A Game of Life Changing Cards

“Horikawa! Horikawa! Where the hell are you?!” shouted a girl with short and wavy black hair. “Son of a bitch. I got a bad feeling about this,” said a boy with spiky blonde hair. “Goddamit, it’s been a whole fucking hour and this guy is still missing,” said a boy with a shaved head. The three youths continued to search the streets for the missing Horikawa. “Hey, let’s split,” said the spiky blonde. “I’ll take this way and you two take the other way.” The three agreed and parted ways. The boy with the shaved head and the girl looked around until they reached an alley where a group of people were surrounding a table. “Toshi, should we ask these people?” “I don’t know Ren. They don’t look like good people.” Just when they turned to leave, they heard a voice saying, “Looks like I won again Horikawa.” “Horikawa!” Toshi and Ren called. The crowd parted revealing a forlorn Horikawa. “Hey guys,” Horikawa laughed weakly. “It’s time to pay up, kid,” said a tough looking guy. “Sorry Manny. I don’t have any,” said Horikawa.

Manny took Horikawa by the scruff of the neck and threw him to the ground. Two teenagers began to kick Horikawa in the stomach. He shrunk into fetal position to protect himself from the blows. “You bastards!” shouted Toshi as he plunged into the fray to save Horikawa. Manny took his thick arm and struck Toshi away. “Toshi!” shouted Ren. Toshi fell to the ground clutching his chest. “Stay out of this, kids. Your friends owes us one million yen,” said Manny. “Wait!” exclaimed Horikawa. “You said 500,000 yen!” “There’s interest you didn’t pay and it increases each day.” “Horikawa, you bastard! You’ve been gambling away your funds with these guys!” shouted Toshi. “Don’t you know what your mother had to do to secure that money?!” “A kid like him talked big about being loaded. Pretty funny, if you asked me,” said Manny. “Hey big guy!” shouted Ren. “He ain’t got no money and you know he’s just bluffing all along. Let him go. What’s a kid to you?” “It don’t matter, girlie,” said Manny. “He started it first and challenged us. I wasn’t going to let such a big fish out of my net.” “Horikawa, you piss me off,” said Ren. “Toshi let’s go.” “I’m disappointed in you. Deal with it on your own,” said Toshi.

A few punks blocked the alley way. “Not so fast. I can’t have you two running to the police after you’ve seen this,” said Manny. Ren looked at the table of scattered playing cards. “Since we’re here, let’s play a game. If I win, Horikawa’s debt is gone and we walk out as if nothing has ever happened,” proposed Ren. “If I win, Horikawa’s debt doubles. You two will suffer some special punishment,” said Manny. “Ren, don’t be stupid like Horikawa!” said Toshi. “I know Toshi! I know,” said Ren. She couldn’t bear to see her friend shoulder such a huge debt even after yelling at him. Horikawa may have been a fool, but he was always a person with good intentions. Even Toshi knew that Horikawa was in for a quicker way to get rich. “I can’t let Horikawa die like this,” pleaded Ren. “The stakes are high and the both of us got involved in his mess. Why not take the gamble?” “Don’t you dare lose,” said Toshi. “All three of us are riding in this together.” Manny laughed. “So what’s it gonna be? Your choice of game,” said Manny. “I liked to call it Cheat, but Horikawa’s debt is bullshit,” smirked Ren. “Think you’re smart like that? We’ll play Cheat then,” said a displeased Manny.

The table was set up for four players. Manny across from Ren and two punks on either side. Ren noted in her head, clearly the game was in their favor. This was a game between Manny and Ren. Toshi shuffled and cut the cards. He then dealt each player their cards until there was no more. “One 4,” said Manny. “Two Queens,” said Punk A and he tapped his cards on the table. “One Jack,” said Punk B as he tapped his cards. “Three deuces,” said Ren. The game went one for a while without anyone calling each other out. “One 9,” said Punk B as he tapped his cards. “Bullshit,” called Manny and flipped the card. It was a King of Clubs. Punk B took the center pile into his hand. “One 5,” said Ren. Punk A was drumming his fingers on the table as if eager to play next. “Bullshit,” called out Manny and he flipped to see that it was an Ace of Hearts. Ren took the pile. Her hand now consisted of two 6s, three Jacks, a 3, a 5, two 7s, a deuce, a Queen, three 9s, and four 8s. “One Ace,” said Punk A. “Two Queens,” said Manny. “One Queen,” said Punk B. “Two 7s,” said Ren. “Two 4s,” called out Punk A. “One Queen,” said Manny. “Bullshit,” said Ren, but when she flipped the card, it was a Queen. She incorporated the pile into her hand and started organizing it. Great. I pretty much have half the deck in my hands, Ren thought to herself. She glanced at her opponents. Manny had barely any cards left and the lackeys had ten or so cards. Wait a second, thought Ren. Why is it that Manny has so little cards? No one has been able to call him out and he hasn’t taken a single card into his hand. “Three Aces,” said Punk B. “One King,” said Ren and put down one Ace. Punk B tapped his fingers impatiently. “One Ace,” said Punk A as he tapped down his card. “Bullshit,” said Ren. She flipped over a King instead. She turned to Manny and proudly said, “Look, I called out one of your guys.” “Big deal. Look at your own hand,” Manny pointed out. “I have a prediction that I will be able to call out the other one. Soon it’ll be you.” “Tch. Stupid bitch.”

By the end of the round, Punk A was out of the game. Manny was first to discard his hand. Then it was Punk B and lastly, it was Ren. Now a new game began. “You have to get past both of us to win now,” said Manny. “No problem,” said Ren smugly. Very soon Punk B was knocked out and it was between Manny and Ren. “You can’t play Cheat with two people,” said Ren. “It looks like the game goes to me.” “Not so fast,” chuckled Manny. “You can still play the game with only two players.” “Cut the cards,” ordered Manny. Ren did as he said and cut the cards. “Now pick out 16 cards and those will be laid face down for the entire game.” “Interesting. It seems fair enough,” said Ren. He’s got a wager up his sleeve, no doubt. “How ‘bout we raise the stakes and change the rules a bit to make it more interesting? If I win, you will have to pay up 500,000 yen in addition to Horikawa’s debt. The new rule is that once either player has over 24 cards, they automatically lose. If you win, all three of you walk out with no debt,” said Manny. “I would like to add a another condition. If I win, not only do you let us all go, Horikawa, Toshi, and I will leave with 200,000 yen in cash,” stated Ren. “Ren, are you crazy!” exclaimed both Horikawa and Toshi. “We’ve already come this far! Who do you think you are, some pro gambler?!” shouted Toshi in fear. “Toshi,” said Ren calmly. “Whether we win or not, these guys aren’t going to let us off the hook that easily. Do you think I really think I value money over my life right now? We’re gonna put these guys to shame for fucking around with us.” “Stop whispering to your friends over there. Start the game already,” said Manny feigning a yawn.

Both players held eighteen cards in their hand. Manny began first. “Two Queens.” “One 5.” “One Jack.” “One 8.” “Two Aces.” The game continued on slowly as each players studied their own hand intently. The tide was in Ren’s favor. She had five cards left and Manny had fifteen. She thought to herself, now was the time to set the plan in motion. “One King,” said Ren and placed a deuce. “Bullshit,” said Manny. “That was easy.” Ren incorporated the pile into her hand. She had twenty three cards now. Four more and she would be dead. “Close call,” said Ren. “You want to know how I knew? You have a habit of calling a King every time you cheat,” said Manny. He smiled pompously. “That’s called studying your behavior patterns.” “Just like how I got your two lackeys,” said Ren. “What did you say?” said Manny narrowing his eyes. “It was barely noticeable, but those two guys were there to call out cards that were face down. Every time they tapped their fingers, it indicated that the card they called out were fake. They were also the ones responsible for keeping track of which cards circulating to which hand. Every time they knew I tried to call a cheat, they will signal you by tapping on the table. You three preyed on Horikawa’s idiocy and cheated him into one million yen worth of debt,” said Ren angrily. “So you figured it out by yourself. Looks like when I win, you get extra special treatment,” said Manny. “If you win that is. You should probably get some cash ready,” said Ren.

Ren, now with twenty three cards, and Manny, with thirteen cards, created a critical situation. Manny only needed to maintain his hand between eleven and 24 cards while Ren was two cards away from losing. It was as if she was dangling two inches away from boiling, hot magma. “It looks like you are in big trouble,” taunted Manny. Ren only looked calmly at Manny and smiled confidently. “Laugh all you want. These cards are all that I need,” said Ren. “You think you’re funny, trying to pull wool over my eyes? You ain’t fooling nobody,” said Manny now annoyed with Ren’s words. “I’m just being honest,” Ren responded nonchalantly. At this, Manny slammed the table. “I’ll tell exactly what will happen to you bitch! I’ll get someone to fuck your arrogant body and sell you to a brothel in Southeast Asia!” Manny furiously shouted. Ren started back at Manny blankly. She tried to keep her breathing at a relaxing pace. Her only heart was about to betray her when Manny slapped the table. “That’s it? I thought there was some more bullshit.” The fuse has been lit. “I don’t even have to put up with you,” said Manny dangerously. “I can kill you right here and no one will even know.” His eyes glinted like a tiger locked onto prey. “But you won’t.” “What?” “Your pride won’t let you,” said Ren. That’s right, get angry. Let the anger burn. “You don’t everyone here to know that Manny-sama couldn’t withhold his anger and put a bullet in my skull instead of winning completely.” “You don’t know what you have coming to you!” “I don’t really care,” said Ren apathetically. “I don’t know any better as a kid.”

Manny played two 10s and Ren followed with a Jack. They dealt the cards until Manny had seven cards and Ren had six cards. “The game is over,” laughed Manny. “That is quite true,” said Ren who pretended to look at her hand solemnly. “Two 7s,” said Manny who was now laughing out of control. “Two 9s.” “Three Kings! And what are you gonna do about it!” Manny now slammed the table drooling over the wealth he was going to acquire. “It’s over! It’s over! Call bullshit! Call bullshit!” Ren only continued to look sternly at Manny. “Four Kings.” Everyone hushed. A deadly silence filled the alley. The tiger was unsure of his prey. “Ha ha ha. Bullshit no doubt. I put down three Kings myself. I won,” said Manny. He flipped over the four cards and saw that the entire house of Kings present. The proud tiger thought he found weak prey, but it was another tiger looking back at him. “No way. You cheated!” Manny flipped over the face down cards in the center of the table. “Look! My three Kings! Hearts, clubs, and diamonds!” Manny pointed. “Then why is it that there isn’t a King of Spades here?” said Ren who flipped over all sixteen face down cards that were placed on the table in the beginning of the game. “Where did you get those three Kings of yours? But even before that. Where are the missing three Jacks? You only played one Jack during the entire game and it was the only one on the table. If you really didn’t cheat, the other three Jacks should have been in the sixteen card pile.” Manny’s face was now flushed with embarrassment. The tiger wanted to retreat, but his feet would not permit. He was a tiger, not a deer. “You have been cheating ever since the game began,” said Ren menacingly.

Ren stood up and pulled the table. “Hey what are you doing?!” yelled one of the lackeys. Ren grabbed the table by the ends and violently flipped it over. A second deck of cards scattered from a secret trapdoor under the table. “Well, lookie here,” said Ren. She pulled out the missing and crumpled Jacks that were jammed into the hidden trapdoor. “I’ve won. Let’s go guys,” said Ren coolly. Horikawa now covered in bruises scrambled to Ren and Toshi’s side. As they turned their backs to Manny, Toshi quickly pushed one of the punks to the side and ran. Ren was already grabbing the clueless Horikawa to run. “Get them!” ordered Manny. The three youths ran towards the light of the alley way. Three lackeys also caught up to them. One of them kicked Toshi to the wall. The other two slammed Horikawa into a trash bin and pinned Ren to the wall. Goddammit, thought Ren. I thought I was gonna get away with this. Fuck!

Manny and the gang got closer and closer. Was this the end for the three of them? They had crowbars and sticks of all sorts. A tall and thin man with silver white hair with a lit cigarette in his mouth appeared from the light of the alley way. He dressed in the similar fashion as a yakuza member, a patterned open collar shirt under a black suit and sharp leather shoes. He wore clunky silver rings on each of his hands and a long double chain around his neck. “Hey! None of your business here!” said Manny rudely. “Who are you trying to hurt a couple of adorable kids,” said the silver haired man. Seeing the sharp attire, Manny changed his speech. “Ah, you must be one of the brothers around here. Apologies. These rascals were disturbing the peace, we’re only trying to keep the streets clean,” said Manny. “You guys are pathetic picking on a couple of kids. That young girl over there won fair and square,” remarked the silver haired man. The man walked closer. Swiftly he elbowed Toshi’s captor in the gut and knee-ed him in the head. Then he head butted Horikawa’s opponent. “Aah!” screamed Ren in pain. “I’ll break her arm if you come any closer!” said the punk. Ren’s arm was throbbing with pain under his grip. The man took a deep smoke of his cigarette and threw it in the punk’s face. He wrinkled his face and immediately released Ren. The man pulled Ren away and kept her close to his side.

“Are you alright?” asked the man. “Yeah. My arm kinda still hurts,” replied Ren. “Get them!” shouted Manny. Several gun shots were fired. The entire scene froze. Ren turned to see that one of the punks got shot in the leg. “Good timing, guys,” smiled the man. “Help me get the two boys to the hospital.” Ren turned back to see two men armed with hand guns. One of them had short orange hair and a pair of dark shades. The other man had dark purple hair tied up and also a pair of dark shades. “Sure thing, boss,” said the man with orange hair. Boss? Ren thought. This is really the motherfucking yakuza we are messing with. Ren jolted away from the silver haired man and did a low bow. “Thank you for saving our lives! We are in debt to you!” said Ren loudly and quickly. The man smiled back at Ren and ruffled her hair. Now that Ren looked closely at him, he was probably only in his twenties. He had a sharp nose and thin lips. His eyes were alluring like a fox. Ren felt her cheeks grow warm and averted her gaze to her friends. “What is your name?” asked the man. “Duh-uh. R-ren. I’m Ren,” she stuttered. “Oh. Ren-chan then,” aid the man. “Ren-chan. Like in mahjong,” Ren laughed sheepishly. Oh god, that was such a corny joke. “Your friends are going to be alright,” said the man and turned to leave. “Thanks for everything,” said Ren. “You got guts, Ren,” said the man. “We’ll meet again. In a better place.” The man left and Ren’s two friends were carried away. Ren walked into the light breathing a sigh of relief. She forgot entirely to ask for his name and the silver haired man was already gone. “We’ll meet again? I sure hope so,” Ren smiled to herself. “But after all that, I’m not too sure if it’s a good idea. He did seem like a shady character.” A familiar voice called for her in the distance. It grew louder. “Ren! REN!” called the spiky blonde. “Huh? Naoto!” called Ren. Naoto saw the unconscious people in the alley. “Holy crap! What the hell happened here? Where’s Toshi and Horikawa?” asked Naoto. “They’re in the hospital, but they should be fine. It’s a long story,” answered Ren. “Let’s get out of here. You can tell me more later.” Later at a cafe, Ren recalled the events to Naoto. “That damn Horikawa. Always the one to stir up trouble. You too! You’re not exempt from my lectures. It’s pretty damn scary what you did there,” reprimanded Naoto. “I know, Aniki. I got carried away,” said Ren. “But I would regret if I left Horikawa all alone.” “Come to think of it, can you tell me more about that silver haired man?” asked Naoto. Ren blushed a little at the thought of the man. “He’s a lot taller than me like this high,” said Ren raising her hand over her head. “He’s skinny like those j-pop idols on TV. I think he was pretty pale too.” Not to mention, those eyes. “Does he have slim red eyes and a pointy nose by any chance? And a flashy wardrobe?” Naoto further inquired. “Now that you say it, I think he does,” said Ren. “Oh god. It’s him,” said Naoto. “Him? Who is he? What’s his name?” asked Ren. “You just met a god, Ren,” said Naoto. “A god? I know he saved our lives, but surely he isn’t larger than life?” said Ren. “I don’t know his name, but he is well known in the underground society. Some say he is affiliated with the yakuza. Some say he works behind the scenes in politics. No one really knows,” explained Naoto. “If no one really knows this guy, how did he get famous?” Ren asked anxiously. “What if he really is some yakuza boss? Like a head of a group.” “If he really was a kumichou I don’t think it would be wise running around like what he did today,” said Naoto. “Okay, so he’s not a boss,” said Ren. “But his men were carrying guns ...” “I don’t know about that, but he’s just ... different,” interrupted Naoto. “He’s on a whole new level.” “What is it that makes him so godly?” “He’s known as ... the God of Gambling.”

At a grand casino in Macau, the slot machines were filled with people pulling handles and slamming buttons. A group of middle aged women surrounded one slot machine. “C’mon girl! Pull that handle!” “I bet all my money on you. You can do it!” “May the Lord bless us tonight with good fortune!” “Pull the damn slot machine already!” The woman at the seat pulled the handle and slammed the three buttons. In the end, only a measly five coins vomited from the machine. The women gave a long sigh of despair. “Why the long face?” said a voice from behind them. They turned to see the silver haired man appear. “Did you come to laugh at us, young man?” “Oh no! I’m here to cheer for you. I’ll play a game for you.”

The white haired man took the seat and one of the coins that came out of the slot. He pulled the handle and then began to talk. “Sometimes you have to face situations calmly like this.” He pressed the three buttons from left to right. All eyes were glued onto the machine. The first slot was a seven. Then another seven appeared. They all huddled together in anticipation for the third seven. The bell rang and the third slot revealed a cherry. The silver haired man got up from the seat to leave. “You couldn’t even help us anyway.” “That really just put us down.” “Ssh. Watch,” said the man. The third slot began to spin uncontrollably and the cherry icon became a seven. The red alarm on the machine blared loudly and streamers were released above their head. The machine spat coins by the dozen into the bucket. “Oh my god! We’re rich! We’re rich!” They cheered and the silver haired man watched for a moment. He then turned to leave. His two aides with the orange and purple hair were waiting for him. “It’s time,” said the purple haired man.

“The God of Gambling. That sounds like something out of a movie. Didn’t Chow Yun-fat star in a movie like that?” asked Ren. “It is very surreal. I’m telling you this because I met him once,” confessed Naoto. “What? Really? Tell me about,” Ren asked excitedly. Naoto recalled that day to be a rainy day when he was in middle school. A couple of boys surrounded him with sticks in their hands, “So you’re gonna fight against all five of us, Naoto?” taunted a boy. “Tch!” Naoto spat. “I can easily beat you guys up.” The five boys charged all at once and began beating Naoto to the ground. Naoto resisted by grabbing onto on of their legs and biting on it. One boy let out a cry and beat Naoto even harder on the head. Just then a young teenager with white hair appeared on the field. “What are you all doing? Five against one isn’t fair.” “Who are you? Are you Naoto’s friend or something?” “Tatsunosuke, he looks like he’s in high school. Maybe we should stop.” “Shut up, you wuss. Just because he’s older doesn’t mean we should stop.” The five boys stopped hitting Naoto and decided to focus on a new target. The white haired teenager just stood there. Once they came close enough, the teenager dodged their blows and tripped them over. He then slapped each of them in the face leaving a bright red mark. Tatsunosuke began to cry and ran away. The other boys took their bags and fled home. Naoto was covered in dirt and bruises. “Thank you,” he said. The teenager smiled back. It was still raining and both of them were soaking wet. “I guess this guy isn’t so bad,” said Ren. “But Aniki, you did get into fights a lot.” “I don’t do it anymore,” laughed Naoto. “Violence never solves anything.” “Why didn’t you ask for his name though?” asked Ren. “I don’t know. I kind of forgot to,” answered Naoto.