but he still has faith and believes it needs the kind of drive and inspiration it had under Sohei Dojima. Daigo finds that hypocritical considering Kiryu wrecked the Clan last year, which Kiryu admits is his fault but now he's willing to take responsibility... which he shows by punching Daigo out in an attempt to get him to come to his senses. After their fight, Kiryu gives Daigo Terada's letter before saying he plans to head to Kansai alone the next day. Daigo refuses to let Kiryu go alone, as he has a score to settle in Kansai and won't rejoin the Tojo Clan until he gets back at them for their "betrayal".
Chapter 2: The Dragon of Kansai
On the train to Kansai, Kiryu asks who it was that Daigo fought five years ago. Daigo says it was the second patriarch of the Omi's Go-Ryu Family and son of Chairman Jin Goda, Ryuji Goda. Ryuji and his Family had been making trips up to Kamurocho to provoke a fight with the Tojo; Daigo fell for the bait and flew to Kansai to fight Ryuji, only to get picked up by the cops as soon as he arrived. Daigo hopes for a proper rematch to settle the score, but until then he doesn't think he can carry the Tojo Clan.
Kiryu and Daigo arrive in Sotenbori, Osaka. Daigo heads to a hotel, unwilling to spend too much time in Kansai, while Kiryu goes exploring and comes across the Cabaret Grand. When he hears that some yakuza looking fellows booked the VIP section and kicked out the other patrons, he gets his own pass from an information broker named Kurokawa and heads in. While there, Kiryu finds out that the man who drove the others out of the VIP section is none other than Ryuji Goda himself. Ryuji is enjoying himself until one of his underlings calls him "Dragon of Kansai" a nickname Ryuji takes umbrage with before bashing a wine bottle over the underling's head. Kiryu calls him out and makes to leave, but Ryuji's men approach him for disrespecting their boss. Kiryu fights them off, and Ryuji is impressed by Kiryu's strength and skill and offers him a drink. Kiryu rebuffs him at first, but Ryuji insists and the two sit down to chat.
Ryuji introduces himself, and after some prodding Kiryu does as well. When pressed if he's the Kiryu, the Dragon of Dojima, Kiryu denies that's who he is. Ryuji says it's just as well, as if he was Kazuma Kiryu he'd be off getting ready for war. Kiryu asks why, and Ryuji explains what he's after and why he flew off the handle at being called "Dragon of Kansai": as far as he sees it, Kansai's too small for a dragon, and ultimately There Can Be Only One dragon in all of Japan (something that Kiryu reluctantly agrees with). Since he's on a roll, Ryuji also tells Kiryu that at midnight there's going to be a "fireworks display" in Kamurocho, and the next day he intends to kill the Dragon of Dojima. Ryuji takes his leave, but not before stating he pegged Kiryu as a man of violence the minute he walked in the door. Kiryu leaves the Grand, only to see a news report about a bombing in the Millennium Tower: the "fireworks" Ryuji spoke of were the opening moves of the war between the Omi Alliance and the Tojo Clan.
Back in Tokyo, Chief of Police Division 4 Junichi Sudo calls his superiors to inform them of the bombing. There's no ties to Kansai that can be proven, but he does suspect foreign involvement. He informs his superiors that he will go to Makoto Date for assistance. Meanwhile, Kawara witnesses the bombing and leaves to make his own preparations.
Kiryu and Daigo arrive in Sotenbori, Osaka. Daigo heads to a hotel, unwilling to spend too much time in Kansai, while Kiryu goes exploring and comes across the Cabaret Grand. When he hears that some yakuza looking fellows booked the VIP section and kicked out the other patrons, he gets his own pass from an information broker named Kurokawa and heads in. While there, Kiryu finds out that the man who drove the others out of the VIP section is none other than Ryuji Goda himself. Ryuji is enjoying himself until one of his underlings calls him "Dragon of Kansai" a nickname Ryuji takes umbrage with before bashing a wine bottle over the underling's head. Kiryu calls him out and makes to leave, but Ryuji's men approach him for disrespecting their boss. Kiryu fights them off, and Ryuji is impressed by Kiryu's strength and skill and offers him a drink. Kiryu rebuffs him at first, but Ryuji insists and the two sit down to chat.
Ryuji introduces himself, and after some prodding Kiryu does as well. When pressed if he's the Kiryu, the Dragon of Dojima, Kiryu denies that's who he is. Ryuji says it's just as well, as if he was Kazuma Kiryu he'd be off getting ready for war. Kiryu asks why, and Ryuji explains what he's after and why he flew off the handle at being called "Dragon of Kansai": as far as he sees it, Kansai's too small for a dragon, and ultimately There Can Be Only One dragon in all of Japan (something that Kiryu reluctantly agrees with). Since he's on a roll, Ryuji also tells Kiryu that at midnight there's going to be a "fireworks display" in Kamurocho, and the next day he intends to kill the Dragon of Dojima. Ryuji takes his leave, but not before stating he pegged Kiryu as a man of violence the minute he walked in the door. Kiryu leaves the Grand, only to see a news report about a bombing in the Millennium Tower: the "fireworks" Ryuji spoke of were the opening moves of the war between the Omi Alliance and the Tojo Clan.
Back in Tokyo, Chief of Police Division 4 Junichi Sudo calls his superiors to inform them of the bombing. There's no ties to Kansai that can be proven, but he does suspect foreign involvement. He informs his superiors that he will go to Makoto Date for assistance. Meanwhile, Kawara witnesses the bombing and leaves to make his own preparations.
Chapter 3: The Yakuza Huntress
Daigo and Kiryu meet up to discuss the previous night's bombing before heading to Omi HQ. Elsewhere in Sotenbori, Detective Kaoru Sayama of Osaka Division 4 is interrogating a low-level yakuza patriarch about an incident with a civilian. When the patriarch gets aggressive following some petty insults Kaoru books him for a number of crimes (including resisting arrest when the guy punches a cop) before heading back to the station. At HQ, Chief Tsutomu Bessho gets a call from Sudo with new orders: arrest Kazuma Kiryu. Bessho asks why Tokyo wants to take Kiryu in, to which Sudo explains that if the talks between the Omi Alliance and the Tojo Clan fail and Kiryu gets killed, there would be no stopping the resulting bloodbath as the two yakuza clans tear each other apart. Bessho isn't exactly happy with the arrangement, which he explains to Kaoru. Kaoru jumps at the chance to take Kiryu in, seeing it as a chance for Osaka to break into Kanto and start investigating the yakuza their way. Bessho inquires if she's speaking officially or just letting her own beef with the Tojo Clan cloud her vision, and when Kaoru reassures him he assigns her to the case.
Kiryu and Daigo arrive at Omi HQ. Daigo informs Kiryu that the bombing destroyed the Kazama Family headquarters, but Kashiwagi managed to escape unscathed. Kiryu guesses Ryuji planned it, informing Daigo that the two crossed paths the night before. They enter the HQ and make their way upstairs, where they meet Chairman Goda and his associates, of which Ryo Takashima and Toranosuke Sengoku are named. Daigo accuses the Omi heads for their faux sympathy concerning Terada's death and their involvement with the Tojo Clan civil war the previous year (despite Kiryu trying to get him to show some respect). Chairman Goda is uncomfortable talking about the subject, so Takashima explains: all those actions were executed independently by Ryuji and the Go-Ryu Clan against the Chairman's wishes. After Sengoku storms out of the meeting, Goda explains that the Omi Alliance has grown too big for an old man like him to control. He wants Kiryu to rebuild the Tojo Clan into the powerhouse it was before, so as to rebuild the balance of power between the two factions. Kiryu then presents Terada's letter of alliance to Goda, who accepts and states he will come to Kamurocho to seal the deal with Acting Chairwoman Yayoi.
Just then, Ryuji and his men bust in with weapons, Ryuji wondering why on earth the Omi would accept a 50-50 deal with the weakened Tojo Clan. Daigo goes to confront Ryuji over their previous encounter, but Ryuji doesn't recognize Daigo before knocking him out. When Kiryu and Chairman Goda ask what the meaning of all this is, Ryuji makes this clear: this is a coup, and he's taking over the Omi Alliance. Ryuji wants war with the Tojo Clan almost as much as he wants Kiryu dead, and sets some of his men on Kiryu to test his mettle. Kiryu defeats the Go-Ryu soldiers, but before Ryuji can join in Daigo recovers and punches Ryuji, telling Kiryu to go save the Chairman while he fights Ryuji.
Kiryu fights his way through the Go-Ryu men, managing to reach Chairman Goda in time before the traitors can spirit him away. Goda apologizes for the mess Ryuji has made, which Kiryu dismisses in the name of peace. Just then Daigo returns, beaten severely and with Ryuji on his tail. Kiryu confronts Ryuji while instructing Daigo to get the Chairman to safety. Kiryu manages to defeat Ryuji, but finds it a hollow victory: Ryuji was winded from his fight with Daigo, and thus was not fighting in peak condition. Ryuji appears ready to continue the fight, but the police arrive on the scene, forcing him to flee while Kaoru arrests Kiryu.
Kiryu and Daigo arrive at Omi HQ. Daigo informs Kiryu that the bombing destroyed the Kazama Family headquarters, but Kashiwagi managed to escape unscathed. Kiryu guesses Ryuji planned it, informing Daigo that the two crossed paths the night before. They enter the HQ and make their way upstairs, where they meet Chairman Goda and his associates, of which Ryo Takashima and Toranosuke Sengoku are named. Daigo accuses the Omi heads for their faux sympathy concerning Terada's death and their involvement with the Tojo Clan civil war the previous year (despite Kiryu trying to get him to show some respect). Chairman Goda is uncomfortable talking about the subject, so Takashima explains: all those actions were executed independently by Ryuji and the Go-Ryu Clan against the Chairman's wishes. After Sengoku storms out of the meeting, Goda explains that the Omi Alliance has grown too big for an old man like him to control. He wants Kiryu to rebuild the Tojo Clan into the powerhouse it was before, so as to rebuild the balance of power between the two factions. Kiryu then presents Terada's letter of alliance to Goda, who accepts and states he will come to Kamurocho to seal the deal with Acting Chairwoman Yayoi.
Just then, Ryuji and his men bust in with weapons, Ryuji wondering why on earth the Omi would accept a 50-50 deal with the weakened Tojo Clan. Daigo goes to confront Ryuji over their previous encounter, but Ryuji doesn't recognize Daigo before knocking him out. When Kiryu and Chairman Goda ask what the meaning of all this is, Ryuji makes this clear: this is a coup, and he's taking over the Omi Alliance. Ryuji wants war with the Tojo Clan almost as much as he wants Kiryu dead, and sets some of his men on Kiryu to test his mettle. Kiryu defeats the Go-Ryu soldiers, but before Ryuji can join in Daigo recovers and punches Ryuji, telling Kiryu to go save the Chairman while he fights Ryuji.
Kiryu fights his way through the Go-Ryu men, managing to reach Chairman Goda in time before the traitors can spirit him away. Goda apologizes for the mess Ryuji has made, which Kiryu dismisses in the name of peace. Just then Daigo returns, beaten severely and with Ryuji on his tail. Kiryu confronts Ryuji while instructing Daigo to get the Chairman to safety. Kiryu manages to defeat Ryuji, but finds it a hollow victory: Ryuji was winded from his fight with Daigo, and thus was not fighting in peak condition. Ryuji appears ready to continue the fight, but the police arrive on the scene, forcing him to flee while Kaoru arrests Kiryu.
Chapter 4: The Four Kings of Omi
Date (who quit the force in between games) arrives at Police HQ, and as he deals with a fangirl (of all things) he is approached by Kawara, now a detective in Foreign Affairs. Date has bad blood with "Killer" Kawara due to seeing Kawara killing a few suspects on patrol, which Kawara dismisses as just part of the job. Date hopes that this will be the end of it, but Kawara informs him that Sudo called them both in. They meet Sudo in archive room 13, also known as the "Scandal Graveyard", where they are joined by Superintendent Wataru Kurahashi, Chief of Foreign Affairs Division Two. Sudo explains while the tensions with the Omi Alliance are being monitored by Division Four, they suspect a Chinese or Korean mafia may be providing assistance to the Omi in their war against the Tojo Clan. Foreign Affairs had been monitoring foreign groups for a year now, and had begun to pick up increasing chatter before the Millennium Tower bombing. When Date asks why Division Four is getting roped into foreign affairs, Kurahashi produces a recording of Ryuji's conversation with the bombers from before Terada's assassination. Division Two cannot pinpoint where exactly Ryuji called in, but Kurahashi does believe there is a suspect that Date can get close to: Stardust's owner, Kazuki. Ryuji met with Kazuki six months prior, and there are rumors that he is actually Korean using an alias. Sudo and Kurahashi ask Date to get close to Kazuki and see if he can learn anything.
Back in Kansai, Kaoru uncuffs Kiryu and explains that the arrest was just a cover so he could be taken into protective custody. Suddenly, Kiryu spots a sniper and moves to shield Kaoru, but she is hit in the shoulder while the sniper disappears. Kiryu notes that the wound is bad, while Kaoru tells him to go to Sotenbori and find a bar called "Aoi". Kiryu hurries to Aoi, where the owner Tamiyo initially mistakes him for a yakuza looking for protection money until he explains himself. She orders Kiryu run back and get Kaoru, which Kiryu does before delivering Kaoru to Aoi and departing so as to avoid getting in the way. After some time exploring Sotenbori, Kiryu returns to Aoi to find Kaoru resting. He chats with Tamiyo, who reveals she raised Kaoru (an orphan, not unlike Kiryu). She asks Kiryu how he knows Kaoru, but Kaoru wakes up before Kiryu can go much further. Kaoru is straight to business despite her injuries, dismissing Kiryu's note that Ryuji was quick to put out a hit on Kaoru as this kind of assassination isn't his style. The Go-Ryu are straightforward and brutal, and wouldn't waste their time on hiring a sniper. Further observation shows that the bullet is far too small for a standard gun, better suited for wounding a target than killing. Thinking that whoever is doing this is looking to intimidate him, Kiryu heads out to find information, with Kaoru giving him the bullet and instructing him to go to the local mahjong parlor and speak to an info broker that frequents it.
Kiryu takes the bullet to the info broker, Esaki, who identifies it as Takashima Family work- the bullet came from a gun of foreign make, and Takashima has the corner on the market of gun smuggling from the mainland. Kiryu wonders if perhaps Takashima sold the guns to a third party, but Esaki rejects that- Takashima is risk-adverse, and selling to someone else could leave a paper trail that could be traced back to him. This leaves Kiryu with the question of why Takashima would attack him.
Meanwhile, Takashima (who has been called in by Osaka PD for questioning) chats on the phone with an associate on how everything went according to plan- Kiryu has the bullet and probably traced it back, all as a way to keep his trust in others low. Bessho comes in and asks who he was calling, which Takashima deflects by asking why they haven't arrested Kiryu yet. Bessho doesn't answer, and eventually lets Takashima go with a warning that he'll run him in if he joins up with Ryuji.
Back with Kiryu, he asks Esaki if he knows Takashima's endgame. He does, but that will cost another 300 grand. Kiryu goes to Kurokawa for advice on how to get that kind of money, who points him to a barkeep who is in the market for "almonds" around the same price. Kiryu goes to the barkeep, who gives him a counter offer to give to the info broker. Kiryu returns to Esaki and the two start chatting when the info broker gets a call: a 100 million yen bounty has just been placed on Kiryu's head, and he and the other thugs in the parlor are looking to collect. Kiryu resolves this as he usually does, and interrogates Esaki as to who put the bounty on him. Esaki says Sengoku is responsible.
Sengoku's first attempt at Kiryu has been foiled, but he's not too put off. In his eyes, Ryuji will probably try and take Kiryu head on, and their fight will get the Go-Ryu out of his hair and give him a chance to make a move of his own. In the meantime, he instructs his lieutenant to take one billion yen to Sotenbori and begin paying off thugs to keep Kiryu busy.
Kiryu returns to Aoi to inform Kaoru of the information he received (and the bounty put on his head). He overhears her arguing with Tamiyo about the identity of her birth parents, but the older woman refuses to give any more information. All Kaoru is certain of is that the Tojo Clan was involved in some way, and she thinks Kiryu will be her ticket in to investigate the Tojo Clan and find out what happened to her parents. Kiryu enters as Kaoru gets a call, but the speaker wants to talk with Kiryu: it's Chief Bessho, and he tells Kiryu that Daigo and Chairman Goda have been kidnapped by gangsters. Bessho wasn't able to identify them, but he does know they were foreigners and they were driving cars marked with Kamurocho license plates. Kiryu informs Kaoru that he's going back to Kamurocho, and Kaoru informs him that she's coming with him regardless of what he thinks about jurisdiction.
Back in Kansai, Kaoru uncuffs Kiryu and explains that the arrest was just a cover so he could be taken into protective custody. Suddenly, Kiryu spots a sniper and moves to shield Kaoru, but she is hit in the shoulder while the sniper disappears. Kiryu notes that the wound is bad, while Kaoru tells him to go to Sotenbori and find a bar called "Aoi". Kiryu hurries to Aoi, where the owner Tamiyo initially mistakes him for a yakuza looking for protection money until he explains himself. She orders Kiryu run back and get Kaoru, which Kiryu does before delivering Kaoru to Aoi and departing so as to avoid getting in the way. After some time exploring Sotenbori, Kiryu returns to Aoi to find Kaoru resting. He chats with Tamiyo, who reveals she raised Kaoru (an orphan, not unlike Kiryu). She asks Kiryu how he knows Kaoru, but Kaoru wakes up before Kiryu can go much further. Kaoru is straight to business despite her injuries, dismissing Kiryu's note that Ryuji was quick to put out a hit on Kaoru as this kind of assassination isn't his style. The Go-Ryu are straightforward and brutal, and wouldn't waste their time on hiring a sniper. Further observation shows that the bullet is far too small for a standard gun, better suited for wounding a target than killing. Thinking that whoever is doing this is looking to intimidate him, Kiryu heads out to find information, with Kaoru giving him the bullet and instructing him to go to the local mahjong parlor and speak to an info broker that frequents it.
Kiryu takes the bullet to the info broker, Esaki, who identifies it as Takashima Family work- the bullet came from a gun of foreign make, and Takashima has the corner on the market of gun smuggling from the mainland. Kiryu wonders if perhaps Takashima sold the guns to a third party, but Esaki rejects that- Takashima is risk-adverse, and selling to someone else could leave a paper trail that could be traced back to him. This leaves Kiryu with the question of why Takashima would attack him.
Meanwhile, Takashima (who has been called in by Osaka PD for questioning) chats on the phone with an associate on how everything went according to plan- Kiryu has the bullet and probably traced it back, all as a way to keep his trust in others low. Bessho comes in and asks who he was calling, which Takashima deflects by asking why they haven't arrested Kiryu yet. Bessho doesn't answer, and eventually lets Takashima go with a warning that he'll run him in if he joins up with Ryuji.
Back with Kiryu, he asks Esaki if he knows Takashima's endgame. He does, but that will cost another 300 grand. Kiryu goes to Kurokawa for advice on how to get that kind of money, who points him to a barkeep who is in the market for "almonds" around the same price. Kiryu goes to the barkeep, who gives him a counter offer to give to the info broker. Kiryu returns to Esaki and the two start chatting when the info broker gets a call: a 100 million yen bounty has just been placed on Kiryu's head, and he and the other thugs in the parlor are looking to collect. Kiryu resolves this as he usually does, and interrogates Esaki as to who put the bounty on him. Esaki says Sengoku is responsible.
Sengoku's first attempt at Kiryu has been foiled, but he's not too put off. In his eyes, Ryuji will probably try and take Kiryu head on, and their fight will get the Go-Ryu out of his hair and give him a chance to make a move of his own. In the meantime, he instructs his lieutenant to take one billion yen to Sotenbori and begin paying off thugs to keep Kiryu busy.
Kiryu returns to Aoi to inform Kaoru of the information he received (and the bounty put on his head). He overhears her arguing with Tamiyo about the identity of her birth parents, but the older woman refuses to give any more information. All Kaoru is certain of is that the Tojo Clan was involved in some way, and she thinks Kiryu will be her ticket in to investigate the Tojo Clan and find out what happened to her parents. Kiryu enters as Kaoru gets a call, but the speaker wants to talk with Kiryu: it's Chief Bessho, and he tells Kiryu that Daigo and Chairman Goda have been kidnapped by gangsters. Bessho wasn't able to identify them, but he does know they were foreigners and they were driving cars marked with Kamurocho license plates. Kiryu informs Kaoru that he's going back to Kamurocho, and Kaoru informs him that she's coming with him regardless of what he thinks about jurisdiction.
Chapter 5: Hidden Past
When they arrive in Kamurocho, Kiryu notices that Kaoru is feeling faint. Seeing that she has a fever, Kiryu takes her to the now abandoned bar Serena to rest. As Kaoru sleeps off her fever, Kiryu gets a phone call from Kashiwagi wanting to know what went down in Kansai, and Kiryu informs Kashawagi of Daigo and Chairman Goda's capture. They agree to meet at Tojo HQ to inform the other officers. As Kiryu heads out to find a cab, he gets a call from Daigo's captors to meet the following night at the Amano Building.
Kiryu tells of Ryuji's coup, the Dragon of Kansai's desire for war, and of the impending meeting with Daigo's kidnappers. Yayoi believes the meeting to be a trap, which Kiryu agrees with but sees it as their best chance at finding out who their enemies are. Kiryu also believes that the foreigners have ties to the Go-Ryu clan (who else would want to capture Chairman Goda, after all), and Kashiwagi adds they may also be the ones that bombed his office days before. Yayoi asks the new Patriarch of the Nishikiyama family, Koji Shindo, to cover Kiryu as he goes to the Amano building (as it's in his territory), but Shindo refuses as many of his men are still angry at Kiryu for his actions in their founder's death. Kashiwagi points out that Nishiki was a traitor to the Tojo Clan, and while Shindo agrees they still would not want to disgrace his legacy. Kiryu is fine with this, but asks Shindo if he has any other objections to him going to the meeting, which Shindo says he does not before departing.
Yayoi asks Kiryu to speak with her in private, giving him a key to a secret storage room containing the personal effects of several of the officers killed in the civil war. Kiryu searches the building before coming across a golden bull's head with a keyhole in the nose ring, and when he uses the key on it it opens a secret door behind a nearby bookcase. Kiryu goes inside and finds a familiar dagger hidden among the items, and that gives him an idea that he's certain Yayoi won't like. He returns to find Yayoi talking with Kashiwagi about the possibility that the Nishikiyama family may once again attempt to secede from the Tojo Clan, which would cost the Tojo almost half of its manpower (as the Nishikiyama Family absorbed the remnants of the Shimano family following Futoshi Shimano's death). Kiryu approaches the two and offers his idea: bring Goro Majima back into the Tojo Clan. Kashiwagi thinks it's a bad idea, as controlling the Mad Dog of Shimano would be next to impossible, but Kiryu believes that Majima is one of the few men powerful enough and crazy enough to fight the Go-Ryu on even terms. Kashiwagi is still doubtful, but tells Kiryu that he can find Majima in Purgatory. As Kiryu's leaving, an assassin disguised as a utility repairman tries to force his way through the main gate. Kiryu defeats the assassin, turning him over to the Tojo guards for interrogation while he returns to Kamurocho.
Once he is back in Kamurocho, Kiryu receives a phone call from Kaoru, who's pissed Kiryu snuck off while she was resting. After Kaoru sends him on an errand to buy spare underwear and a beer, Kiryu returns to Serena just as Kaoru steps out of the shower, much to his embarrassment. As Kaoru dresses, Kiryu tells her he knows she's only in Kamurocho to investigate the Tojo Clan. Kaoru asks him why he let her come with him then, and Kiryu says it's a Tojo Clan issue and therefore not his problem. Kaoru explains that as a child she was always told her parents died of some disease when she was young, but one day she overheard Tamiyo yelling at someone over the phone that the Tojo Clan was responsible for her life being so rough. That was 10 years prior, and Kaoru is still nowhere closer to finding out what happened as Tamiyo only said it would not make her happy. Kiryu asks if perhaps it's a misunderstanding, but Kaoru could tell there was more to it and joined the police to find out. Kiryu asks if Kaoru thinks the Tojo killed her parents, using her "protective custody" to draw closer to him. When Kaoru says it's the most logical conclusion, Kiryu speaks of his own personal experience that sometimes secrets are best left unanswered, but Kaoru counters that he at least knows his past, unlike her.
After Kaoru has finished her beer and gotten dressed, the two head to Purgatory. Upon arriving, they find that the park has been bulldozed and is now a major construction site, but Gary Buster Holmes is still waiting to show them down to Purgatory. They head to the Florist of Sai's office, but instead of the information broker they find Majima waiting for them. Majima is ecstatic to see "Kiryu-chan" again, and surprised to find he shacked up with a lady cop, but Kiryu has no time for small talk and asks what Majima is doing in Purgatory. Majima says he moved in after the Florist rejoined the police and took his surveillance operation with him, setting up Majima Construction to build a new section of the city overhead while he reinvigorated Purgatory. He asks what Kiryu wants, and Kiryu asks him help the Tojo Clan. Majima initially refuses, but after Kiryu insists he agrees on one condition: Kiryu fights in his upcoming arena tournament. Kiryu sends Kaoru back to Serena while he fights in the tournament, ultimately culminating in a duel between him and Majima.
After the tournament, Majima agrees to rejoin the Tojo Clan. Kiryu clarifies that he wants Majima's assistance, but doesn't necessarily need him to rejoin. He explains the potential manpower shortage the clan is facing if the Nishikiyama family breaks off, and any help from Majima would be welcome. Majima, however, feels that something is amiss and perhaps someone is manipulating Kiryu. He backs up and explains that under Terada, the Omi Alliance backed down on their antagonizing of the Tojo Clan. If it was a Go-Ryu power play then maybe it was legit, but Majima says Terada was so uncontroversial and boring there wouldn't be much point to it. Which is why Majima never liked or trusted Terada- his advocacy for peace and cooperation made the Tojo Clan lose it's edge, and now with the Clan on the brink of collapse it's clear he didn't have much of a backup plan in case things went wrong. Furthermore, Terada stacked his advisors with yes-men while sidelining veterans like Majima and Kashiwagi (which ultimately drove Majima to leaving the Clan). Kiryu expresses disappointment that Terada turned out like this, and while Majima can't fault Kiryu for trusting a man he tells him to be more careful in the future.
Back at Serena, Kiryu and Kaoru wait for the time to head to Kiryu's meeting to rescue Daigo. Kiryu asks if Kaoru is scared to learn the truth about her past, bringing up how he learned his parents were killed by the man he had admired as a father figure. Kiryu managed to forgive Kazama, but he asks Kaoru if she would do the same; after a moment of thought, Kaoru admits she couldn't. She is scared, but this is the path she's chosen and she's not backing down, and Kiryu tells her she can use him to investigate the Tojo Clan. Kaoru asks how he can be comfortable with that, and Kiryu tells her he's not proud of his past as a yakuza; furthermore, if it turns out he was somehow involved with her parents' death, he gives her permission to shoot him.
Kiryu tells of Ryuji's coup, the Dragon of Kansai's desire for war, and of the impending meeting with Daigo's kidnappers. Yayoi believes the meeting to be a trap, which Kiryu agrees with but sees it as their best chance at finding out who their enemies are. Kiryu also believes that the foreigners have ties to the Go-Ryu clan (who else would want to capture Chairman Goda, after all), and Kashiwagi adds they may also be the ones that bombed his office days before. Yayoi asks the new Patriarch of the Nishikiyama family, Koji Shindo, to cover Kiryu as he goes to the Amano building (as it's in his territory), but Shindo refuses as many of his men are still angry at Kiryu for his actions in their founder's death. Kashiwagi points out that Nishiki was a traitor to the Tojo Clan, and while Shindo agrees they still would not want to disgrace his legacy. Kiryu is fine with this, but asks Shindo if he has any other objections to him going to the meeting, which Shindo says he does not before departing.
Yayoi asks Kiryu to speak with her in private, giving him a key to a secret storage room containing the personal effects of several of the officers killed in the civil war. Kiryu searches the building before coming across a golden bull's head with a keyhole in the nose ring, and when he uses the key on it it opens a secret door behind a nearby bookcase. Kiryu goes inside and finds a familiar dagger hidden among the items, and that gives him an idea that he's certain Yayoi won't like. He returns to find Yayoi talking with Kashiwagi about the possibility that the Nishikiyama family may once again attempt to secede from the Tojo Clan, which would cost the Tojo almost half of its manpower (as the Nishikiyama Family absorbed the remnants of the Shimano family following Futoshi Shimano's death). Kiryu approaches the two and offers his idea: bring Goro Majima back into the Tojo Clan. Kashiwagi thinks it's a bad idea, as controlling the Mad Dog of Shimano would be next to impossible, but Kiryu believes that Majima is one of the few men powerful enough and crazy enough to fight the Go-Ryu on even terms. Kashiwagi is still doubtful, but tells Kiryu that he can find Majima in Purgatory. As Kiryu's leaving, an assassin disguised as a utility repairman tries to force his way through the main gate. Kiryu defeats the assassin, turning him over to the Tojo guards for interrogation while he returns to Kamurocho.
Once he is back in Kamurocho, Kiryu receives a phone call from Kaoru, who's pissed Kiryu snuck off while she was resting. After Kaoru sends him on an errand to buy spare underwear and a beer, Kiryu returns to Serena just as Kaoru steps out of the shower, much to his embarrassment. As Kaoru dresses, Kiryu tells her he knows she's only in Kamurocho to investigate the Tojo Clan. Kaoru asks him why he let her come with him then, and Kiryu says it's a Tojo Clan issue and therefore not his problem. Kaoru explains that as a child she was always told her parents died of some disease when she was young, but one day she overheard Tamiyo yelling at someone over the phone that the Tojo Clan was responsible for her life being so rough. That was 10 years prior, and Kaoru is still nowhere closer to finding out what happened as Tamiyo only said it would not make her happy. Kiryu asks if perhaps it's a misunderstanding, but Kaoru could tell there was more to it and joined the police to find out. Kiryu asks if Kaoru thinks the Tojo killed her parents, using her "protective custody" to draw closer to him. When Kaoru says it's the most logical conclusion, Kiryu speaks of his own personal experience that sometimes secrets are best left unanswered, but Kaoru counters that he at least knows his past, unlike her.
After Kaoru has finished her beer and gotten dressed, the two head to Purgatory. Upon arriving, they find that the park has been bulldozed and is now a major construction site, but Gary Buster Holmes is still waiting to show them down to Purgatory. They head to the Florist of Sai's office, but instead of the information broker they find Majima waiting for them. Majima is ecstatic to see "Kiryu-chan" again, and surprised to find he shacked up with a lady cop, but Kiryu has no time for small talk and asks what Majima is doing in Purgatory. Majima says he moved in after the Florist rejoined the police and took his surveillance operation with him, setting up Majima Construction to build a new section of the city overhead while he reinvigorated Purgatory. He asks what Kiryu wants, and Kiryu asks him help the Tojo Clan. Majima initially refuses, but after Kiryu insists he agrees on one condition: Kiryu fights in his upcoming arena tournament. Kiryu sends Kaoru back to Serena while he fights in the tournament, ultimately culminating in a duel between him and Majima.
After the tournament, Majima agrees to rejoin the Tojo Clan. Kiryu clarifies that he wants Majima's assistance, but doesn't necessarily need him to rejoin. He explains the potential manpower shortage the clan is facing if the Nishikiyama family breaks off, and any help from Majima would be welcome. Majima, however, feels that something is amiss and perhaps someone is manipulating Kiryu. He backs up and explains that under Terada, the Omi Alliance backed down on their antagonizing of the Tojo Clan. If it was a Go-Ryu power play then maybe it was legit, but Majima says Terada was so uncontroversial and boring there wouldn't be much point to it. Which is why Majima never liked or trusted Terada- his advocacy for peace and cooperation made the Tojo Clan lose it's edge, and now with the Clan on the brink of collapse it's clear he didn't have much of a backup plan in case things went wrong. Furthermore, Terada stacked his advisors with yes-men while sidelining veterans like Majima and Kashiwagi (which ultimately drove Majima to leaving the Clan). Kiryu expresses disappointment that Terada turned out like this, and while Majima can't fault Kiryu for trusting a man he tells him to be more careful in the future.
Back at Serena, Kiryu and Kaoru wait for the time to head to Kiryu's meeting to rescue Daigo. Kiryu asks if Kaoru is scared to learn the truth about her past, bringing up how he learned his parents were killed by the man he had admired as a father figure. Kiryu managed to forgive Kazama, but he asks Kaoru if she would do the same; after a moment of thought, Kaoru admits she couldn't. She is scared, but this is the path she's chosen and she's not backing down, and Kiryu tells her she can use him to investigate the Tojo Clan. Kaoru asks how he can be comfortable with that, and Kiryu tells her he's not proud of his past as a yakuza; furthermore, if it turns out he was somehow involved with her parents' death, he gives her permission to shoot him.
Chapter 6: Schemes
Date and Kawara are at Club Stardust catching up with Yuya, who has been promoted to manager. Kazuki arrives and Date introduces him to Kawara, sending Yuya away so they can chat in private. Once they're alone, Date informs Kazuki that a police raid will hit Stardust and other institutions around Kamurocho regarding the Millennium Tower bombing, searching for any signs of foreign actors that might have plotted the attack. Kawara adds that the police plan on rounding up as many illegals as they can find, and while Kazuki insists there's none here Kawara comments he could still get charged with violations of various vice laws. Kazuki asks why Date is telling him this, and Date says it's to make up for his actions the previous year. As Kazuki leaves, Kawara says that if he is with the mafia he'll run to alert his men, though Date still doubts that Kazuki is collaborating with foreign gangsters. Kazuki sends his guests home, and when he thinks Date and Kawara are not looking he makes a break for it, the two policemen following close behind.
Meanwhile, Kiryu and Kaoru leave Serena to head to the Amano Building after getting directions from Tamura the informant. They run into Yuya when they step out into the street, with Yuya telling them what happened between Kazuki and Date. While Kiryu is curious, he and Kaoru have a schedule to keep and ask Yuya to call them if he learns anything. They head for the Amano building, where a local gang of punks called 16-Bit attacks them for associating with the foreigners that drove them out. Kiryu and Kaoru defeat the punks and ask to be let inside, with one of the punks sending them to their leader who's hiding out in an alley near the drugstore. They beat the leader and recover the key, Kiryu heading in alone while Kaoru waits outside in case he needs help.
Inside, Kiryu is attacked almost immediately by numerous foreigners. He fights his way through the halls and up to the roof, where he finds Date, Kawara, and two Kazukis in a standoff. Kiryu asks what's going on, and Date explains they followed Kazuki here and found the double, with each claiming to be the real one held hostage by the fake. Date asks Kiryu why he's here, and Kiryu tells them he was asked to come here at one, confirming that al this was a trap. Kawara draws his gun and aims it at the one who led them here (guessing that's the fake), asking him what the scheme is. Date draws his own gun on Kawara, asking him if he's really going to kill someone with no evidence. Kawara says it's intuition that leads him to make these decisions, but when he tells Date to get back the fake Kazuki pulls two pistols and shoots Kawara and the first Kazuki. The fake tells Kiryu he was the one that called Kiryu up here, and intents to make the scene look like he, Date, Kawara, and Kazuki all killed each other in a shoot-out. Date manages to injure the fake with a shot to the head, but it's Kaoru that lands the killing shot and saves the others. With more cops on the way, Kiryu and Date move to extract Kazuki and Kawara from the scene, and when Kaoru protests that they attacked in self-defense Date says something is off and it's best not to get more cops involved.
Meanwhile, Kiryu and Kaoru leave Serena to head to the Amano Building after getting directions from Tamura the informant. They run into Yuya when they step out into the street, with Yuya telling them what happened between Kazuki and Date. While Kiryu is curious, he and Kaoru have a schedule to keep and ask Yuya to call them if he learns anything. They head for the Amano building, where a local gang of punks called 16-Bit attacks them for associating with the foreigners that drove them out. Kiryu and Kaoru defeat the punks and ask to be let inside, with one of the punks sending them to their leader who's hiding out in an alley near the drugstore. They beat the leader and recover the key, Kiryu heading in alone while Kaoru waits outside in case he needs help.
Inside, Kiryu is attacked almost immediately by numerous foreigners. He fights his way through the halls and up to the roof, where he finds Date, Kawara, and two Kazukis in a standoff. Kiryu asks what's going on, and Date explains they followed Kazuki here and found the double, with each claiming to be the real one held hostage by the fake. Date asks Kiryu why he's here, and Kiryu tells them he was asked to come here at one, confirming that al this was a trap. Kawara draws his gun and aims it at the one who led them here (guessing that's the fake), asking him what the scheme is. Date draws his own gun on Kawara, asking him if he's really going to kill someone with no evidence. Kawara says it's intuition that leads him to make these decisions, but when he tells Date to get back the fake Kazuki pulls two pistols and shoots Kawara and the first Kazuki. The fake tells Kiryu he was the one that called Kiryu up here, and intents to make the scene look like he, Date, Kawara, and Kazuki all killed each other in a shoot-out. Date manages to injure the fake with a shot to the head, but it's Kaoru that lands the killing shot and saves the others. With more cops on the way, Kiryu and Date move to extract Kazuki and Kawara from the scene, and when Kaoru protests that they attacked in self-defense Date says something is off and it's best not to get more cops involved.
Chapter 7: The Foreign Threat
While Kaoru distracts the police, Kiryu and Date take Kazuki and Kawara to an underground clinic for treatment. While the doctor treats the two injured men, Kiryu and Date head to the bar Bantam (which replaced Bacchus after the events of Yakuza 1) to catch up and compare notes. On their way, they run into Yuya who heard that Kazuki was brought to the clinic, Date and Kiryu claiming he was caught up in a yakuza brawl and took a stray bullet. Yuya wants vengeance, but Kiryu tells him to remain calm and handle affairs at Stardust while Kazuki recovers. Yuya leaves and Kiryu and Date arrive at Bantam, where the barkeep closes up shop so the two can talk in private.
Once they're alone, Kiryu tells Date why he was at the Amano building, though he still doesn't know why they were lured there. He thinks the foreigners that kidnapped Daigo and Chairman Goda are behind this, bringing up how Bessho in Osaka tipped him off. Surprisingly, Date knows Bessho- he was a star member of Division Four back when Date first joined, of the same class as Kawara coincidentally. Date goes on to tell Kiryu about his past with Kawara and why they don't get along- when Date was just a rookie with Division One, Kawara was assigned as his mentor for field training. They were investigating some foreigners as part of a murder case, but Kawara immediately gunned them down when they resisted the investigation. Date, feeling that shooting to kill should be a last resort, obviously took issue with this, but Kawara brushed responsibility onto the other men. Several similar incidents later on arose and Kawara got off on self-defense, but his reputation as "Killer Kawara" spread and he was eventually kicked from Division One. Both Kiryu and Date conclude Kawara has some skeletons in the closet, but Kawara clearly doesn't want them brought to light. Date goes on to say that he feels more guilty for failing to stop Kawara than he does not shooting the fake Kazuki.
Kiryu decides to go find Kaoru, who calls him that she is back at the clinic. Kiryu heads there to take her to Bantam and reconvene with Date. As she waits, Kaoru gets to talking with Kawara, who doesn't approve of her more crass behaviors. He does, however, sympathize with her for a minor mistake while under pressure (Kaoru dropped her badge when she went for her gun to shoot fake!Kazuki, and then forgot about it when she and the others fled the scene), and when Kaoru asks how he can be so calm despite a gaping hole in his leg Kawara says that veterans like him get used to this sort of thing. He asks Kaoru how she ended up on the force, but Kiryu arrives before Kaoru can provide an answer. Right behind him are two thugs who storm into the operating room and ask Kazuki (who they believe is a man called "Kang") what happened. They try to leave when they confirm Kazuki is not Kang, but Kaoru stops them and demands they tell her what they're doing. One of the thugs punches Kaoru, and Kiryu takes issue with this before beating the hell out of the thugs. With the thugs defeated, Kawara draws his gun and demands the thugs identify who sent them. One says they are with a Korean syndicate called the Jingweon Mafia, but more police head their way before Kawara can get anything else. Kiryu, Kaoru, and Kawara flee the scene, heading to Bantam to tell Date what happened.
The three arrive at Bantam (Kawara splitting from the others for a moment to get a change of pants and patch up his leg wound), and Kawara tells Date that the outfit their up against is the Jingweon Mafia. Kaoru is unfamiliar with the gang, and Kawara isn't surprised: the Jingweon don't advertise their presence the way the yakuza do, and the only thing they really care about is absolute loyalty from their members. Kiryu concludes that the Jingweon is behind Daigo and the Chairman's kidnapping, but before the conversation can continue Date says they should leave: the barkeep has been acting strange and Date found pictures of Kiryu and Kaoru behind the bar, leading him to believe the Jingweon are on to them. Kiryu tells Kaoru to take Date and Kawara to Serena, and he'll stay behind to "speak" with the barkeep. When the barkeep returns, Kiryu asks about the photos and what's going on. Several more members of the community (other bartenders, chefs, punks) bust in with weapons and beg Kiryu to let them kill him. Kiryu finishes his drink and wrecks his attackers. With the fighting done, the barkeep begs Kiryu for mercy and explains why he attacked: after the events of the last year, business for bars like his tanked and he found himself drowning in debt. Then a man from the Sengoku family came along and offered a generous sum of money if he killed Kiryu. Kiryu forgives the barkeep for his actions (as the events of the last year were largely his fault) and tells him that he intends to make things right- all Kiryu asks is that the barkeep and others like him hold on for just a little longer. Kiryu goes to Serena and tells them what he learned, but Date gives him some bad news- security cameras picked up Date firing his gun during the encounter at the Amano Building, and now he's wanted for murder.
Once they're alone, Kiryu tells Date why he was at the Amano building, though he still doesn't know why they were lured there. He thinks the foreigners that kidnapped Daigo and Chairman Goda are behind this, bringing up how Bessho in Osaka tipped him off. Surprisingly, Date knows Bessho- he was a star member of Division Four back when Date first joined, of the same class as Kawara coincidentally. Date goes on to tell Kiryu about his past with Kawara and why they don't get along- when Date was just a rookie with Division One, Kawara was assigned as his mentor for field training. They were investigating some foreigners as part of a murder case, but Kawara immediately gunned them down when they resisted the investigation. Date, feeling that shooting to kill should be a last resort, obviously took issue with this, but Kawara brushed responsibility onto the other men. Several similar incidents later on arose and Kawara got off on self-defense, but his reputation as "Killer Kawara" spread and he was eventually kicked from Division One. Both Kiryu and Date conclude Kawara has some skeletons in the closet, but Kawara clearly doesn't want them brought to light. Date goes on to say that he feels more guilty for failing to stop Kawara than he does not shooting the fake Kazuki.
Kiryu decides to go find Kaoru, who calls him that she is back at the clinic. Kiryu heads there to take her to Bantam and reconvene with Date. As she waits, Kaoru gets to talking with Kawara, who doesn't approve of her more crass behaviors. He does, however, sympathize with her for a minor mistake while under pressure (Kaoru dropped her badge when she went for her gun to shoot fake!Kazuki, and then forgot about it when she and the others fled the scene), and when Kaoru asks how he can be so calm despite a gaping hole in his leg Kawara says that veterans like him get used to this sort of thing. He asks Kaoru how she ended up on the force, but Kiryu arrives before Kaoru can provide an answer. Right behind him are two thugs who storm into the operating room and ask Kazuki (who they believe is a man called "Kang") what happened. They try to leave when they confirm Kazuki is not Kang, but Kaoru stops them and demands they tell her what they're doing. One of the thugs punches Kaoru, and Kiryu takes issue with this before beating the hell out of the thugs. With the thugs defeated, Kawara draws his gun and demands the thugs identify who sent them. One says they are with a Korean syndicate called the Jingweon Mafia, but more police head their way before Kawara can get anything else. Kiryu, Kaoru, and Kawara flee the scene, heading to Bantam to tell Date what happened.
The three arrive at Bantam (Kawara splitting from the others for a moment to get a change of pants and patch up his leg wound), and Kawara tells Date that the outfit their up against is the Jingweon Mafia. Kaoru is unfamiliar with the gang, and Kawara isn't surprised: the Jingweon don't advertise their presence the way the yakuza do, and the only thing they really care about is absolute loyalty from their members. Kiryu concludes that the Jingweon is behind Daigo and the Chairman's kidnapping, but before the conversation can continue Date says they should leave: the barkeep has been acting strange and Date found pictures of Kiryu and Kaoru behind the bar, leading him to believe the Jingweon are on to them. Kiryu tells Kaoru to take Date and Kawara to Serena, and he'll stay behind to "speak" with the barkeep. When the barkeep returns, Kiryu asks about the photos and what's going on. Several more members of the community (other bartenders, chefs, punks) bust in with weapons and beg Kiryu to let them kill him. Kiryu finishes his drink and wrecks his attackers. With the fighting done, the barkeep begs Kiryu for mercy and explains why he attacked: after the events of the last year, business for bars like his tanked and he found himself drowning in debt. Then a man from the Sengoku family came along and offered a generous sum of money if he killed Kiryu. Kiryu forgives the barkeep for his actions (as the events of the last year were largely his fault) and tells him that he intends to make things right- all Kiryu asks is that the barkeep and others like him hold on for just a little longer. Kiryu goes to Serena and tells them what he learned, but Date gives him some bad news- security cameras picked up Date firing his gun during the encounter at the Amano Building, and now he's wanted for murder.
Chapter 8: Suspect
The police review the surveillance footage showing Date killing fake!Kazuki. Sudo defends Date as acting in the line of duty (and that something seems off with the recording), but the police chief says that helping or not Date is technically a civilian and therefore should not have access to a gun. Kurahashi takes over and explains that they are looking for the Jingweon Mafia, a fact that the chief finds absurd as the Jingweon were destroyed years ago. Kurahashi says no, Foreign Affairs has been tracking a resurgent Jingweon for nearly six months, and fake!Kazuki was apparently a member. The chief asks why they didn't conduct a normal investigation, and Sudo says that Kazuki is cautious and wouldn't get too close to the police right away; a familiar face like Date would be needed to get any information from him. The chief sees the logic behind that, but now with Date accused of having killed a man any previous advantage has been lost; he orders Date arrested before the media gets ahold of the story, and announces that Division One is taking control of both his and the Jingweon case, kicking Division Four and Foreign Affairs to the curb. Kurahashi takes responsibility and promises Sudo he'll think of something to help Date.
Upon learning of Date's accusation, Kaoru protests that the surveillance footage only shows half of what happened on the rooftop, but Kawara says HQ won't care. Kaoru says she'll go and take responsibility for the shooting, but Kawara says that won't help- the police threw a civilian into a classified investigation, even if Date is an ex cop, and would probably bury Kaoru's evidence with little fanfare. Kawara suggests Date skip town, and as he prepares to leave Date asks Kiryu what his plan is. Kiryu plans to find Daigo and stop the Jingweon, and since the footage of the shooting came from the Florist he decides to pay the info broker a visit to see what he knows.
Kiryu and Kaoru find the Florist in his new base on the 50th floor of the Millennium Tower. The Florist has been tracking them ever since they arrived in Kamurocho, and guesses that they're here to talk about Daigo. Kiryu brings up Date's murder charge, and the Florist reveals that he wouldn't have sent the tape to police headquarters as it contained so little evidence: someone went behind his back and sent the tape, implying that there's a spy in his operations (which also explains why he didn't know about the bombing of Kashiwagi's office- he never got the data in). Kiryu asks if he knows who the traitor might be, but the Florist has no leads- his staff is made up of his old guard from his days in Purgatory, and as far as he knows none of them would betray him.
Just then, one of the Florist's men informs him that they have spotted Daigo getting manhandled by some unidentified gangsters. A sudden power outage shuts down the operation as they try to pinpoint Daigo's location, and when emergency power comes back on the Florist sees eight men in the transformer room wrecking the building's power supply. Kiryu and Kaoru head down to the basement to deal with the intruders, revealing the leader to be Hiroshi Hayashi (the Omi Alliance officer that attempted to kidnap Haruka in Ares). Hayashi has been expelled from the Omi Alliance and now serves Ryuji, and was ordered to slow Kiryu's investigation down as much as possible. Kiryu fights and defeats Hayashi, and when Kaoru gets the power back on they head back up to the Florist.
The Florist reboots the power and asks for eyes on Daigo, but one of his men (who is actually the man who helped Ryuji arrange the Millennium Tower bombing), hacks the system to prevent the Florist from finding Daigo. Kaoru takes over and is able to force the hacker out, to the surprise of Kiryu but not the Florist; his research revealed Kaoru got top marks in her class on programming, and first joined the force investigating hacking and other tech crimes. She applied to Division Four almost immediately, though the Florist does not know why. The Florist's men finally get a lead on Daigo: he's on Taihei Boulevard, held captive in a room of the now abandoned Shangri-La soapland. Kiryu guesses it's a trap, and after the Florist tells him to be careful Kiryu and Kaoru head out. Unbeknownst to them, the spy snuck out while they were talking.
In Shangri-La, Kiryu goes on ahead to make sure the path is clear, fighting off a number of attackers along the way. They find Daigo tied up in a room with four Go-Ryu men, whom they defeat before freeing Daigo. Daigo informs Kiryu that Chairman Goda has been taken to a separate location, and Kiryu apologizes for taking so long to find him.
Upon learning of Date's accusation, Kaoru protests that the surveillance footage only shows half of what happened on the rooftop, but Kawara says HQ won't care. Kaoru says she'll go and take responsibility for the shooting, but Kawara says that won't help- the police threw a civilian into a classified investigation, even if Date is an ex cop, and would probably bury Kaoru's evidence with little fanfare. Kawara suggests Date skip town, and as he prepares to leave Date asks Kiryu what his plan is. Kiryu plans to find Daigo and stop the Jingweon, and since the footage of the shooting came from the Florist he decides to pay the info broker a visit to see what he knows.
Kiryu and Kaoru find the Florist in his new base on the 50th floor of the Millennium Tower. The Florist has been tracking them ever since they arrived in Kamurocho, and guesses that they're here to talk about Daigo. Kiryu brings up Date's murder charge, and the Florist reveals that he wouldn't have sent the tape to police headquarters as it contained so little evidence: someone went behind his back and sent the tape, implying that there's a spy in his operations (which also explains why he didn't know about the bombing of Kashiwagi's office- he never got the data in). Kiryu asks if he knows who the traitor might be, but the Florist has no leads- his staff is made up of his old guard from his days in Purgatory, and as far as he knows none of them would betray him.
Just then, one of the Florist's men informs him that they have spotted Daigo getting manhandled by some unidentified gangsters. A sudden power outage shuts down the operation as they try to pinpoint Daigo's location, and when emergency power comes back on the Florist sees eight men in the transformer room wrecking the building's power supply. Kiryu and Kaoru head down to the basement to deal with the intruders, revealing the leader to be Hiroshi Hayashi (the Omi Alliance officer that attempted to kidnap Haruka in Ares). Hayashi has been expelled from the Omi Alliance and now serves Ryuji, and was ordered to slow Kiryu's investigation down as much as possible. Kiryu fights and defeats Hayashi, and when Kaoru gets the power back on they head back up to the Florist.
The Florist reboots the power and asks for eyes on Daigo, but one of his men (who is actually the man who helped Ryuji arrange the Millennium Tower bombing), hacks the system to prevent the Florist from finding Daigo. Kaoru takes over and is able to force the hacker out, to the surprise of Kiryu but not the Florist; his research revealed Kaoru got top marks in her class on programming, and first joined the force investigating hacking and other tech crimes. She applied to Division Four almost immediately, though the Florist does not know why. The Florist's men finally get a lead on Daigo: he's on Taihei Boulevard, held captive in a room of the now abandoned Shangri-La soapland. Kiryu guesses it's a trap, and after the Florist tells him to be careful Kiryu and Kaoru head out. Unbeknownst to them, the spy snuck out while they were talking.
In Shangri-La, Kiryu goes on ahead to make sure the path is clear, fighting off a number of attackers along the way. They find Daigo tied up in a room with four Go-Ryu men, whom they defeat before freeing Daigo. Daigo informs Kiryu that Chairman Goda has been taken to a separate location, and Kiryu apologizes for taking so long to find him.
Chapter 9: The Omi Invasion
After getting Daigo cleaned up and fed, Kiryu and Kaoru take him to Serena where he regales them with what happened during his kidnapping. Daigo says that his captors were exceptionally well trained, acting like a military unit rather than a gang. Kashiwagi arrives to make sure Daigo is okay, and Daigo apologizes for failing to protect Chairman Goda. Kashiwagi asks Daigo if he has any idea who captured him, and Daigo confirms it was the Jingweon. Kashiwagi asks if Daigo is sure it was the Jingweon, and both Kiryu and Kaoru are surprised that he knows of the mafia. Kashiwagi says he does, but as far as he knows the Jingweon were exterminated and their very existence scrubbed from history (which explains why the police have so little information on them). Kashiwagi explains that about 20 years prior, the Jingweon Mafia were some of the greatest rivals of the Dojima family for control over Kamurocho. In order to grow their power, Dojima ordered Kazama and Shimano to wipe out the Jingweon. Kazama expressed reservations with killing them all, but Dojima and Shimano were insistent and the attack was carried out. The resulting massacre saw the Jingweon killed to a man, their base of operations burned down, and Dojima in complete control of Kamurocho.
Kashiwagi finishes by saying Dojima's destruction of the Jingweon enabled not only his and Shimano's rise to power, but allowed the Tojo Clan to expand and become the powerhouse it is today. Daigo points out that the Jingweon should still be eradicated, but Kashiwagi guesses that perhaps some of its members escaped the massacre, with Daigo and Kiryu adding that perhaps they reformed and joined Ryuji in his war against the Tojo. Kaoru asks where the police were in all this, and Kashiwagi tells her they did not have a solid lead on the Jingweon and so let Dojima do his thing. If Kaoru wants any more details she should ask the detective on the case, but he can't recall who that was as it's been over 20 years since the massacre. Their enemies are numerous and their motives are shrouded, but the four know they have to defeat the Go-Ryu and the Jingweon if there is to be any peace in Kamurocho.
Kashiwagi takes his leave, telling Kiryu to speak with Yayoi at Terada's funeral the next day. He and Daigo head to the funeral while Kaoru contacts her superiors in Osaka, the two debriefing Yayoi about the Go-Ryu and the Jingweon. Kiryu says that if they can get Chairman Goda back and form the alliance, the Go-Ryu's plans may be handicapped. Just then they hear a commotion outside, and when Kiryu and Daigo go to investigate they find a small army of Go-Ryu soldiers forcing their way in. Right after Kiryu and Daigo defeat the invaders, Ryuji arrives ostensibly to pay respects to Terada, though Kashiwagi tells him he's not welcome. Ryuji insists he's not here to start a fight (and didn't order the attack on the funeral), though he doesn't waste any time mocking the Tojo for their turmoil. Kiryu asks Ryuji where Chairman Goda is, but Ryuji does not give a straight answer. Yayoi tells Ryuji that his father probably is ashamed of Ryuji's actions, but Ryuji shakes it off because he is not actually related by blood to Chairman Goda. Ryuji prepares to leave, but he gives Kiryu an ultimatum: they have three days to mourn and prepare, and then he will march on Kamurocho. Ryuji also wonders aloud what Sengoku is up to, but leaves as Kiryu contemplates this.
Kiryu arrives back in Kamurocho and meets up with Kaoru outside Purgatory. The two head further into town and find the place littered with dead or injured Omi soldiers, a victorious but battered Majima standing in their midst. Majima tells Kiryu to go back to Tojo HQ- the Omi attack on Kamurocho was only a distraction, and Shindo intends to betray the Tojo Clan to Sengoku. While Kaoru gets Majima medical attention, Kiryu rushes back to the headquarters.
Kiryu arrives and finds that Shindo has taken Daigo, Kashiwagi, and Yayoi hostage. Shindo informs Kiryu that Sengoku's men are out killing the rest of the Tojo officers and that he's taking over the Tojo Clan, and he wants to take Yayoi for himself as well. Kiryu asks if Shindo has no shame, and he defends himself by pointing out that Kiryu and Nishiki's relationship with Yumi led to their battle and the gradual decline of the Tojo Clan. Yayoi refuses Shindo, and he declares that he'll take her by force if he has to. Kiryu steps up to defend Yayoi, and the two men battle through the headquarters and out into the courtyard. Eventually Kiryu defeats Shindo with help from yayoi, but when they return to save Daigo and Kashiwagi Shindo recovers and attacks. Still, this is not enough to defeat the Dragon of Dojima, and Kiryu defeats Shindo and subdues the men guarding Daigo and Kashiwagi. Shindo attempts to shoot Yayoi, but Daigo grabs a discarded gun and shoots him instead. As things calm down, Yayoi orders the Nishikiyama family driven from Kamurocho.
Kashiwagi finishes by saying Dojima's destruction of the Jingweon enabled not only his and Shimano's rise to power, but allowed the Tojo Clan to expand and become the powerhouse it is today. Daigo points out that the Jingweon should still be eradicated, but Kashiwagi guesses that perhaps some of its members escaped the massacre, with Daigo and Kiryu adding that perhaps they reformed and joined Ryuji in his war against the Tojo. Kaoru asks where the police were in all this, and Kashiwagi tells her they did not have a solid lead on the Jingweon and so let Dojima do his thing. If Kaoru wants any more details she should ask the detective on the case, but he can't recall who that was as it's been over 20 years since the massacre. Their enemies are numerous and their motives are shrouded, but the four know they have to defeat the Go-Ryu and the Jingweon if there is to be any peace in Kamurocho.
Kashiwagi takes his leave, telling Kiryu to speak with Yayoi at Terada's funeral the next day. He and Daigo head to the funeral while Kaoru contacts her superiors in Osaka, the two debriefing Yayoi about the Go-Ryu and the Jingweon. Kiryu says that if they can get Chairman Goda back and form the alliance, the Go-Ryu's plans may be handicapped. Just then they hear a commotion outside, and when Kiryu and Daigo go to investigate they find a small army of Go-Ryu soldiers forcing their way in. Right after Kiryu and Daigo defeat the invaders, Ryuji arrives ostensibly to pay respects to Terada, though Kashiwagi tells him he's not welcome. Ryuji insists he's not here to start a fight (and didn't order the attack on the funeral), though he doesn't waste any time mocking the Tojo for their turmoil. Kiryu asks Ryuji where Chairman Goda is, but Ryuji does not give a straight answer. Yayoi tells Ryuji that his father probably is ashamed of Ryuji's actions, but Ryuji shakes it off because he is not actually related by blood to Chairman Goda. Ryuji prepares to leave, but he gives Kiryu an ultimatum: they have three days to mourn and prepare, and then he will march on Kamurocho. Ryuji also wonders aloud what Sengoku is up to, but leaves as Kiryu contemplates this.
Kiryu arrives back in Kamurocho and meets up with Kaoru outside Purgatory. The two head further into town and find the place littered with dead or injured Omi soldiers, a victorious but battered Majima standing in their midst. Majima tells Kiryu to go back to Tojo HQ- the Omi attack on Kamurocho was only a distraction, and Shindo intends to betray the Tojo Clan to Sengoku. While Kaoru gets Majima medical attention, Kiryu rushes back to the headquarters.
Kiryu arrives and finds that Shindo has taken Daigo, Kashiwagi, and Yayoi hostage. Shindo informs Kiryu that Sengoku's men are out killing the rest of the Tojo officers and that he's taking over the Tojo Clan, and he wants to take Yayoi for himself as well. Kiryu asks if Shindo has no shame, and he defends himself by pointing out that Kiryu and Nishiki's relationship with Yumi led to their battle and the gradual decline of the Tojo Clan. Yayoi refuses Shindo, and he declares that he'll take her by force if he has to. Kiryu steps up to defend Yayoi, and the two men battle through the headquarters and out into the courtyard. Eventually Kiryu defeats Shindo with help from yayoi, but when they return to save Daigo and Kashiwagi Shindo recovers and attacks. Still, this is not enough to defeat the Dragon of Dojima, and Kiryu defeats Shindo and subdues the men guarding Daigo and Kashiwagi. Shindo attempts to shoot Yayoi, but Daigo grabs a discarded gun and shoots him instead. As things calm down, Yayoi orders the Nishikiyama family driven from Kamurocho.
Chapter 10: Survivors
Date and Kawara break into police headquarters, specifically Archive Room 13 where Date finds records on the Dojima family's extermination of the Jingweon. Date also learns that Kawara and Bessho were the detectives assigned to the case, and after saying Kurahashi volunteered him for the case Kawara surrenders his badge and leaves, ignoring Date's calls for him to come back.
Date meets with Kiryu and Kaoru to relay this information to them. Kiryu asks where Kawara is, but Date shows Kiryu Kawara's badge and how he disappeared from the case. Kiryu notices that Kaoru seems upset, and she is frustrated that Bessho never mentioned his involvement with the Jingweon to her. Date tells them the report said Bessho picked up on Dojima's plot while in Division 4, but chose to do nothing and allowed Dojima to destroy the Jingweon (which got him busted down to Osaka when his superiors found out). Kiryu suggests that Date drop the case as well, but he refuses to let things end like this. He asks Kiryu what his plan is, and Kiryu says that since they have no leads on Chairman Goda he'll pursue Ryuji back to Kansai.
While Kaoru gets her things together, Kiryu heads out into town and runs into Takashi, the Florist's estranged son. Takashi is out with a woman who is definitely not Kyoka, and when Kiryu expresses his disapproval Takashi takes Kiryu to a bar to explain. He has tried and failed at every job under the sun to support Kyoka, but learned that she was meeting with someone behind his back. Takashi asks Kiryu if he could be introduced to the Florist and use his surveillance to find out what Kyoka is up to. Kiryu goes to the Florist, and after a brief moment of hesitation the Florist agrees to meet with Takashi. Kiryu brings Takashi to the Florist, and the Florist shows that the person Kyoka was meeting with was actually her father; Kyoka had wanted to borrow a loan from him to keep them afloat until Takashi found a stable job, and though he disapproves her father agrees to the loan. Takashi berates himself for his cowardice and jumping to conclusions, and the Florist tells him that his father would be ashamed of him. Takashi asks if the Florist could find his father, but the Florist says it'll cost him a lot more than he's got and advises him to come back when he has some real cash. Takashi leaves and Kiryu goes to meet Kaoru for the trip back to Kansai.
When Kiryu gets back to Serena, he finds Kaoru cleaning her pistol. She says that with the revelation that Bessho allowed the Jingweon Massacre she can no longer trust anyone. Kaoru intends to go to Osaka PD headquarters to get to the bottom of the Jingweon case, and when Kiryu says she can do that while he finds Chairman Goda she aims her gun at him and orders him to come with her (as he's technically still in her custody). They meet with Bessho at headquarters and Kaoru tells him of the connection between the Jingweon and the Go-Ryu, asking of there's anything he would like to add. Bessho says no, and when Kaoru asks why he never told her he says that he didn't see any connection and wasn't about to go spilling classified information. Kaoru asks if he could tell her more about the case, and Bessho obliges; the cops could not pin anything on the Jingweon despite the mounting number of cases against them, so in desperation they let the yakuza take care of things. Kaoru asks if he knows anything about why the Jingweon are back and Bessho says that of the 36 members of the Jingweon at the time only 33 were confirmed dead, meaning three others escaped. Bessho knows of one, a man going by the name "Murai" whom Bessho and Kawara brought to Osaka to shield from Jingweon retribution. Bessho then informs Kaoru that her protective custody job is over, as the Jingweon being involved makes the case far above her paygrade. Kaoru protests that the Jingweon are still just criminals and it's her job to bring them to justice, but Bessho says the Jingweon are much more dangerous than anything she's faced before. Kaoru refuses to listen and storms out, and before Kiryu leaves to follow her Bessho tells him to keep an eye on her. Kiryu has one final question: are Kawara's shooting of foreigners related to the Jingweon Massacre and his transfer to Kansai? Bessho doesn't answer and leaves.
Kiryu goes to Aoi to find Kaoru, but Tamiyo informs Kiryu that Kaoru is not there, guessing she's gone to one of her other favorite bars to drown her sorrows. He eventually finds Kaoru walking by the river, where he rescues her from a group of punks that had been harassing pedestrians. They are spotted by some cops that try to arrest them for public brawling, but Kaoru takes Kiryu's hand and they hide out in a nearby alley. Kaoru holds Kiryu's hand for just long enough for things to get awkward, and the two apologize to one another for the incident. However, Kaoru is in a good mood and asks Kiryu if he's free, and the two have a nice night on the town enjoying each other's company.
The two share a beer on a rooftop overlooking one of the main streets. Kiryu compliments Kaoru for being considerate to him, and Kaoru is quick to reject such descriptors as "cute" or "kind"; all the men in her life have seen her as the Yakuza Hunter, and she doesn't have time for that kind of thing. Kiryu is being genuine, though, saying the others don't see her as both a cop and a woman and he encourages her to not let one aspect overcome the other. Kaoru says she has nothing against romance, but being a hard-liner got her to where she is today and she's not about to let that go. Kiryu, though, counters that she can't always base everything on first impressions- after all, he's not exactly what one would consider an ex-yakuza to be like. He tells Kaoru to get some rest so they can meet with Murai the next day, and the two part ways.
Kiryu heads out into town and spots an old man about to throw a tattoo design of a golden dragon into the river. Kiryu stops the man and asks if he would regret it, and the man invites him to tea to discuss the matter. They return to the old man's studio, where he gives the tattoo design to his apprentice Akina and tells her to lock it away somewhere where "he" won't find it. The man introduces himself as Kazahori IV, and Kiryu says he knows the man from some of his conversations with his own tattoo artist, Utabori II. Kiryu asks why Kazahori was about to pitch the design into the river, and Kazahori says that the dragon is practically an heirloom of his family- only the acting Kazahori has any right to use it. He is about to go into further detail when Akina rushes in and tells Kazahori that a man named Satoshi (Kazahori's first student) broke in and stole the design. Kazahori explains that he's planning on retiring soon and wanted Akina to take over, but tattoos are a male-dominated field and Satoshi didn't take too kindly to being passed over. Akina is just better than Satoshi in every way despite being ten years his junior, able to see the fate of every customer she's inked as Kazahori puts it, but Akina is refusing to take the Kazahori name for some reason. Kiryu won't let Satoshi dishonor the Kazahori name, so he goes to get the dragon design back in exchange for Akina telling them why she doesn't want to be Kazahori V.
Kiryu goes to Satoshi's hideout, hearing him gloating that when everyone knows about that hotshot that has the dragon on his back and that Satoshi has the design, they'll come flocking to him. Kiryu enters and smashes Satoshi and his goons into the dirt for stealing the tattoo design, with Kazahori and Akina arriving once he's finished. Kazahori calls out Satoshi for focusing on the mechanics of tattooing and not the spirit, how a tattoo can change someone's very destiny. Satoshi doesn't care for that aspect and asks that if it's so important, who's got the golden dragon tattoo now. Kazahori reveals that Ryuji Goda received the dragon tattoo, but it wasn't him who inked it: it was Akina. When Ryuji first came to Kazahori, he realized the man was something special and chose to give him the golden dragon, but as he worked on the outlines Kazahori locked up and couldn't finish, and so Akina finished Ryuji's tattoo. After that Ryuji rose through the ranks and became the monster he is now, and Akina was so terrified that a man like that could bear her ink that she refused the Kazahori name. Kiryu shows his tattoo and tells the others that he has gained and lost much since he took the dragon tattoo, going on to say that it's not the place of the tattoo artist to pick the path the customer follows, but the customer's own free will. Kiryu thanks them for their time and leaves, and Akina swears to Kiryu that she will become Kazahori V.
Date meets with Kiryu and Kaoru to relay this information to them. Kiryu asks where Kawara is, but Date shows Kiryu Kawara's badge and how he disappeared from the case. Kiryu notices that Kaoru seems upset, and she is frustrated that Bessho never mentioned his involvement with the Jingweon to her. Date tells them the report said Bessho picked up on Dojima's plot while in Division 4, but chose to do nothing and allowed Dojima to destroy the Jingweon (which got him busted down to Osaka when his superiors found out). Kiryu suggests that Date drop the case as well, but he refuses to let things end like this. He asks Kiryu what his plan is, and Kiryu says that since they have no leads on Chairman Goda he'll pursue Ryuji back to Kansai.
While Kaoru gets her things together, Kiryu heads out into town and runs into Takashi, the Florist's estranged son. Takashi is out with a woman who is definitely not Kyoka, and when Kiryu expresses his disapproval Takashi takes Kiryu to a bar to explain. He has tried and failed at every job under the sun to support Kyoka, but learned that she was meeting with someone behind his back. Takashi asks Kiryu if he could be introduced to the Florist and use his surveillance to find out what Kyoka is up to. Kiryu goes to the Florist, and after a brief moment of hesitation the Florist agrees to meet with Takashi. Kiryu brings Takashi to the Florist, and the Florist shows that the person Kyoka was meeting with was actually her father; Kyoka had wanted to borrow a loan from him to keep them afloat until Takashi found a stable job, and though he disapproves her father agrees to the loan. Takashi berates himself for his cowardice and jumping to conclusions, and the Florist tells him that his father would be ashamed of him. Takashi asks if the Florist could find his father, but the Florist says it'll cost him a lot more than he's got and advises him to come back when he has some real cash. Takashi leaves and Kiryu goes to meet Kaoru for the trip back to Kansai.
When Kiryu gets back to Serena, he finds Kaoru cleaning her pistol. She says that with the revelation that Bessho allowed the Jingweon Massacre she can no longer trust anyone. Kaoru intends to go to Osaka PD headquarters to get to the bottom of the Jingweon case, and when Kiryu says she can do that while he finds Chairman Goda she aims her gun at him and orders him to come with her (as he's technically still in her custody). They meet with Bessho at headquarters and Kaoru tells him of the connection between the Jingweon and the Go-Ryu, asking of there's anything he would like to add. Bessho says no, and when Kaoru asks why he never told her he says that he didn't see any connection and wasn't about to go spilling classified information. Kaoru asks if he could tell her more about the case, and Bessho obliges; the cops could not pin anything on the Jingweon despite the mounting number of cases against them, so in desperation they let the yakuza take care of things. Kaoru asks if he knows anything about why the Jingweon are back and Bessho says that of the 36 members of the Jingweon at the time only 33 were confirmed dead, meaning three others escaped. Bessho knows of one, a man going by the name "Murai" whom Bessho and Kawara brought to Osaka to shield from Jingweon retribution. Bessho then informs Kaoru that her protective custody job is over, as the Jingweon being involved makes the case far above her paygrade. Kaoru protests that the Jingweon are still just criminals and it's her job to bring them to justice, but Bessho says the Jingweon are much more dangerous than anything she's faced before. Kaoru refuses to listen and storms out, and before Kiryu leaves to follow her Bessho tells him to keep an eye on her. Kiryu has one final question: are Kawara's shooting of foreigners related to the Jingweon Massacre and his transfer to Kansai? Bessho doesn't answer and leaves.
Kiryu goes to Aoi to find Kaoru, but Tamiyo informs Kiryu that Kaoru is not there, guessing she's gone to one of her other favorite bars to drown her sorrows. He eventually finds Kaoru walking by the river, where he rescues her from a group of punks that had been harassing pedestrians. They are spotted by some cops that try to arrest them for public brawling, but Kaoru takes Kiryu's hand and they hide out in a nearby alley. Kaoru holds Kiryu's hand for just long enough for things to get awkward, and the two apologize to one another for the incident. However, Kaoru is in a good mood and asks Kiryu if he's free, and the two have a nice night on the town enjoying each other's company.
The two share a beer on a rooftop overlooking one of the main streets. Kiryu compliments Kaoru for being considerate to him, and Kaoru is quick to reject such descriptors as "cute" or "kind"; all the men in her life have seen her as the Yakuza Hunter, and she doesn't have time for that kind of thing. Kiryu is being genuine, though, saying the others don't see her as both a cop and a woman and he encourages her to not let one aspect overcome the other. Kaoru says she has nothing against romance, but being a hard-liner got her to where she is today and she's not about to let that go. Kiryu, though, counters that she can't always base everything on first impressions- after all, he's not exactly what one would consider an ex-yakuza to be like. He tells Kaoru to get some rest so they can meet with Murai the next day, and the two part ways.
Kiryu heads out into town and spots an old man about to throw a tattoo design of a golden dragon into the river. Kiryu stops the man and asks if he would regret it, and the man invites him to tea to discuss the matter. They return to the old man's studio, where he gives the tattoo design to his apprentice Akina and tells her to lock it away somewhere where "he" won't find it. The man introduces himself as Kazahori IV, and Kiryu says he knows the man from some of his conversations with his own tattoo artist, Utabori II. Kiryu asks why Kazahori was about to pitch the design into the river, and Kazahori says that the dragon is practically an heirloom of his family- only the acting Kazahori has any right to use it. He is about to go into further detail when Akina rushes in and tells Kazahori that a man named Satoshi (Kazahori's first student) broke in and stole the design. Kazahori explains that he's planning on retiring soon and wanted Akina to take over, but tattoos are a male-dominated field and Satoshi didn't take too kindly to being passed over. Akina is just better than Satoshi in every way despite being ten years his junior, able to see the fate of every customer she's inked as Kazahori puts it, but Akina is refusing to take the Kazahori name for some reason. Kiryu won't let Satoshi dishonor the Kazahori name, so he goes to get the dragon design back in exchange for Akina telling them why she doesn't want to be Kazahori V.
Kiryu goes to Satoshi's hideout, hearing him gloating that when everyone knows about that hotshot that has the dragon on his back and that Satoshi has the design, they'll come flocking to him. Kiryu enters and smashes Satoshi and his goons into the dirt for stealing the tattoo design, with Kazahori and Akina arriving once he's finished. Kazahori calls out Satoshi for focusing on the mechanics of tattooing and not the spirit, how a tattoo can change someone's very destiny. Satoshi doesn't care for that aspect and asks that if it's so important, who's got the golden dragon tattoo now. Kazahori reveals that Ryuji Goda received the dragon tattoo, but it wasn't him who inked it: it was Akina. When Ryuji first came to Kazahori, he realized the man was something special and chose to give him the golden dragon, but as he worked on the outlines Kazahori locked up and couldn't finish, and so Akina finished Ryuji's tattoo. After that Ryuji rose through the ranks and became the monster he is now, and Akina was so terrified that a man like that could bear her ink that she refused the Kazahori name. Kiryu shows his tattoo and tells the others that he has gained and lost much since he took the dragon tattoo, going on to say that it's not the place of the tattoo artist to pick the path the customer follows, but the customer's own free will. Kiryu thanks them for their time and leaves, and Akina swears to Kiryu that she will become Kazahori V.
Chapter 11: The Iron Creed
Kiryu goes and meets Kaoru at Iwao bridge, but she expresses hesitation on leaving. She admits something last night left her worried- the thought crossed her minds that she is one of the Jingweon survivors, as her age and the death of her parents correlates with the Dojima family's extermination of the Koreans. Kiryu asks if she would like to call off the meeting with Murai, but Kaoru is not one to back down from her past like that. The two head out to find Keima.
After beating the man, he explains that particular shogi piece was crafted by a master and is incredibly rare- anyone could get anywhere with a piece like that. As he runs off and swears vengeance, Kiryu gets a call from the mysterious voice, to congratulates him on his victory and tells him to show the piece to "Santa Claus". Santa turns out to be a thug with red hair and a suit hanging out on a park bench, and he takes Kiryu and Kaoru to an underground shogi parlor.
It was Christmas Eve, and the Jingweon were celebrating the holiday when the Dojima Family attacked. Kazama and Shimano worked with precision, offing one Jingweon after another, but obviously they missed some or Murai would not have survived. Murai was spirited away by Kawara and Bessho, but was eventually found by other Jingweon members from the mainland. To escape retribution, Murai sold out his countrymen, but not the other two survivors that the police know of, Daejin Kim and Yeongmin Ji (two teens that escaped the Jingweon Massacre somehow); instead, he sold out the other two survivors, the boss' wife and her child.
During the massacre, Murai witnessed Kazama's execution of the Jingweon leader and the dying man's instructions to Kawara to rescue his family. Kazama spared Murai's life, but Shimano was not so generous and shot Murai as he went to see if his boss was still alive. The shot was non-fatal, and Murai was recovered by Kawara and Bessho.
Kiryu realizes that this means Kaoru is the daughter of the Jingweon Boss. Kaoru asks what happened to the boss' wife and child, and Murai says they were spirited away by Kawara- he lost track of them soon after. Kaoru asks who killed the father, and Murai admits he doesn't know the name of the killer but does describe Kazama perfectly. Kiryu goes on to admit that he was there too, but before he can say more a Jingweon hit squad arrives looking for Murai. Kiryu demands they tell him where Chairman Goda is, but Murai tells him it's no use- these are elites from the mainland, and they're not going to give up valuable information that easily. Kiryu and Kaoru defeat the Jingweon, but as Kiryu tries interrogating them one musters enough strength to pitch his knife into Murai's stomach. Distracted, Kiryu is unable to prevent the hit squad from downing poison, preventing him and Kaoru from pumping any of them for information.
Murai tells them that's typical of the Jingweon- die before breaking. He admits he should have died too and spared so much more hurt, and as he tells Kaoru that he'll give his regards to her mother in the next life he drives the knife deeper into his stomach and dies. Kiryu tries to comfort Kaoru, but she rebuffs him and runs off.
Yakuza 2
Kiryu and Kaoru head to the small Shinsei district of Osaka. Following a lead from a shogi player and a direction from a man known to steal the donations given to Billiken shrines, Kiryu is directed to the Tsutenkaku tower and told to use a specific pair of binoculars marked by yellow tape. The binoculars are trained on a billboard; calling the number on the advertisement and providing the number of steps in the Tustenkaku tower gives Kiryu the intel that he should order a specific dish from a local restaurant. After eating the dish, he discovers a shogi piece within the food that will grant him and Kaoru access to an underground shogi parlor.Yakuza 2: Kiwami
Remaining in Sotenbori, Kiryu and Kaoru pick up a lead from a shogi player that tells them to find someone named Ginkaku to let them in. Unfortunately the place that Ginkaku frequents is closed, but there's a phone number affixed to the wall next to the bar. Kiryu gives it a call, and after giving the voice on the other end the measurements of a local hostess Kiryu and Kaoru are let inside. They then fetch a shareholder's ticket from a nearby safe (the code being the arrangement of specific shogi pieces on a nearby board), and the voice instructs them to go by presents at a nearby restaurant. The "present" is actually a shogi piece hidden in Kiryu's food, and as he talks to Kaoru about it the shogi player from before comes over and asks for the piece. Kiryu refuses as he doesn't yet know what it's for, and the old shogi player attacks him and Kaoru.After beating the man, he explains that particular shogi piece was crafted by a master and is incredibly rare- anyone could get anywhere with a piece like that. As he runs off and swears vengeance, Kiryu gets a call from the mysterious voice, to congratulates him on his victory and tells him to show the piece to "Santa Claus". Santa turns out to be a thug with red hair and a suit hanging out on a park bench, and he takes Kiryu and Kaoru to an underground shogi parlor.
Both games
They find Murai inspecting a recreation of a past professional shogi match, though he says he doesn't have anything to offer Kaoru. When Kaoru says she's with the police and thinks she may be one of the Jingweon survivors, Murai tells her that she'd be better off not knowing and tries to leave. Kaoru insists, and after more stalling Murai finally tells his story.It was Christmas Eve, and the Jingweon were celebrating the holiday when the Dojima Family attacked. Kazama and Shimano worked with precision, offing one Jingweon after another, but obviously they missed some or Murai would not have survived. Murai was spirited away by Kawara and Bessho, but was eventually found by other Jingweon members from the mainland. To escape retribution, Murai sold out his countrymen, but not the other two survivors that the police know of, Daejin Kim and Yeongmin Ji (two teens that escaped the Jingweon Massacre somehow); instead, he sold out the other two survivors, the boss' wife and her child.
During the massacre, Murai witnessed Kazama's execution of the Jingweon leader and the dying man's instructions to Kawara to rescue his family. Kazama spared Murai's life, but Shimano was not so generous and shot Murai as he went to see if his boss was still alive. The shot was non-fatal, and Murai was recovered by Kawara and Bessho.
Kiryu realizes that this means Kaoru is the daughter of the Jingweon Boss. Kaoru asks what happened to the boss' wife and child, and Murai says they were spirited away by Kawara- he lost track of them soon after. Kaoru asks who killed the father, and Murai admits he doesn't know the name of the killer but does describe Kazama perfectly. Kiryu goes on to admit that he was there too, but before he can say more a Jingweon hit squad arrives looking for Murai. Kiryu demands they tell him where Chairman Goda is, but Murai tells him it's no use- these are elites from the mainland, and they're not going to give up valuable information that easily. Kiryu and Kaoru defeat the Jingweon, but as Kiryu tries interrogating them one musters enough strength to pitch his knife into Murai's stomach. Distracted, Kiryu is unable to prevent the hit squad from downing poison, preventing him and Kaoru from pumping any of them for information.
Murai tells them that's typical of the Jingweon- die before breaking. He admits he should have died too and spared so much more hurt, and as he tells Kaoru that he'll give his regards to her mother in the next life he drives the knife deeper into his stomach and dies. Kiryu tries to comfort Kaoru, but she rebuffs him and runs off.
Chapter 12: Osaka Castle
Kiryu finds Kaoru on the boardwalk they met up on the previous night. Now it's Kiryu's turn to explain what happened; Every Christmas Kazama used to visit Sunflower Orphanage, where Kiryu grew up, but that year he didn't show. Kiryu, concerned that something was wrong, went to Kamurocho and saw Kazama and Shimano leaving for the Jingweon attack. Kazama acted unusually cold that night, and Kiryu decided to follow them to see what was going on. As it turns out, Kazama had intended to defy Dojima and try to save as many of the Jingweon as he could on the condition that they never return to Kamurocho, but Kiryu didn't know this and bust into the negotiations with a pipe to save Kazama. The Jingweon panicked at the apparent double cross, and Kazama's hand was forced and he shot the leader of the Jingweon when he attempted to kill Kiryu. Kazama shot to defend Kiryu, but in his eyes he may as well have killed the Jingweon boss (and Kaoru's father) himself.
As Kaoru leaves, Kiryu asks if she's going to kill him for his actions. Kaoru yells at him to drop the tough guy act, asking him if he thinks his words are enough to resolve everything that's going on right now, or if killing him will actually soothe Kaoru's angst. She storms off and leaves Kiryu alone, where he stays until nightfall contemplating all that's happened. As he broods, a homeless man walks up and plants a dagger in his stomach, walking off before Kiryu can retaliate. Sensing that there was poison on the blade (as his bleeding won't stop), Kiryu hobbles to Aoi for treatment. The last thing he sees is Kawara and Tamiyo standing over him.
At Sengoku's headquarters, the Patriarch is talking with Ryuji and Takashima about the events in Sotenbori. Ryuji says the Koreans did that without his interference, which Sengoku doesn't buy. Ryuji threatens Sengoku over his mockery, but Takashima tells him to stand down. Sengoku is amused, and reveals the final piece in his plan to take the Chairmanship of the Omi Alliance: he has kidnapped Haruka and intends to use her as bait to draw Kiryu in. Neither Ryuji or Takashima care for this plan, but Sengoku couldn't care less and laughs over his impending victory over Kiryu.
Kiryu comes to and asks why Tamiyo was meeting with Kawara. Tamiyo says he was checking on Kaoru, but doesn't answer anything more before handing Kiryu a note. She found it in Kiryu's coat, which means the homeless man that stabbed him must have slipped it in without Kiryu's noticing. Kiryu reads the note and learns of Haruka's capture, and as he heads out Tamiyo warns him to take it easy so his wounds don't open up again.
Kiryu gets a call from a blocked number telling him to go to the Golf Center alone. He finds a hitman waiting for him, but after he beats the guy he's unable to get more information (the hitman was hired anonymously online). Kiryu heads out again and gets a call from Kurokawa the informant, who asks to meet Kiryu at the river. Once Kiryu arrives, Kurokawa admits he called the hitman so he could collect on Kiryu's bounty, and he calls over more thugs to deal with Kiryu. After Kiryu defeats Kurokawa, the informant informs him Esaki hired him with the promise of 10 million yen if he took down Kiryu. He says Esaki is hiding out at a nearby acupuncture clinic, and Kiryu goes to confront him. Kiryu finds Esaki and chases him to a nearby parking lot. Eskai once again tries to fight Kiryu, but Kiryu defeats him and demands to know where Haruka and Sengoku are. Esaki gets a call from Sengoku ordering him to bring Kiryu, but rather than put himself in the line of fire Esaki tells Kiryu to go by himself to Osaka Castle.
Kiryu finds Osaka Castle, and sees that Sengoku made some... renovations. Mainly, an even bigger, golden castle that rises up from beneath the first castle, filled with samurai and ninjas that are ready to keep Kiryu from Haruka. Kiryu fights past the Omi men and confronts Sengoku and Haruka, but Sengoku says he's not interested in fighting Kiryu... He'll leave that to his pets, unleashing two tigers to kill Kiryu while he watches with Haruka. Kiryu is not one to be slowed by tigers, and after a long fight defeats both beasts (including taking the last one out with a Tiger Drop). A now panicking Sengoku runs off to his office with Haruka, with Kiryu in hot pursuit.
When they arrive in Sengoku's office, they find Ryuji waiting for them. Sengoku demands an explanation, and Ryuji apologizes to Kiryu for putting up with Sengoku's antics before slashing the Patriarch with his katana. He berates Sengoku for stooping so low as to kidnap a child, and when Sengoku tries to talk back to Ryuji the Dragon of Kansai guts him and kicks him off the castle. Ryuji hands Haruka back to Kiryu and tells him he still has one more day before the Go-Ryu marches on Kamurocho, and when Kiryu tells him he'll be ready Ryuji leaves without another word. Kiryu frees Haruka from her bonds and tells her he's sorry for once more getting her mixed up in all this, but he collapses as his wounds open up again. Fortunately, Kaoru got word Kiryu would be heading to the castle and followed after him to help, the three leaving the castle and heading back to Aoi. Unbeknownst to them, Kawara witnessed the events and follows along behind.
As Kaoru leaves, Kiryu asks if she's going to kill him for his actions. Kaoru yells at him to drop the tough guy act, asking him if he thinks his words are enough to resolve everything that's going on right now, or if killing him will actually soothe Kaoru's angst. She storms off and leaves Kiryu alone, where he stays until nightfall contemplating all that's happened. As he broods, a homeless man walks up and plants a dagger in his stomach, walking off before Kiryu can retaliate. Sensing that there was poison on the blade (as his bleeding won't stop), Kiryu hobbles to Aoi for treatment. The last thing he sees is Kawara and Tamiyo standing over him.
At Sengoku's headquarters, the Patriarch is talking with Ryuji and Takashima about the events in Sotenbori. Ryuji says the Koreans did that without his interference, which Sengoku doesn't buy. Ryuji threatens Sengoku over his mockery, but Takashima tells him to stand down. Sengoku is amused, and reveals the final piece in his plan to take the Chairmanship of the Omi Alliance: he has kidnapped Haruka and intends to use her as bait to draw Kiryu in. Neither Ryuji or Takashima care for this plan, but Sengoku couldn't care less and laughs over his impending victory over Kiryu.
Kiryu comes to and asks why Tamiyo was meeting with Kawara. Tamiyo says he was checking on Kaoru, but doesn't answer anything more before handing Kiryu a note. She found it in Kiryu's coat, which means the homeless man that stabbed him must have slipped it in without Kiryu's noticing. Kiryu reads the note and learns of Haruka's capture, and as he heads out Tamiyo warns him to take it easy so his wounds don't open up again.
Kiryu gets a call from a blocked number telling him to go to the Golf Center alone. He finds a hitman waiting for him, but after he beats the guy he's unable to get more information (the hitman was hired anonymously online). Kiryu heads out again and gets a call from Kurokawa the informant, who asks to meet Kiryu at the river. Once Kiryu arrives, Kurokawa admits he called the hitman so he could collect on Kiryu's bounty, and he calls over more thugs to deal with Kiryu. After Kiryu defeats Kurokawa, the informant informs him Esaki hired him with the promise of 10 million yen if he took down Kiryu. He says Esaki is hiding out at a nearby acupuncture clinic, and Kiryu goes to confront him. Kiryu finds Esaki and chases him to a nearby parking lot. Eskai once again tries to fight Kiryu, but Kiryu defeats him and demands to know where Haruka and Sengoku are. Esaki gets a call from Sengoku ordering him to bring Kiryu, but rather than put himself in the line of fire Esaki tells Kiryu to go by himself to Osaka Castle.
Kiryu finds Osaka Castle, and sees that Sengoku made some... renovations. Mainly, an even bigger, golden castle that rises up from beneath the first castle, filled with samurai and ninjas that are ready to keep Kiryu from Haruka. Kiryu fights past the Omi men and confronts Sengoku and Haruka, but Sengoku says he's not interested in fighting Kiryu... He'll leave that to his pets, unleashing two tigers to kill Kiryu while he watches with Haruka. Kiryu is not one to be slowed by tigers, and after a long fight defeats both beasts (including taking the last one out with a Tiger Drop). A now panicking Sengoku runs off to his office with Haruka, with Kiryu in hot pursuit.
When they arrive in Sengoku's office, they find Ryuji waiting for them. Sengoku demands an explanation, and Ryuji apologizes to Kiryu for putting up with Sengoku's antics before slashing the Patriarch with his katana. He berates Sengoku for stooping so low as to kidnap a child, and when Sengoku tries to talk back to Ryuji the Dragon of Kansai guts him and kicks him off the castle. Ryuji hands Haruka back to Kiryu and tells him he still has one more day before the Go-Ryu marches on Kamurocho, and when Kiryu tells him he'll be ready Ryuji leaves without another word. Kiryu frees Haruka from her bonds and tells her he's sorry for once more getting her mixed up in all this, but he collapses as his wounds open up again. Fortunately, Kaoru got word Kiryu would be heading to the castle and followed after him to help, the three leaving the castle and heading back to Aoi. Unbeknownst to them, Kawara witnessed the events and follows along behind.
Chapter 13: Settling Accounts
Haruka and Kaoru patch up Kiryu's injuries at Aoi. As Kiryu thanks Haruka, Kaoru finds a letter from Tamiyo says that her father is still alive. Kaoru runs out to find Tamiyo, and Kiryu decides to take Haruka out to see a little bit of Osaka while they wait. While they are out and about, Haruka is spotted by a talent agent who wants to make her an idol. Neither Haruka or Kiryu are interested, but at the agent's insistence they hear him out. The agent does win Kiryu's interest by pointing out that becoming an idol could shield her from being collateral damage when conflict rears its head in his life, though when they come out they find agents from a different group (backed by the Omi) trying to take Haruka. Kiryu defeats them and explains to Haruka his deal with the first agent, but she refuses to leave Kiryu and says she'd just find a way to track him down. The two leave while the agent laments his loss (though they do help him discover a waitress with a great voice as compensation).
When they return to Aoi, Kiryu gets another phone call. It's Kurahashi from Foreign Affairs, and he has taken Date hostage; Kurahashi is actually Yeongmin Ji, one of the survivors of the Jingweon Massacre, and Date is the bait to gather everyone in one place for the Jingweon's vengeance. Kurahashi tells Kiryu to come to the Millennium Tower by dawn, or the entire building will be leveled. He encourages Kiryu to bring Kaoru along, but doesn't say more before hanging up. Kaoru arrives and tells Kiryu she just got the news, and he tells her Kurahashi's demands. While Kiryu, Kaoru, and Haruka get ready to leave for Tokyo, it's revealed Kawara is already on his way there, and he tells Bessho to keep the Omi pinned down while he takes on Kurahashi and the Jingweon. Tamiyo warns Kawara that nothing good will come if Kaoru finds out how she's related to the Jingweon, but Kawara says he's not going to let the last 26 years of hunting them down go to waste.
On the highway, Kaoru and Haruka talk while Kiryu sleeps. Haruka says that it seems like Kiryu likes Kaoru, as he lets his guard down and acts like he does around Haruka when he's with Kaoru. Just then they are attacked by a fleet of flatbed trucks loaded with Jingweon Mafia, Kiryu jumping aboard to fight them while Kaoru takes their van ahead to protect Haruka. Kiryu fights them off and gets back to Kaoru, and the three arrive in Kamurocho with only a little bit of time left.
Kiryu and Kaoru leave Haruka at Serena while they go to the Millennium Tower to confront Kurahashi. They find him in the Florist's office, with Date and the Florist's men tied up in the center of the room and a large bomb set to go off at any moment. Kaoru asks why Kurahashi wants her, and he asks her to join him in taking vengeance for the Massacre. Just then Kawara arrives and put Kurahashi at gunpoint, telling him he's been tailing the man since he got his citizenship and joined the police. Kurahashi attempts to detonate the bomb, but Kawara shoots the detonator out of his hand an calls him out as a soulless bastard (citing Murai as a man who could give up the Jingweon Creed and move on with his life). Kawara says that once he kills Kurahashi and tracks down Daejin Kim, he Jingweon will end and no more innocents will have to die for their petty revenge. Date again tries to talk Kawara down, and Kurahashi asks if Kawara is willing to kill a man in front of his own daughter.
When Kaoru confronts Kawara over whether he's her real father, Kurahashi pulls a hidden gun and shoots Kawara. Kurahashi intends to take revenge on Kawara not only for the Jingweon massacre, but also his killings of other Jingweon agents that had come over from the mainland in the 26 years between then and now. Kaoru steps in between Kawara and Kurahashi with her gun drawn, and as Kurahashi prepares to kill the two of them Kiryu charges forward and disarms him. The mole in the Florist's office tries to kill Kiryu, but Kaoru disarms him with her pistol and sends him scurrying for cover. Kurahashi and his men attack Kiryu, but Kiryu defeats them.
While Kiryu goes to free Date and the Florist's men, Kurahashi makes for the detonator. Kaoru stops him, but as Kurahashi draws his gun to kill her Kawara jumps in front of Kaoru at the last second, taking yet another bullet. Kaoru and Kawara shoot and kill Kurahashi, after which Kawara collapses due to his injuries. Kaoru asks him why she never told her he was her father, and Kawara explains that her mother's dying wish was for Kaoru to never know. Kawara explains that after he saved the woman, Suyeon, he and Bessho snuck her down to Kansai to protect her. Syueon gave up her first child, but when Kawara checked on her six months later he found her falling apart at the seams. He got her work and a place to stay, and soon the two were living together and had Kaoru. Kawara took a job in Hong Kong (against his initial wishes) and when he returned Suyeon was dead, betrayed by Murai to the Jingweon. Date realizes that Kawara's killings were against Jingweon operatives that he hunted down in revenge, but Kawara says they served a secondary purpose: erasing Kaoru's past.
Tamiyo explains that just before she died, Suyeon brought Kaoru to her to watch over and, more importantly, never tell her of her past. Kawara kept his distance to further the charade, but he kept in touch which led to Kaoru overhearing the call about the Tojo Clan. Kaoru says she's happier knowing, and Kawara apologizes for abandoning her and then dragging her into this mess. Kaoru asks what happened to the first child, and Kawara says it's not his place to say. As he dies, Kawara takes Kaoru's hand and tells her to keep moving forward; she is not Jingweon, but a hard-working and honest person like her mother (and, as Kaoru points out, like him). Kawara thanks Kaoru for being there for him and dies.
When they return to Aoi, Kiryu gets another phone call. It's Kurahashi from Foreign Affairs, and he has taken Date hostage; Kurahashi is actually Yeongmin Ji, one of the survivors of the Jingweon Massacre, and Date is the bait to gather everyone in one place for the Jingweon's vengeance. Kurahashi tells Kiryu to come to the Millennium Tower by dawn, or the entire building will be leveled. He encourages Kiryu to bring Kaoru along, but doesn't say more before hanging up. Kaoru arrives and tells Kiryu she just got the news, and he tells her Kurahashi's demands. While Kiryu, Kaoru, and Haruka get ready to leave for Tokyo, it's revealed Kawara is already on his way there, and he tells Bessho to keep the Omi pinned down while he takes on Kurahashi and the Jingweon. Tamiyo warns Kawara that nothing good will come if Kaoru finds out how she's related to the Jingweon, but Kawara says he's not going to let the last 26 years of hunting them down go to waste.
On the highway, Kaoru and Haruka talk while Kiryu sleeps. Haruka says that it seems like Kiryu likes Kaoru, as he lets his guard down and acts like he does around Haruka when he's with Kaoru. Just then they are attacked by a fleet of flatbed trucks loaded with Jingweon Mafia, Kiryu jumping aboard to fight them while Kaoru takes their van ahead to protect Haruka. Kiryu fights them off and gets back to Kaoru, and the three arrive in Kamurocho with only a little bit of time left.
Kiryu and Kaoru leave Haruka at Serena while they go to the Millennium Tower to confront Kurahashi. They find him in the Florist's office, with Date and the Florist's men tied up in the center of the room and a large bomb set to go off at any moment. Kaoru asks why Kurahashi wants her, and he asks her to join him in taking vengeance for the Massacre. Just then Kawara arrives and put Kurahashi at gunpoint, telling him he's been tailing the man since he got his citizenship and joined the police. Kurahashi attempts to detonate the bomb, but Kawara shoots the detonator out of his hand an calls him out as a soulless bastard (citing Murai as a man who could give up the Jingweon Creed and move on with his life). Kawara says that once he kills Kurahashi and tracks down Daejin Kim, he Jingweon will end and no more innocents will have to die for their petty revenge. Date again tries to talk Kawara down, and Kurahashi asks if Kawara is willing to kill a man in front of his own daughter.
When Kaoru confronts Kawara over whether he's her real father, Kurahashi pulls a hidden gun and shoots Kawara. Kurahashi intends to take revenge on Kawara not only for the Jingweon massacre, but also his killings of other Jingweon agents that had come over from the mainland in the 26 years between then and now. Kaoru steps in between Kawara and Kurahashi with her gun drawn, and as Kurahashi prepares to kill the two of them Kiryu charges forward and disarms him. The mole in the Florist's office tries to kill Kiryu, but Kaoru disarms him with her pistol and sends him scurrying for cover. Kurahashi and his men attack Kiryu, but Kiryu defeats them.
While Kiryu goes to free Date and the Florist's men, Kurahashi makes for the detonator. Kaoru stops him, but as Kurahashi draws his gun to kill her Kawara jumps in front of Kaoru at the last second, taking yet another bullet. Kaoru and Kawara shoot and kill Kurahashi, after which Kawara collapses due to his injuries. Kaoru asks him why she never told her he was her father, and Kawara explains that her mother's dying wish was for Kaoru to never know. Kawara explains that after he saved the woman, Suyeon, he and Bessho snuck her down to Kansai to protect her. Syueon gave up her first child, but when Kawara checked on her six months later he found her falling apart at the seams. He got her work and a place to stay, and soon the two were living together and had Kaoru. Kawara took a job in Hong Kong (against his initial wishes) and when he returned Suyeon was dead, betrayed by Murai to the Jingweon. Date realizes that Kawara's killings were against Jingweon operatives that he hunted down in revenge, but Kawara says they served a secondary purpose: erasing Kaoru's past.
Tamiyo explains that just before she died, Suyeon brought Kaoru to her to watch over and, more importantly, never tell her of her past. Kawara kept his distance to further the charade, but he kept in touch which led to Kaoru overhearing the call about the Tojo Clan. Kaoru says she's happier knowing, and Kawara apologizes for abandoning her and then dragging her into this mess. Kaoru asks what happened to the first child, and Kawara says it's not his place to say. As he dies, Kawara takes Kaoru's hand and tells her to keep moving forward; she is not Jingweon, but a hard-working and honest person like her mother (and, as Kaoru points out, like him). Kawara thanks Kaoru for being there for him and dies.
Chapter 14: The Go-Ryu March
Kiryu and the Florist return to Purgatory, the Florist saying that lurking in the shadows fits his style better anyway. Kaoru receives Kawara's ashes, and she and Tamiyo make plans to bury him next to Suyeon. Date leaves the two women alone and talks with Kiryu and the Florist, bringing back into question what happened to Suyeon's first child. Moreover, the mole escaped, meaning that their troubles with the Jingweon are not over yet. Date gives Kiryu a disc that Kurahashi had on him, saying that if they can analyze it they can figure out what the Jingweon and Go-Ryu's next plan is. Meanwhile, Ryuji and the Omi Alliance depart Osaka for Kamurocho, Ryuji intending to use his defeat of the Tojo Clan as the first step in subduing the rest of Japan's underworld and becomes the one true Dragon.
In Osaka, Takashima gets off the phone with a colleague saying he will be in Kamurocho soon to finalize his plan. An underling arrives to inform him of Ryuji's departure, worrying that the Go-Ryu may outmaneuver their play for power. Takashima tells him not to worry, as they still have one more card to play.
Kaoru tries to decrypt Kurahashi's disc, but to no avail; the setup they have in the shack in Purgatory doesn't have the right programs to break in. Date asks if they could use Tokyo PD's systems, but the Florist informs them that after the previous night the police aren't going to be too helpful for their cause. The Florist suggest using Osaka's system instead, and Date gives Kaoru the disc to take with her when she goes to Osaka. Kaoru leaves, but Kiryu senses something is off with her and follows.
Kiryu finds Kaoru at Serena, the two sitting in silence before talking. Kaoru intends to go back to Kansai to make sure Tamiyo gets home safe, but she says she feels like she's ditching Kiryu and the others at the last moment. Kiryu assures her that they'll be fine, and Kaoru starts crying. She admits she is scared to learn anything more about her past, and that Kiryu was right that revealing the past would hurt more than it helped. Kiryu stops her as she tries to leave and tells her she'll be fine, pulling her into a kiss and telling her he would never think less of her for anything she discovered. All he wants is for Kaoru to return to him in Kaurocho.
As Kaoru leaves, Kiryu gets a call from Date informing him that Kazuki is awake. He seems out of sorts, babbling on about bombs, and the two go to the clinic to check on him and see what he has to say. At the clinic, Kazuki thanks Date and Kiryu for saving him from the Jingweon, saying that they had him imprisoned for six months while his fake masqueraded as him. While he was prisoner to the Jingweon, Kazuki overhead some of their plans, specifically that the Jingweon planed bombs all over Kamurocho in an effort to demolish the entire city. He doesn't know where the bombs are, but he does know how many there are: 33, one for each man killed in the Massacre. With the bombing of the Millennium Tower and the one disabled in the fight with Kurahashi, that leaves 31 bombs yet to be discovered. Date goes to call the police to prep the bomb squad, while Kiryu plans to head to Tojo HQ to warn them of Ryuji's impending attack.
Kiryu goes to Tojo HQ and tells them of the bombs and the pending Omi invasion, saying the Tojo must hold off Ryuji's men while the police eliminate the bombs. Yayoi informs Kiryu that with their officer corps gutted following Shindo's failed coup, the Tojo Clan cannot muster enough strength to face the Go-Ryu; even Kashiwagi can only call up about 300 men. Daigo asks for control over those 300, saying he does not intend the city his father and Kiryu fought for control over to fall to the Go-Ryu. Daigo rallies the Tojo Clan to battle the Omi Alliance, and Kiryu says that if he pulls this off Daigo will have no objectors to taking over the Tojo Clan. Just then Kiryu gets a call from Date warning him that they have trouble in Purgatory, and Kiryu and Daigo head to Kamurocho to see what's up.
When Kiryu and Daigo arrive in Purgatory, Date informs them that the police will not listen to him concerning his warnings about the bombs without further evidence. Without the police, Kiryu asks Daigo to delpoy the 300 to disarm the bombs (since Tojo men would know the city better than anyone else), and he'll hold off the Go-Ryu. Daigo agrees, but Date and the Florist lament that they have no leads or means to find the bombs with Purgatory's surveilance system down.
Majima enters, in a surprisingly good mood. He steps up and begins smashing his head into the Florist's desk, shaking off Kiryu and Date's attempts to restrain him. As it turns out, Majima was doing this to activate the elevator in the Florist's desk, lowering the group down to find that Majima kept the Florist's old system up and running in the event of an emergency. With the Florist back in business, Daigo goes to put his men to work while Kiryu goes to fight the Go-Ryu.
Kiryu gets a phone call from the barkeeper at Bantam, saying that he's being threatened by Omi men. Kiryu heads out and gets more calls from other people around Kamurocho warning him of the Omi attack. Kiryu battles the Omi groups one by one, eventually arriving at Stardust to find Ryuji waiting for him. After Kiryu defeats Ryuji's men, Ryuji refuses to kill Kiryu while he's weakened as it would cheapen his claim to be the one true Dragon. Instead, he'll give Kiryu some time to deal with the bombs (not his idea, as he wants to conquer Kamurocho, not a pile of rubble) and regain his strength. Ryuji will be waiting atop the highest point in Kamurocho when Kiryu is finished, and then they will have their fight. Kiryu agrees to Ryuji's terms and the Dragon of Kansai departs.
In Osaka, Takashima gets off the phone with a colleague saying he will be in Kamurocho soon to finalize his plan. An underling arrives to inform him of Ryuji's departure, worrying that the Go-Ryu may outmaneuver their play for power. Takashima tells him not to worry, as they still have one more card to play.
Kaoru tries to decrypt Kurahashi's disc, but to no avail; the setup they have in the shack in Purgatory doesn't have the right programs to break in. Date asks if they could use Tokyo PD's systems, but the Florist informs them that after the previous night the police aren't going to be too helpful for their cause. The Florist suggest using Osaka's system instead, and Date gives Kaoru the disc to take with her when she goes to Osaka. Kaoru leaves, but Kiryu senses something is off with her and follows.
Kiryu finds Kaoru at Serena, the two sitting in silence before talking. Kaoru intends to go back to Kansai to make sure Tamiyo gets home safe, but she says she feels like she's ditching Kiryu and the others at the last moment. Kiryu assures her that they'll be fine, and Kaoru starts crying. She admits she is scared to learn anything more about her past, and that Kiryu was right that revealing the past would hurt more than it helped. Kiryu stops her as she tries to leave and tells her she'll be fine, pulling her into a kiss and telling her he would never think less of her for anything she discovered. All he wants is for Kaoru to return to him in Kaurocho.
As Kaoru leaves, Kiryu gets a call from Date informing him that Kazuki is awake. He seems out of sorts, babbling on about bombs, and the two go to the clinic to check on him and see what he has to say. At the clinic, Kazuki thanks Date and Kiryu for saving him from the Jingweon, saying that they had him imprisoned for six months while his fake masqueraded as him. While he was prisoner to the Jingweon, Kazuki overhead some of their plans, specifically that the Jingweon planed bombs all over Kamurocho in an effort to demolish the entire city. He doesn't know where the bombs are, but he does know how many there are: 33, one for each man killed in the Massacre. With the bombing of the Millennium Tower and the one disabled in the fight with Kurahashi, that leaves 31 bombs yet to be discovered. Date goes to call the police to prep the bomb squad, while Kiryu plans to head to Tojo HQ to warn them of Ryuji's impending attack.
Kiryu goes to Tojo HQ and tells them of the bombs and the pending Omi invasion, saying the Tojo must hold off Ryuji's men while the police eliminate the bombs. Yayoi informs Kiryu that with their officer corps gutted following Shindo's failed coup, the Tojo Clan cannot muster enough strength to face the Go-Ryu; even Kashiwagi can only call up about 300 men. Daigo asks for control over those 300, saying he does not intend the city his father and Kiryu fought for control over to fall to the Go-Ryu. Daigo rallies the Tojo Clan to battle the Omi Alliance, and Kiryu says that if he pulls this off Daigo will have no objectors to taking over the Tojo Clan. Just then Kiryu gets a call from Date warning him that they have trouble in Purgatory, and Kiryu and Daigo head to Kamurocho to see what's up.
When Kiryu and Daigo arrive in Purgatory, Date informs them that the police will not listen to him concerning his warnings about the bombs without further evidence. Without the police, Kiryu asks Daigo to delpoy the 300 to disarm the bombs (since Tojo men would know the city better than anyone else), and he'll hold off the Go-Ryu. Daigo agrees, but Date and the Florist lament that they have no leads or means to find the bombs with Purgatory's surveilance system down.
Majima enters, in a surprisingly good mood. He steps up and begins smashing his head into the Florist's desk, shaking off Kiryu and Date's attempts to restrain him. As it turns out, Majima was doing this to activate the elevator in the Florist's desk, lowering the group down to find that Majima kept the Florist's old system up and running in the event of an emergency. With the Florist back in business, Daigo goes to put his men to work while Kiryu goes to fight the Go-Ryu.
Kiryu gets a phone call from the barkeeper at Bantam, saying that he's being threatened by Omi men. Kiryu heads out and gets more calls from other people around Kamurocho warning him of the Omi attack. Kiryu battles the Omi groups one by one, eventually arriving at Stardust to find Ryuji waiting for him. After Kiryu defeats Ryuji's men, Ryuji refuses to kill Kiryu while he's weakened as it would cheapen his claim to be the one true Dragon. Instead, he'll give Kiryu some time to deal with the bombs (not his idea, as he wants to conquer Kamurocho, not a pile of rubble) and regain his strength. Ryuji will be waiting atop the highest point in Kamurocho when Kiryu is finished, and then they will have their fight. Kiryu agrees to Ryuji's terms and the Dragon of Kansai departs.
Chapter 15: Blood and Bonds
Kiryu helps nurse Yuya back to health after his encounter with the Go-Ryu, complimenting him on holding his own for so long. Daigo arrives soon after and asks what happened, and informs Kiryu that they've disabled all of the bombs save the last one that Majima's working on. That goes about as well as can be expected. Meanwhile, Kaoru finally breaks into Kurahashi's disc, finding a report on Ryuji Goda and his origins.
Kiryu returns to Purgatory to find Majima getting a massage from one of his men, Nishida, congratulating himself for disarming a bomb on instinct (the scene of it blowing up was a dream Kaoru had). Majima leaves to get some lunch and tells Kiryu it's all up to him now, though he warns Kiryu that if he'll kill him if he loses to a punk like Ryuji. Date guesses Kiryu won't be stopped from facing Ryuji, and Kiryu says he intends to face Ryuji alone after they meet with Kaoru. But for now, he's going to spend some time with Haruka and relax before the fighting starts again. Date has more to say to Kiryu, but asks him to meet at Serena when he's done with Haruka.
After a fun evening together, Kiryu and Haruka meet with Date at Serena. To Kiryu's surprise, Sudo is here as well, and Date asks Haruka to step outside so they can talk in private. Date gives copies of Kaoru and Ryuji's records showing that they both share the same mother, making Ryuji Kaoru's half-brother and the child from the Jingweon Massacre. Kaoru arrives after this revelation, and the men try to redirect the conversation long enough for Sudo to make his exit with the documents. Kaoru asks why Sudo was here and what happened with the bombs, with Date saying Sudo was here about the bombs and Kiryu reassures her the bombs were dealt with. Date asks Kaoru about Kurahashi's disc, and Kaoru lies and says that she was unable to crack it with Osaka's hardware. Kiryu tells her that he defeated the Go-Ryu clan and just has to face off against Ryuji, who will be waiting for him at the top of Kamurocho Hills (the building Majima Construction is working on in Purgatory). Kaoru refuses to allow Kiryu to go, saying that as leading detective she cannot sit idly while someone talks about killing another man in front of her. Kiryu says that's all well and goo, but he's still going whether or not Kaoru likes it. Even threatening to arrest him doesn't get Kiryu to back down, so Kaoru asks him to go to Tokyo PD and speak with Bessho, who's in town monitoring the Takashima family's movement. Kiryu agrees to meet with Bessho, and Kaoru informs him that Bessho will be waiting for him in Archive Room 13.
As they arrive at police headquarters, Date and Kiryu discuss how strange Kaoru was acting. They arrive in Archive Room 13, but Bessho isn't there; the only thing is a laptop placed on the desk. Date turns it on and finds a recording of Kaoru, where she lays out that she is Ryuji's half-sister. She plans to go and speak with him, hoping that their blood relation will help her negotiate an end to the yakuza war. If she fails or dies in the act, she tells Kiryu that she'll always cherish their time together in Osaka. Not wanting Kaoru to go through with this, Kiryu storms out of Tokyo PD and heads for Kamurocho Hills.
Kiryu returns to Purgatory to find Majima getting a massage from one of his men, Nishida, congratulating himself for disarming a bomb on instinct (the scene of it blowing up was a dream Kaoru had). Majima leaves to get some lunch and tells Kiryu it's all up to him now, though he warns Kiryu that if he'll kill him if he loses to a punk like Ryuji. Date guesses Kiryu won't be stopped from facing Ryuji, and Kiryu says he intends to face Ryuji alone after they meet with Kaoru. But for now, he's going to spend some time with Haruka and relax before the fighting starts again. Date has more to say to Kiryu, but asks him to meet at Serena when he's done with Haruka.
After a fun evening together, Kiryu and Haruka meet with Date at Serena. To Kiryu's surprise, Sudo is here as well, and Date asks Haruka to step outside so they can talk in private. Date gives copies of Kaoru and Ryuji's records showing that they both share the same mother, making Ryuji Kaoru's half-brother and the child from the Jingweon Massacre. Kaoru arrives after this revelation, and the men try to redirect the conversation long enough for Sudo to make his exit with the documents. Kaoru asks why Sudo was here and what happened with the bombs, with Date saying Sudo was here about the bombs and Kiryu reassures her the bombs were dealt with. Date asks Kaoru about Kurahashi's disc, and Kaoru lies and says that she was unable to crack it with Osaka's hardware. Kiryu tells her that he defeated the Go-Ryu clan and just has to face off against Ryuji, who will be waiting for him at the top of Kamurocho Hills (the building Majima Construction is working on in Purgatory). Kaoru refuses to allow Kiryu to go, saying that as leading detective she cannot sit idly while someone talks about killing another man in front of her. Kiryu says that's all well and goo, but he's still going whether or not Kaoru likes it. Even threatening to arrest him doesn't get Kiryu to back down, so Kaoru asks him to go to Tokyo PD and speak with Bessho, who's in town monitoring the Takashima family's movement. Kiryu agrees to meet with Bessho, and Kaoru informs him that Bessho will be waiting for him in Archive Room 13.
As they arrive at police headquarters, Date and Kiryu discuss how strange Kaoru was acting. They arrive in Archive Room 13, but Bessho isn't there; the only thing is a laptop placed on the desk. Date turns it on and finds a recording of Kaoru, where she lays out that she is Ryuji's half-sister. She plans to go and speak with him, hoping that their blood relation will help her negotiate an end to the yakuza war. If she fails or dies in the act, she tells Kiryu that she'll always cherish their time together in Osaka. Not wanting Kaoru to go through with this, Kiryu storms out of Tokyo PD and heads for Kamurocho Hills.
Chapter 16: Decision
Upon arriving in Kamurocho, Kiryu finds the place crawling with Jingweon operatives. Kiryu fights his way through the crowds to get to Kamurocho Hills, and upon arriving at the top he finds Kaoru holding Ryuji at gunpoint. Ryuji asks Kiryu for an explanation, and Kaoru demands he release Chairman Goda. The Chairman is in the corner, alive and well, and as Kiryu frees him Kaoru says she plans on arresting Ryuji and turning herself in as well. Ryuji laughs this off, until Kaoru reveals that they are brother and sister. Ryuji doesn't believe it until Chairman Goda confirms it; he and Suyeon met after she was brought to Kansai, and after talking Goda took her in for a while. But then she left to be with Kawara, and Ryuji takes this to mean she abandoned with with Goda. Goda counters that he asked Suyeon to leave him Ryuji, as he saw Ryuji like a son. The feeling is not mutual and Ryuji says he only cares about surpassing Goda, even using the Jingweon as a means to an end to achieve his goal. All that remains is eliminating Goda and Kiryu.
Kaoru tries again to arrest Ryuji, but he and Kiryu square off. Kiryu tells Ryuji that he had him pegged as a man who always followed his instincts and would never back down. It reminds him of another man he knew (implied to be Nishiki), and thus Kiryu will give his all in their fight. Kiryu locks himself and Ryuji away before both perform a Battle Strip, the two clashing as Kaoru and Chairman Goda look on. After a grueling fight, Kiryu emerges victorious.
After defeating Ryuji, Kiryu apologizes to Chairman Goda. Goda tells him it's alright, as he finally knows how Ryuji feels about him; he only hid these things from Ryuji out of fear the younger man would leave him, but now he sees it only caused resentment to boil within. To make up for his mistakes, Goda asks that Kaoru arrest him alongside Ryuji. Before they leave, a man steps out of the shadows and thanks both Kiryu and Chairman Goda for playing their parts in his plan so well. The man? Terada.
Terada reveals that he is Daejin Kim, the last survivor of the Jingweon Massacre. He faked his death to spur Kiryu to travel to Kansai, sparking the Omi/Tojo war as he knew Ryuji would reject an alliance with the Tojo Clan. Even Ryuji's defeat at Kiryu's hands was all part of Terada's plan, as Ryuji needed to be punished for refusing to follow through on the Jingweon's vengeance. Once Terada's men kill Kiryu, the Tojo Clan will collapse and the Jingweon will have their vengeance. And as a final act, Terada had one last bomb made to avenge Kurahashi, which has been hidden in a water tank atop Kamurocho Hills.
Before they fight, Kiryu asks if Terada was lying about how he owed his life to Kazama. Terada asks how Kiryu would know this, and Kiryu tells him he was at the Jingweon Massacre and saw Kazama spare his life. Then, Terada and Kurahashi were pinned in a room alone (and somehow missed by Shimano), and when they tried to escape they ran straight into Kazama, who spared them and told them to escape rather than kill them. Terada explains that over the years he tried to strike at Kazama, but was spared every time. Even when he joined the Omi Alliance Kazama was there to protect Terada, and Goda reveals Kazama came and personally asked him to keep an eye on Terada. Terada says that's all well and good, but he is a Jingweon man and cannot betray his creed, and with that he orders his men to attack.
Kiryu fights and defeats Terada and the other Jingweon. As Kiryu goes to Kaoru, he is shot from behind by Takashima, who thanks Kiryu for clearing out his rivals. Takashima shoots Goda and disarms Kaoru, revealing that it was his plan that Terada carried out. To tie up loose ends, Takashima shoots Terada, and as Terada falls a part of some kind tumbles out of his coat. Takashima shoots Goda again, telling him he'll make sure the Omi continues to run smoothly once he's Chairman, and once he's absorbed the Tojo Clan he'll use the Jingweon to take a foothold on the mainland as well. Unable to act against Takashima, Chairman Goda dies.
Takashima mocks the stupidity of those around him, though Terada says he knew there was something wrong with Takashima since the day they met. Takashima puts a few more bullets into Terada, and with his dying breath Terada activates his bomb and tells Kiryu to trust him. With Takashima distracted Kaoru tries to attack him with her baton, but Takashima recovers and disarms her, using her as a hostage to deter Kiryu before shooting him in the shoulder. Takashima prepares to execute Kaoru, but suddenly Ryuji recovers and unloads his pistol into Takashima (though he takes a bullet to the stomach and shoulder as well, mirroring Kiryu's injuries). As he lays bleeding, Takashima laments that he was defeated by a brute like Ryuji, and Ryuji tells him that sometimes a man has to be a little stupid and a schemer like Takashima would never get ahead. Ryuji finishes Takashima with a bullet to the head.
With Terada's bomb set to go off in five minutes, Kaoru yells at Kiryu and Ryuji to escape. They do not- in fact, Ryuji locks himself and Kiryu in with the bomb. Both men are bleeding out, trapped with a bomb, and with only a short time before they're both killed they decide to resolve once and for all who the real dragon is. Kaoru begs them to drop the machismo and get out as she does not want to lose her brother and the man she loves, but Ryuji and Kiryu ask her to leave so they can settle this and she can live. As Kaoru sobs, Ryuji activates the elevator to get Kaoru away. Now with no distractions, the two men charge at one another, giving everything they've got as they pummel each other relentlessly. Eventually, Ryuji's wounds get the better of him, and after an epic Cross Counter Ryuji collapses in defeat.
Kaoru runs up to the roof to find Kiryu and Ryuji, running to her brother's side. Ryuji asks her if she remembers their mother, and Kaoru tearfuly admits she does not. Ryuji finds that a shame- she looks just like her. He admits that the idea of living in peace sounds nice, but there's too much Jingweon blood in him- he would only ever live a life of violence, no matter what. As his dying wish, Ryuji asks Kaoru to smile for him, as their mother had a wonderful smile. Kaoru complies, and Ryuji dies at peace. Just then, Date arrives in a helicopter with Sudo and Haruka, calling to Kiryu and Kaoru to get out before the bomb goes off. Kiryu, though, collapses from his injuries and tells Kaoru to run. Kaoru refuses to leave, and after sharing a kiss the two hold each other close as the timer hits zero.
Days later, Haruka visits the grave from the beginning of the game to pay respects to Terada. As it's soon revealed, Kiryu and Date are there as well; the bomb was a dud, with Terada having removed the firing pin in case Takashima double crossed him (the part that fell out of his coat when he was shot). Kaoru arrives with a bouquet of flowers, and as Date leaves the three meet up to talk about the future.
The End
Kaoru tries again to arrest Ryuji, but he and Kiryu square off. Kiryu tells Ryuji that he had him pegged as a man who always followed his instincts and would never back down. It reminds him of another man he knew (implied to be Nishiki), and thus Kiryu will give his all in their fight. Kiryu locks himself and Ryuji away before both perform a Battle Strip, the two clashing as Kaoru and Chairman Goda look on. After a grueling fight, Kiryu emerges victorious.
After defeating Ryuji, Kiryu apologizes to Chairman Goda. Goda tells him it's alright, as he finally knows how Ryuji feels about him; he only hid these things from Ryuji out of fear the younger man would leave him, but now he sees it only caused resentment to boil within. To make up for his mistakes, Goda asks that Kaoru arrest him alongside Ryuji. Before they leave, a man steps out of the shadows and thanks both Kiryu and Chairman Goda for playing their parts in his plan so well. The man? Terada.
Terada reveals that he is Daejin Kim, the last survivor of the Jingweon Massacre. He faked his death to spur Kiryu to travel to Kansai, sparking the Omi/Tojo war as he knew Ryuji would reject an alliance with the Tojo Clan. Even Ryuji's defeat at Kiryu's hands was all part of Terada's plan, as Ryuji needed to be punished for refusing to follow through on the Jingweon's vengeance. Once Terada's men kill Kiryu, the Tojo Clan will collapse and the Jingweon will have their vengeance. And as a final act, Terada had one last bomb made to avenge Kurahashi, which has been hidden in a water tank atop Kamurocho Hills.
Before they fight, Kiryu asks if Terada was lying about how he owed his life to Kazama. Terada asks how Kiryu would know this, and Kiryu tells him he was at the Jingweon Massacre and saw Kazama spare his life. Then, Terada and Kurahashi were pinned in a room alone (and somehow missed by Shimano), and when they tried to escape they ran straight into Kazama, who spared them and told them to escape rather than kill them. Terada explains that over the years he tried to strike at Kazama, but was spared every time. Even when he joined the Omi Alliance Kazama was there to protect Terada, and Goda reveals Kazama came and personally asked him to keep an eye on Terada. Terada says that's all well and good, but he is a Jingweon man and cannot betray his creed, and with that he orders his men to attack.
Kiryu fights and defeats Terada and the other Jingweon. As Kiryu goes to Kaoru, he is shot from behind by Takashima, who thanks Kiryu for clearing out his rivals. Takashima shoots Goda and disarms Kaoru, revealing that it was his plan that Terada carried out. To tie up loose ends, Takashima shoots Terada, and as Terada falls a part of some kind tumbles out of his coat. Takashima shoots Goda again, telling him he'll make sure the Omi continues to run smoothly once he's Chairman, and once he's absorbed the Tojo Clan he'll use the Jingweon to take a foothold on the mainland as well. Unable to act against Takashima, Chairman Goda dies.
Takashima mocks the stupidity of those around him, though Terada says he knew there was something wrong with Takashima since the day they met. Takashima puts a few more bullets into Terada, and with his dying breath Terada activates his bomb and tells Kiryu to trust him. With Takashima distracted Kaoru tries to attack him with her baton, but Takashima recovers and disarms her, using her as a hostage to deter Kiryu before shooting him in the shoulder. Takashima prepares to execute Kaoru, but suddenly Ryuji recovers and unloads his pistol into Takashima (though he takes a bullet to the stomach and shoulder as well, mirroring Kiryu's injuries). As he lays bleeding, Takashima laments that he was defeated by a brute like Ryuji, and Ryuji tells him that sometimes a man has to be a little stupid and a schemer like Takashima would never get ahead. Ryuji finishes Takashima with a bullet to the head.
With Terada's bomb set to go off in five minutes, Kaoru yells at Kiryu and Ryuji to escape. They do not- in fact, Ryuji locks himself and Kiryu in with the bomb. Both men are bleeding out, trapped with a bomb, and with only a short time before they're both killed they decide to resolve once and for all who the real dragon is. Kaoru begs them to drop the machismo and get out as she does not want to lose her brother and the man she loves, but Ryuji and Kiryu ask her to leave so they can settle this and she can live. As Kaoru sobs, Ryuji activates the elevator to get Kaoru away. Now with no distractions, the two men charge at one another, giving everything they've got as they pummel each other relentlessly. Eventually, Ryuji's wounds get the better of him, and after an epic Cross Counter Ryuji collapses in defeat.
Kaoru runs up to the roof to find Kiryu and Ryuji, running to her brother's side. Ryuji asks her if she remembers their mother, and Kaoru tearfuly admits she does not. Ryuji finds that a shame- she looks just like her. He admits that the idea of living in peace sounds nice, but there's too much Jingweon blood in him- he would only ever live a life of violence, no matter what. As his dying wish, Ryuji asks Kaoru to smile for him, as their mother had a wonderful smile. Kaoru complies, and Ryuji dies at peace. Just then, Date arrives in a helicopter with Sudo and Haruka, calling to Kiryu and Kaoru to get out before the bomb goes off. Kiryu, though, collapses from his injuries and tells Kaoru to run. Kaoru refuses to leave, and after sharing a kiss the two hold each other close as the timer hits zero.
Days later, Haruka visits the grave from the beginning of the game to pay respects to Terada. As it's soon revealed, Kiryu and Date are there as well; the bomb was a dud, with Terada having removed the firing pin in case Takashima double crossed him (the part that fell out of his coat when he was shot). Kaoru arrives with a bouquet of flowers, and as Date leaves the three meet up to talk about the future.
The End
The Majima Saga
Included in Yakuza Kiwami 2, The Majima Saga is a mini-campaign that serves as a prequel to the events of Yakuza 2. It details some of the divisions that arose under Terada's time as the Fifth Chairman, why Majima left the Tojo Clan, how he founded Majima Construction, and ties up one more loose end left over from Yakuza 0. Chapter 1: Tojo Clan Reform
February 17th, 2006
Chairman Yukio Terada has called a meeting of the Tojo Clan officers. Once all are assembled, they begin complaining about his new Tojo Clan Reformation project, which they say emphasizes money over Clan ties and seniority and feel that it makes them no better than any other two-bit criminal group. Akinobu Uematsu, a new Patriarch brought in under Terada, shoots back that they're just being a bunch of whiners because they didn't bring in enough money, which is supported by another newcomer among the Patriarchs, Kei Ibuchi; the Reformation project is meant to cut out those families and rackets that are not performing well while promoting those that are. Terada calls the meeting to order and announces their agenda: naming a new Clan Captain for the Tojo Clan.
As the Clan Captain will act as Terada's right hand man, he will use the Reformation project to pick his best option. The Reformation project is based off of tithes given from the families to the Clan, and whoever tithes the most is the most productive and therefore will take the Captain's seat. Ibuchi directs them to a screen displaying a graph, showing that he and Uematsu have a clear lead over the old guard when it comes to profits. By the rules of the Reformation, Uematsu will be named Captain. The other Patriarchs protest that Uematsu and Ibuchi make their profits in dirty money while they have actual standards, but Uematsu once again shouts them down that he and Ibuchi are essentially carrying the Clan and by all rights he should be Captain. With no further objections, Terada prepares to name Uematsu the new Captain.
Cue Majima sauntering in and plopping down in the Captain's chair himself.
Uematsu asks Majima what he thinks he's doing sitting down in a chair he has not earned, and Majima calls for his boys. Nishida and the others come in with a wheelbarrow overflowing with stacks of money, much to the shock of everyone present. Ibuchi demands an explanation, and Majima is happy to give one: he wanted a new baseball diamond for himself, so he lent out some money to buy a small plot of land outside Kamurocho. However, a real estate tycoon approached him and asked to buy the field, and Majima decided to give the man a ridiculously high price. Surprisingly, the tycoon bought it immediately, and Majima found himself flushed with cash. Given how much money he has right now, that would make him the next Captain per Terada's rules, and he asks the Fifth Chairman if he's okay with that. An embarrassed Terada declares they'll table the discussion and reevaluate the Reformation project at their next meeting.
Satisfied that he put another bee in Terada's bonnet, Majima heads back to Kamurocho. On the way his driver, a new recruit in the Majima family named Kawamura, asks Majima if he's concerned about the direction the Tojo Clan is headed. Majima says it doesn't matter: Terada's the Chairman, and thus his word is law when it comes to the operations of the Tojo Clan. Still, he's no fan of Uematsu or Ibuchi (finding them untrustworthy), but he shoots down Kawamura's assertation that he'd be a much better Captain than either of them- Majima knows Terada's a schemer, and admits that he wouldn't last a day around a man like that. To Majima, the Reformation project is specifically rigged so Terada can stack the officer positions with his loyalists, and the yakuza these days are beating around the bush too much... or maybe he's just getting old.
While Kawamura goes to park, Majima heads into town to return to his offices. On his way he's stopped by yakuza whom he guesses are members of the Uematsu family who are none too happy about Majima upstaging their boss. Majima defeats them and asks what they're doing, and the leader tells him he should be more worried about his own men. Pissed that someone other than him would threaten his boys, Majima hurries back to his offices to find Nishida and the others beaten, Nishida informing him that it was the Uematsu family that did this. Now pissed further, Majima storms over to the Uematsu family offices to seek retribution, but upon arriving he finds no one there to greet him. Majima lets himself inside and heads to Uematsu's office, only to find the Patriarch dead by a gunshot to the head.
Chairman Yukio Terada has called a meeting of the Tojo Clan officers. Once all are assembled, they begin complaining about his new Tojo Clan Reformation project, which they say emphasizes money over Clan ties and seniority and feel that it makes them no better than any other two-bit criminal group. Akinobu Uematsu, a new Patriarch brought in under Terada, shoots back that they're just being a bunch of whiners because they didn't bring in enough money, which is supported by another newcomer among the Patriarchs, Kei Ibuchi; the Reformation project is meant to cut out those families and rackets that are not performing well while promoting those that are. Terada calls the meeting to order and announces their agenda: naming a new Clan Captain for the Tojo Clan.
As the Clan Captain will act as Terada's right hand man, he will use the Reformation project to pick his best option. The Reformation project is based off of tithes given from the families to the Clan, and whoever tithes the most is the most productive and therefore will take the Captain's seat. Ibuchi directs them to a screen displaying a graph, showing that he and Uematsu have a clear lead over the old guard when it comes to profits. By the rules of the Reformation, Uematsu will be named Captain. The other Patriarchs protest that Uematsu and Ibuchi make their profits in dirty money while they have actual standards, but Uematsu once again shouts them down that he and Ibuchi are essentially carrying the Clan and by all rights he should be Captain. With no further objections, Terada prepares to name Uematsu the new Captain.
Cue Majima sauntering in and plopping down in the Captain's chair himself.
Uematsu asks Majima what he thinks he's doing sitting down in a chair he has not earned, and Majima calls for his boys. Nishida and the others come in with a wheelbarrow overflowing with stacks of money, much to the shock of everyone present. Ibuchi demands an explanation, and Majima is happy to give one: he wanted a new baseball diamond for himself, so he lent out some money to buy a small plot of land outside Kamurocho. However, a real estate tycoon approached him and asked to buy the field, and Majima decided to give the man a ridiculously high price. Surprisingly, the tycoon bought it immediately, and Majima found himself flushed with cash. Given how much money he has right now, that would make him the next Captain per Terada's rules, and he asks the Fifth Chairman if he's okay with that. An embarrassed Terada declares they'll table the discussion and reevaluate the Reformation project at their next meeting.
Satisfied that he put another bee in Terada's bonnet, Majima heads back to Kamurocho. On the way his driver, a new recruit in the Majima family named Kawamura, asks Majima if he's concerned about the direction the Tojo Clan is headed. Majima says it doesn't matter: Terada's the Chairman, and thus his word is law when it comes to the operations of the Tojo Clan. Still, he's no fan of Uematsu or Ibuchi (finding them untrustworthy), but he shoots down Kawamura's assertation that he'd be a much better Captain than either of them- Majima knows Terada's a schemer, and admits that he wouldn't last a day around a man like that. To Majima, the Reformation project is specifically rigged so Terada can stack the officer positions with his loyalists, and the yakuza these days are beating around the bush too much... or maybe he's just getting old.
While Kawamura goes to park, Majima heads into town to return to his offices. On his way he's stopped by yakuza whom he guesses are members of the Uematsu family who are none too happy about Majima upstaging their boss. Majima defeats them and asks what they're doing, and the leader tells him he should be more worried about his own men. Pissed that someone other than him would threaten his boys, Majima hurries back to his offices to find Nishida and the others beaten, Nishida informing him that it was the Uematsu family that did this. Now pissed further, Majima storms over to the Uematsu family offices to seek retribution, but upon arriving he finds no one there to greet him. Majima lets himself inside and heads to Uematsu's office, only to find the Patriarch dead by a gunshot to the head.
Chapter 2: Prodigal Son
Majima is brought before Terada and explains how he found Uematsu dead. Ibuchi accuses Majima of doing the deed, as it was mighty convenient that he found Uematsu's body after the two started competing for the Captain's Chair, though he admits he has no concrete evidence right now. Majima decides he'll catch the real killer and clear his name, if nothing else than to shut Ibuchi up for a little while. On his way out he's attacked by members of the Uematsu family, and after defeating them Majima asks if they've learned their lesson from the last time they fought. But the leaders says they didn't attack Majima back in Kamurocho. Before Majima continues on, Osamu Kashiwagi (Majima's only real advocate in his arguments against Uematsu and Ibuchi) gives Majima the location of the Florist of Sai, saying the information broker might have what he needs to solve this mess.
The Florist welcomes Majima and asks what he wants. Majima says that he wants to know who's setting him up, and for once he's got the cash to pay for hot information. But the Florist doesn't want money: he wants someone to take over his operations in Purgatory, as it has been neglected since he moved into the Millennium Tower. Majima agrees, and the Florist boots up his cameras, getting a view of the Uematsu offices before rewinding a few minutes before Majima came in. To Majima's shock, Kawamura stumbles out of the Uematsu offices, meaning he is the killer. Majima storms off to go to his offices and find out what Kawamura's up to, but the Florist informs him Kawamura skipped town and is in Sotenbori, Osaka.
Majima arrives in Sotenbori and starts looking around for answers. With no real leads to go on, he heads to the Cabaret Grand for information. He asks for a hostess who's "popular with young assholes", and while she doesn't know Kawamura personally she'll ask around to see if anyone does. The hostess brings another girl named Ayumi, who knows Kawamura from Junior High but never spent time with him due to the rough crowds he frequented. Word on the street is that Kawamura has gambling issues and is in deep with the sharks, and he went and took a loan from the yakuza on top of it. Majima gives Ayumi his phone number and asks her to call him if she learns anything.
Majima hits the streets again, where he's jumped by another gang of thugs. After driving them off, Majima decides to try his old rivals at Odyssey. On his way he runs into the old manager Yamagata coming out of Club Four Shine, and surprisingly he's met Kawamura before; Kawamura is a mahjong addict, and the two crossed paths at a now defunct parlor some years back. Yamagata points Majima to where the parlor was before it closed, right above Hogushi Kaikan (Wen Hai Lee's old clinic). Yamagata says that on good days Kawamura would go downstairs for a massage, and Majima heads out to speak with the workers there.
Majima goes inside and asks the receptionist if she's seen Kawamura. She says that Kawamura was a regular until about a year ago, which Majima notes was about the time Kawamura joined up with him. The receptionist does remember that on his last visit, Kawamura mentioned that a man from Kamurocho had cleared his debts and he was moving on to work with him. Majima thanks the woman and tries to leave, but she asks him if perhaps he would like a massage first. Not wanting to upset her, Majima agrees to the cheapest course, and the receptionist sets him up with their best therapist "Tateyama-san". But as Majima waits, he is greeted by a very familiar face: Makoto Makimura.
The Florist welcomes Majima and asks what he wants. Majima says that he wants to know who's setting him up, and for once he's got the cash to pay for hot information. But the Florist doesn't want money: he wants someone to take over his operations in Purgatory, as it has been neglected since he moved into the Millennium Tower. Majima agrees, and the Florist boots up his cameras, getting a view of the Uematsu offices before rewinding a few minutes before Majima came in. To Majima's shock, Kawamura stumbles out of the Uematsu offices, meaning he is the killer. Majima storms off to go to his offices and find out what Kawamura's up to, but the Florist informs him Kawamura skipped town and is in Sotenbori, Osaka.
Majima arrives in Sotenbori and starts looking around for answers. With no real leads to go on, he heads to the Cabaret Grand for information. He asks for a hostess who's "popular with young assholes", and while she doesn't know Kawamura personally she'll ask around to see if anyone does. The hostess brings another girl named Ayumi, who knows Kawamura from Junior High but never spent time with him due to the rough crowds he frequented. Word on the street is that Kawamura has gambling issues and is in deep with the sharks, and he went and took a loan from the yakuza on top of it. Majima gives Ayumi his phone number and asks her to call him if she learns anything.
Majima hits the streets again, where he's jumped by another gang of thugs. After driving them off, Majima decides to try his old rivals at Odyssey. On his way he runs into the old manager Yamagata coming out of Club Four Shine, and surprisingly he's met Kawamura before; Kawamura is a mahjong addict, and the two crossed paths at a now defunct parlor some years back. Yamagata points Majima to where the parlor was before it closed, right above Hogushi Kaikan (Wen Hai Lee's old clinic). Yamagata says that on good days Kawamura would go downstairs for a massage, and Majima heads out to speak with the workers there.
Majima goes inside and asks the receptionist if she's seen Kawamura. She says that Kawamura was a regular until about a year ago, which Majima notes was about the time Kawamura joined up with him. The receptionist does remember that on his last visit, Kawamura mentioned that a man from Kamurocho had cleared his debts and he was moving on to work with him. Majima thanks the woman and tries to leave, but she asks him if perhaps he would like a massage first. Not wanting to upset her, Majima agrees to the cheapest course, and the receptionist sets him up with their best therapist "Tateyama-san". But as Majima waits, he is greeted by a very familiar face: Makoto Makimura.
Chapter 3: Mad Dog of Shimano
Confronted with Makoto once more, Majima does his best to hold his tongue, even as Makoto works out some particularly stiff knots in Majima's feet. As Makoto works, Majima spots that she still has her watch, even if she's replaced the straps. Sensing that her client isn't one for talking, Makoto tells him that she's had the watch for almost 20 years, even replacing the straps when they wore out (though newer colors don't really match an older piece like this one). She actually got it from someone who saved her life, telling Majima about her blindness and the mysterious hitman that protected her all those years ago. Makoto has since moved on after she regained her sight, marrying and starting a family, but she still regrets that she never got a chance to thank her rescuer. That's why she works at the clinic, in the off chance that the man will return and she will have a chance to make her peace. After the massage is done, Makoto asks if he feels better, and Majima drops the Mad Dog persona long enough to thank Makoto for working out 18 years of knots and regrets.
Outside, Majima talks with the receptionist and thanks her for setting him up with Makoto. The receptionist says Makoto's the best, so it'll be a shame when she leaves- Makoto's husband got a lucrative job overseas, and this is Makoto's last week before she moves on. Majima leaves and gets a call from Ayumi, telling him that Kawamura stormed the VIP section at the Grand and shot an Omi Alliance executive she had been entertaining. Majima hurries to the Grand and goes in, confronting Kawamura as the young yakuza says he was forced to do the hit or he would have been killed. Kawamura has one last target on his list to absovle his debt: Majima himself.
Of course, Majima isn't going to go down to some punk kid, and he defeats Kawamura when the younger man attacks him. When Kawamura goes down, Majima asks him why he did this, but before Kawamura can answer he's shot dead by Ibuchi. Ibuchi confirms that he is the mastermind behind the killings, all a part of his plan to consolidate the yakuza clans across Japan and "update" what he sees as their old-fashioned way of thinking. He plans to betray Terada at some point after he's eliminated all rivals to the position of Captain, after which he'll present the Tojo Clan as a gift to the Omi. But in order to ensure his merger goes off as planned, he needs an explosive catalyst: war. Having an Omi executive killed by a Tojo man would suffice to kick off a war between Kamurocho and Osaka, but killing a Tojo executive like Majima will help Ibuchi's plan even further. Majima, of course, doesn't give a shit about Ibuchi's scheme, and in the ensuing fight he defeats Ibuchi.
Majima declines to kill Ibuchi, preferring to let him rot in prison and perhaps see things his way. Ibuchi tells Majima that there's no stopping what he's set in motion, and the Tojo/Omi war will happen whether he likes it or not. And it doesn't have to be Majima that needs to die to be the catalyst, and as Majima walks away Ibuchi blows his own brains out. Later at Tojo HQ, Terada takes responsibility for Ibuchi's actions. Majima says he shouldn't, as the Chairman should always stick to his guns even if he's wrong (though Majima admits that he still thinks Terada sucks, regardless of what he does). But they still have the Omi to deal with after one of Majima's men killed one of theirs. But he has an idea of how to placate the Omi, handing Terada his dagger before explaining.
Terada and Majima go to Omi HQ to speak with Chairman Goda, Sengoku, Takashima, and Ryuji. Sengoku and Goda ask what Terada will do to make up for the incident, and Majima speaks up that it was ultimately his family's fault for the death of their executive. So to make amends, Majima will leave the Tojo Clan and disband his family. As he, Terada, and Goda leave to discuss details, the three Patriarchs of the Omi Alliance lament their war will be put on hold, but know they'll get another chance at the Tojo Clan soon enough.
A few days later, Majima assembles his men for the first meeting of Majima Construction. After berating them for their lack of enthusiasm, he declares that their new task as law-abiding blue-collar civilians will be to build a new tower on the remnants of Purgatory, one greater than the Millennium Tower. When Nishida points out that none of them have construction experience, Majima slaps him and says they'll just get some blueprints off the internet and work from there, and if anyone complains they'll get no pay - better yet, he'll kill them.
Meanwhile, Makoto and her family board a plane to leave Japan; as she goes through her purse to find her passport, Makoto finds a gift box that was left for her on her last shift. There's no name or indication that its from one of her regulars, but when she opens it she finds exact replicas of the straps she used to have for her watch. But that would mean whoever gave it to her had to have known about the watch and been there to see the original straps, and the only person she told that to was... It's then that Makoto realizes that the quiet, one-eyed yakuza she treated earlier in the week was the man that saved her life all those years ago. Later in the flight, her husband wakes up and asks her how she's doing, and Makoto says she's doing fine and has no regrets going forward. The last shot of the campaign is her watch, now sporting the straps Majima bought her as Makoto finally makes her peace with the past.
Outside, Majima talks with the receptionist and thanks her for setting him up with Makoto. The receptionist says Makoto's the best, so it'll be a shame when she leaves- Makoto's husband got a lucrative job overseas, and this is Makoto's last week before she moves on. Majima leaves and gets a call from Ayumi, telling him that Kawamura stormed the VIP section at the Grand and shot an Omi Alliance executive she had been entertaining. Majima hurries to the Grand and goes in, confronting Kawamura as the young yakuza says he was forced to do the hit or he would have been killed. Kawamura has one last target on his list to absovle his debt: Majima himself.
Of course, Majima isn't going to go down to some punk kid, and he defeats Kawamura when the younger man attacks him. When Kawamura goes down, Majima asks him why he did this, but before Kawamura can answer he's shot dead by Ibuchi. Ibuchi confirms that he is the mastermind behind the killings, all a part of his plan to consolidate the yakuza clans across Japan and "update" what he sees as their old-fashioned way of thinking. He plans to betray Terada at some point after he's eliminated all rivals to the position of Captain, after which he'll present the Tojo Clan as a gift to the Omi. But in order to ensure his merger goes off as planned, he needs an explosive catalyst: war. Having an Omi executive killed by a Tojo man would suffice to kick off a war between Kamurocho and Osaka, but killing a Tojo executive like Majima will help Ibuchi's plan even further. Majima, of course, doesn't give a shit about Ibuchi's scheme, and in the ensuing fight he defeats Ibuchi.
Majima declines to kill Ibuchi, preferring to let him rot in prison and perhaps see things his way. Ibuchi tells Majima that there's no stopping what he's set in motion, and the Tojo/Omi war will happen whether he likes it or not. And it doesn't have to be Majima that needs to die to be the catalyst, and as Majima walks away Ibuchi blows his own brains out. Later at Tojo HQ, Terada takes responsibility for Ibuchi's actions. Majima says he shouldn't, as the Chairman should always stick to his guns even if he's wrong (though Majima admits that he still thinks Terada sucks, regardless of what he does). But they still have the Omi to deal with after one of Majima's men killed one of theirs. But he has an idea of how to placate the Omi, handing Terada his dagger before explaining.
Terada and Majima go to Omi HQ to speak with Chairman Goda, Sengoku, Takashima, and Ryuji. Sengoku and Goda ask what Terada will do to make up for the incident, and Majima speaks up that it was ultimately his family's fault for the death of their executive. So to make amends, Majima will leave the Tojo Clan and disband his family. As he, Terada, and Goda leave to discuss details, the three Patriarchs of the Omi Alliance lament their war will be put on hold, but know they'll get another chance at the Tojo Clan soon enough.
A few days later, Majima assembles his men for the first meeting of Majima Construction. After berating them for their lack of enthusiasm, he declares that their new task as law-abiding blue-collar civilians will be to build a new tower on the remnants of Purgatory, one greater than the Millennium Tower. When Nishida points out that none of them have construction experience, Majima slaps him and says they'll just get some blueprints off the internet and work from there, and if anyone complains they'll get no pay - better yet, he'll kill them.
Meanwhile, Makoto and her family board a plane to leave Japan; as she goes through her purse to find her passport, Makoto finds a gift box that was left for her on her last shift. There's no name or indication that its from one of her regulars, but when she opens it she finds exact replicas of the straps she used to have for her watch. But that would mean whoever gave it to her had to have known about the watch and been there to see the original straps, and the only person she told that to was... It's then that Makoto realizes that the quiet, one-eyed yakuza she treated earlier in the week was the man that saved her life all those years ago. Later in the flight, her husband wakes up and asks her how she's doing, and Makoto says she's doing fine and has no regrets going forward. The last shot of the campaign is her watch, now sporting the straps Majima bought her as Makoto finally makes her peace with the past.
