Ghost in the City: Cyberpunk Gamer SI

"Wake up! Wake up! Wake up!" I groaned as I rolled over throwing my pillow over my head.

There goes my potential eight hours.

"Hiromi." I grumbled as she kept cheerfully calling out, bouncing up and down on my bed.

"It's time to wake up Motoko! We have so much to do!" She called out, and I just grumbled a bit. What time was it? The fact I hadn't woken up naturally after eight hours meant it was super early.

"Hiromi, it's early." I grumbled as I sat up, looking at my choom who was practically buzzing with excitement. She looked like someone had given her some of those super dangerous energy drinks. "Did you even sleep?"

"A little! But we have our meeting with MSM Records! We have to go in and sign! C'mon c'mon c'mon!"

"Do we have to do it this early?"

"Yes! This was the time we agreed to head in… Do you need an energy drink? Breakfast? Are you too tired?" She suddenly shifted from leaping on me to worried.

"What? No, it's fine. Not the first time I've been woken up early." I yawned as I stretched out, letting the play of muscles flow through me, from my fingers down through my chest to my core, to my legs to my toes. "Alright let me get ready. What's so important about doing this so early? Shouldn't Rockerboys get a 'don't do anything until after noon' pass?"

Hiromi scoffed at my joke as I slipped out of bed and started looking for a pair of jeans… Crap had I forgotten to do laundry?

Sweaty dirty jeans were probably not a great first impression to a bunch of corpos…

Then again, I smiled. It's not like I cared, and I doubt they did too.

I found a mostly clean pair and under Hiromi's not so pleased eye shook them out and slipped in.

"Really Motoko?"

"I forgot to do laundry! I've had a busy week!" I argued and Hiromi looked so disappointed in me for a moment.

"We should stop at a clothing store, we can buy a new pair before we get there."

"Hiromi, I'm not buying a new pair of jeans just to meet some corpo guys and sign a contract." I argued, as I turned and continued getting ready.

Pointedly ignoring Hiromi's glare.

—--

We pulled into the MSM Records parking garage, and found a spot, Hiromi taking care of the parking pass and everything apparently, we were already keyed in to their security?

Either way I found a spot and stepped out feeling the slight stretch of brand new jeans as I moved. Hiromi was acting so smug.

Ignoring that we both walked over to a security checkpoint, that after they scanned us we were waved inside.

"Alice and the others are already here… They didn't have to stop for clothes." Hiromi whispered the last part at me, so I jabbed her with an elbow, earning a yelp.

"Yep, if only someone hadn't started cry-"

"I didn't! It was an effective tactic to get what I wanted!" She argued and I looked at her.

That hadn't been faux crying.

I reached over and patted Hiromi on her head. Which made her get a little red as she puffed up at me. "This has to go perfect." She whispered, demanding and I nodded.

"I know. Hiromi worked super hard on this, so I'll do what I can to make sure it all goes perfectly."

"Yes, exactly! Motoko worked hard on this too, so I'd hate to have all her work go in the dumpster because of stinky jeans."

"They weren't stinky!" I hissed and Hiromi just sent me a smug look as the elevator door opened.

"Welcome to MSM Records!" A well dressed Secretary called out as we stepped off from the elevator. "Oh hello! Motoko Kusanagi, and Manager Hiromi Mitsunashi! We've been expecting you!" The woman called out and I nearly flinched at just how chipper she sounded.

"Thank you." Hiromi said confidently as she strode forward. "Our meeting should already be ready?"

"Yes Ma'am! Please follow our guide to the office!" She waved to our right where another woman was already waiting offering us a little bow and a big smile.

And of course a very low neckline. Right, this was a record company. Of course they knew what their usual clients would be like.

We followed the woman down the hall, and then we could hear the noise before we reached it.

The boys Jared and Klein both were making a fuss of some sort, I could just barely recognize their voices.

Then we were guided to the door and it swung open.

"Apologies for the interruption. Motoko and Hiromi are here." The guide called out and stepped aside letting us enter.

"Yo! Motoko! Come in check this out!" Jared called out, he was still wearing his Rockeroy set up, with all his flashy lighted clothing.

There was a person I didn't know sitting up against the desk in the middle of the room. Ian Carver, the rumpled man looked slightly less rumpled than last night, and he was sitting back watching everything with a sharp look in his eye.

Alice was actually the one to fill me in. "This is Raney! She's the lead for Point Break Candy!" She gushed and I just nodded, looking the woman over.

"Nice to meet you."

"Hey you as well! Welcome to MSM. Ian is the one that found me as well. So he asked me to be here for the meet and greet." She offered, languidly. Her smile was fairly fake, I don't think she really wanted to be here, but she was trying at least.

"Raney here is working on a new single, everything we've heard is that it's going to hit the top of the charts." Ian spoke, smiling with a sharpness like a shark. "But we aren't here just to talk up the talent of MSM Records, or just how much we can help a new musician rise to the top. We're here because Stand Alone Complex is joining our illustrious family."

There was already a contract on the table, and I noticed it was already opened, and it looked like Alice, Klein, and Jared had already signed. Hiromi sent them a look because of it, but she moved forward like a shark herself, smile just as sharp.

"Of course Ian. We're all here because we can help each other make a whole load of eddies." Hiromi said cutting to the heart of the matter, she picked up the contract and started looking through it, obviously going to specific sections and nodding pleased.

"You'll find it's the contract we agreed upon last night. No need to rock the boat now. You got what you wanted Ms. Hiromi."

"Good." She said firmly, and then looked at me. "You just need to sign."

"Sure, let me just sign my soul away." I mumbled as I walked over. I trusted Hiromi though, and honestly, even if I read through this stupid contract I wouldn't understand it. They were made that way.

So I flowed my signature across the page. Besides, there was a secret to contracts and laws and things that most people didn't like to accept.

If you murder enough people, they weren't worth the paper they were printed on. I smiled at the man behind the desk as I finished my signature.

"Well congratulations then!" Raney said, her wild hair shifting as she leaned off the desk. "Welcome to the MSM Family. I hope we end up working together, and hope we don't end up competing." She said, offering a wink at the boys when she said that, earning smiles from them both.

"Thanks." I said even though I had no idea what was going to happen next. What a shift.

I just signed a contract to make music for a record label.

What was I thinking? I killed people for a living!

"And now my new friends, and family, we celebrate!" Ian called out, and the door opened, and in came a cart pushed by the guide woman with alcohol… Lots of alcohol.

"Hell yeah!" Klein called out, arms rising up into the air showing off his bare chest and cyberware as he rose to get a drink.

It only took a second but I noticed the guide woman was already flirting with him.

I rolled my eyes, but Alice instead shifted to Raney, looking almost awe struck as she awkwardly tried to chat, and looked super excited when the woman responded positively, and soon Alice was asking all sorts of questions about Raney's path through MSM.

I ignored the drinks, and noticed Hiromi was chatting with Ian. Setting up plans and plots already from what I could hear.

Jeeze how did I get myself into this sort of thing?

—--

Unfortunately while the party seemed to carry on in the background, the actual meeting wasn't over, and there were plans. Thankfully Hiromi took care of most of it.

Ian wanted Stand Alone Complex in MSM's studio to record an official album, along with a sound editor to spice them up, and all that sort of thing.

That wasn't where it ended though.

"No." I argued back, as Ian had offered an in studio ripper, along with some sponsored chrome. "I already have a ripper, and he's the only one I trust, and I can't just put in garbage. I'm a merc."

"Well, there are some issues with your chrome Motoko." Ian offered, kindly, but I noticed he was basically ignoring what I had said. "We don't have a deal with Arasaka to sponsor their chrome, so that Neural link has got to go. And maybe some adjustment to your arms? We do have a great deal with Kiroshi. Feel like getting a real upgrade?"

I looked at the man with my face blank.

"Of course that goes for all of you! Any of you want a pair of brand new Kiroshi?" Ian offered, and I could see Alice and the others were interested.

Heck so was I. I still had a pair of old Mk.1's An upgrade, especially a free one sounded preem.

I shook my head. "I'm not changing my chrome." I said bluntly, so there was no confusion.

"Come now Motoko, it's not like we won't pay for the upgrades. You're one of us now, we're going to take care of you, but there are some things we will need in turn. Surely you like the idea of some custom work? Those arms of yours, they're pretty standard, how'd you like something a bit more high end? Trust me kid, if you've never had really custom work done, it's completely different."

I felt my fists clench at the mention of my arms. The rubber pads rubbing together over and over as I was really thinking about showing him just how good my arms were.

"Ian." Hiromi spoke cutting in as she sidled up to me. "While I do appreciate what you are saying, and of course we will take MSM's request under advisement, let's not push such things so quickly. Motoko's chrome is as much a part of her, as her ability to play the guitar. Let's give her some time to adjust, and maybe show her what you have in mind first?"

I blinked at Hiromi as I pouted at her, and she shot me a smile.

"Well I don't know about Motoko, but I wouldn't mind some upgrades." Alice offered smiling as she leaned against the table. "What else does MSM have to offer her Rockerboys besides Kiroshi?"

"Lovely! We have a few brand deals, there is a small cost, a few interviews and the like, maybe some modeling work, but that's part of the package already. In turn we can get top of the line custom work. You want your persona to have a certain flair, I promise Kiroshi, and our other partners are more than happy to work with you." He said, and Alice lit up.

I relaxed, yeah yeah, I already knew this was going to be part of it.

But I swear to god if he ever said something about my look being workshopped I was going to throat chop him. The idea of a group of random people with terrible attitudes deciding what I should look like filled me with utter disgust.

I just needed this to be over so I could get back to focusing on the Militech gig. I think I'll take a nice break after this and do some exploring the showrooms security…

"Hey." I broke in, suddenly getting Ian's attention. "Do you have a deal with Militech? There is something I always wanted to do, but never could."

"We have a brand deal with a few Militech subsidies. You'd be surprised at how often a music video needs some military equipment. But we also work with Kunoshita Chipware, Klemperer Photo-Optical Systems, and Combat Fashion Inc."

"I've never heard of any of those." I admitted, and Ian smiled.

"Then we obviously haven't been doing a good enough job. Perhaps you'll become the face of our corporate partnership?" He said, his smiles stretching out, and I felt like he was plotting.

"Maybe, anyways, I always wanted to check out the Militech Showroom."

"Ah, well, that's a bit of an odd request, but hell, why not? Perhaps in exchange we can talk about some minor changes to your chrome?" He asked, and I bit back my denial.

"We can talk about it. No promises."

"Excellent! I'll send an email out to set it up, but let me not make the four of you think that is the extent of what MSM is about. How about we continue to celebrate by visiting our studios, and you can see just what becoming part of the MSM family will do for your career?"

I sighed and followed as everyone excitedly headed out of the room, hands still full of drinks, although I noticed the guide taking the push cart of booze and following along with us.

Jeeze.

The studio was nice though.

—---

"Free!" I shouted as I flopped onto the couch. My life was so fucked up.

"Welcome home Motoko. How was MSM?" Jun asked me. He'd watched as I crashed into the apartment, and stomped over to the couch to flop face forward onto it without saying a word until then.

"I feel like I sold my soul to the devil and everyone is congratulating me. It's fine I guess. I'll just kill them if they ever fuck me over. You?"

"Everything is normal, come on, talk to me about it." He prompted reaching over and nudging my shoulder.

"They want me to change chrome."

"That's good! Rockerboys tend to get really high end stuff."

"They get high end flashy junk. I like substance."

"You'll be able to get both. If they try to give you scop then just don't take it." He rumbled and I rolled over so I was looking up at him.

"It felt weird."

"It's something new, you'll get used to it. Do they talk to you about… Is it recording an album, or are you just taking your already recorded songs and doing that?"

"They want to re-record everything. I've got the feeling I'll be fighting the sound editor constantly to not fuck with my songs… But it should be pretty fun. They want me to replace my arms." I mentioned quietly, a little annoyed at how pushy they were about it.

"You should, your arms are Condors right? Those were only ever meant to be temporary."

"I like them. They're tough, and they do everything arms can do."

"You could get better, you know?"

"I know! I just… I like'em. They're mine." I argued and Jun just reached over and patted me on the shoulder.

"Whatever you want is what's important." He decided using his 'I'm a wise older brother,' voice.

"Maybe I should… They're not exceptionally functional. I keep them mostly cause they're tough, but… I could get something stronger."

"Strong is good."

"It just… It feels wrong to change myself because some corpo said I should."

"Hiromi."

"Doesn't count!" I argued back at his dead pan word.

"Well whatever you end up choosing I know it'll be a good choice. You get worried about the weirdest stuff sometimes."

"Yeah well… I did get a benefit."

"Oh yeah?"

"I wanted to go to the Militech Showroom."

"Ooh." Jun said, perking up a bit as well. "Seriously?"

"Yeah… Okay don't tell anyone, don't even breathe about it… I might be scoping the place out for a heist."

"What." Jun's flat statement had me laugh.

"So they have a store room under the showroom. There is a lot of high end equipment down there, and I might be considering breaking in and stealing some stuff.

"Motoko…"

"I know it's dangerous, but they have some crazy stuff that I want!"

"Motoko… I've never been more proud of you in my entire life." He said, almost sniffling and then reached out and pulled me into a hug….

"Fuck off!" I shouted jabbing at him. What an asshole!

"Okay okay! Easy with the punches you gorilla."

"I'll show you Gorilla." I growled at him, but he held up his hands.

"I'm joking. Well not exactly. Are you sure? That sounds really dangerous, and you got your Rockerboy job now. Anything they might have you can just wait a little bit and buy it. Right?"

I hesitated, because Jun saying something like that was… If Jun could register it was dangerous, that was saying something.

"I know, but… I had the idea before all of this, and I still want to do it."

"Alright… Damn… I'm in."

"Jun! I'm not asking for help."

"Yeah but I want in anyways. You can't do something that preem without bringing me in."

I looked at his stupid smug face and rolled my eyes. "If. If! I do bring you in, you can't actually tell anyone Jun. The whole point is to do it without Militech ever finding out who did it. The only person that will ever know besides me is Yoko who is giving me some data to get the job done and she wants something from inside the storeroom."

"I still want in." He argued and I sighed.

"Fine, I'll let you know."

"Nuh-uh. That's Motoko talk for I'm going to forget to tell you. I'm helping, so what do you need?"

"To visit the showroom, and get a sense for things on the inside, then I need to do some netdives and check the security from that end. Then probably make or buy some equipment to turn off the security, or let me bypass it all." I explained ticking off my fingers.

"Preem." He said and he sounded like an excited kid.

I just rolled my eyes. "Fine. I guess I could use some help with it. But probably just on the exfiltrating. Depending on the security, only I might be able to actually sneak in."
"Whatever!" He said and I just rolled my eyes again.

—---

The next day I woke up after actually sleeping for eight hours with a weird sense.

I had… Work?

Like work that wasn't something I chose to do. I had hours that I had to go into the studio and… Work.

Like a job.

Me! Who the hell decided to give me a job? I'm crazy!

I groaned and actually rolled off the bed. First I needed to clean up and get ready. I was in the middle of my shower when Hayato texted me.

*Hayato: A car will arrive to pick you up tomorrow evening. I will see you then. Please be on your best behavior! I do not want you to embarrass yourself, or me!*

*Motoko: What are you talking about, I'm perfect! I never embarrass anyone! *

I laughed as I could practically feel the way Hayato was probably slamming her agent trying to send a message arguing the exact opposite as I finished washing out the shampoo in my hair.

*Hayato: THAT IS NOT TRUE!*

*Motoko: I'll be a good girl. I got a fancy Kimono and everything. Don't worry. I won't even kill anyone. Wakako still pays me not to murder the only one I really want to.*

*Hayato: YOU ARE DIFFICULT! I WILL SEE YOU TOMORROW!*

I laughed as I got out of the shower, Hayato really was a riot.

Today was work, lots of music and recording and arguing with people and tomorrow I'd be heading to the Tyger Claws big end of the year bash, and dealing with that.

I should just disappear and live in a cardboard box in an alley. Maybe Morgan Blackhand was secretly right?

Considering it for a bit as I got dressed I reminded myself that Cardboard boxes weren't comfortable and didn't have A/C or a couch to flop on.

So that was right out.

So instead of disappearing into the city to live on the streets and live as a ghost I guess I had… Work.

Like a job.

Me!

Seriously, I was crazy and I wouldn't give myself a job. Ian must be insane!

"Okay I think I got the style right." Hiromi whispered as she played with my hair.

"Hiromi, it's just a hair piece."

"It has to be perfect!" She argued, but I think she was just having fun playing with my hair.

I just let her. I wasn't in a rush anyways, my Kimono was put on, and I was done up. It honestly was pretty cool. The fact I had a Katana lying beside me really made me want to draw it and see what my range of motion would be, but Hiromi would yell at me.

I wonder if I would get into a sword fight today. That'd be fun. I've never had a sword fight in a Kimono before.

"Ow!" I hissed as Hiromi thwacked me on the top of my head with a fan of all things. "Hiromi!"

"Uh-uh. I know that look. Everything is going to go perfectly! Remember you're a Rockerboy now, with an actual contract, don't let them push you around… But maybe talk to some of them about a TC deal. The Tygers could help set up concerts and distribution-"

"Hiromi."

"Fiiine. Just ignore all that like you were going to anyway, and try to act composed. Hayato-Sama could be a very useful contact."

"I'll tell her you said that."

"Don't you dare!" She hissed and I laughed as I reached up and fought Hiromi's hand for a moment before helping her finally push the hair piece in place, noticing in the mirror we were sitting in front of her, face going a bit red in anger.

"I'll be careful, and as much as Hayato screams at me, we're friends, so it'll be okay. If anything goes wrong I'll have a Katana, and more importantly, it'll all go okay because no one at the party is going to want to cause trouble in front of their boss."

"If you say so."

"I do. Now, help me up?" I asked, holding my hands up, and she huffed and walked around in front of me, and I grabbed her hands and mostly just got up on my own, as otherwise I'd tug Hiromi right into me.

It'd be funny but she'd kill me in this big old Kimono.

"The car should be here soon."

"Then get down there." Hiromi said squeezing my hands for a moment, even if they were chrome I could still feel it.

"I'll see you after?"

"Yes! You have to tell me everything! No better yet! Get a BD! No wait, don't do that, they might get angry."

"Bye Hiromi." I called out as I moved away from her rambling. Okay, now the annoying part.

I looked myself over in the mirror for a second.

Flowery hair piece, it was kinda cute, but it hid my short hair by tugging everything back.

My dark blue almost purple Kimono looked nice, and the fancy Katana at my hip fit in well. I sighed and then moved, I had a set of geta of all things at the door to slip into, so I wouldn't muss the white socks I was wearing.

"You got this Motoko!" Hiromi yelled as I walked out, and I couldn't help but chuckle.

By the time I made it to the garage a fancy car was in fact pulling in, and when it stopped in front of me, the door opened revealing Hayato herself.

Her Kimono compared to mine was night and day, but she looked me over with a blur of her eyes and then nodded.

"Accceptable."

"Yeah yeah, you got me in this monkey suit, let's go." I told her, as I slipped in, the door closing on its own behind me.

"It is not a monkey suit! It is a-"

"Hayato." I interrupted her, and smiled as I leaned in. "I'm just joking. It looks cute. I like yours too. The hair piece suits you."

"Ah… It was my mothers."

"It's lovely." I told her, reaching over and patting her hand, which she puffed up at but didn't say anything.

The ride was quiet for a little bit as Hayato seemed to be a little distracted, but eventually she spoke.

"Stick close to me during the party. I wish to make sure everyone is reminded that you work for me." She said, and clenched her hand around my own tight for a second.

Heh, what is it with Hiromi and Hayato, both holding my hand today?

"Sure… There will be a snack table though right? Cause-"

"Yes there will be snacks!" She snapped at me in a rush glaring and puffing up, and then getting even redder in anger as I was smiling brightly at her. "You are messing with me."

"I am." I assured her honestly. "Don't worry. I'm here because you invited me. I'm not really a Tyger Claw, which you know. So I'll hang around a while and do the show off thing."

"You… You should be proud of being a Tyger Claw." She grumbled at me, but I shook my head.

"I'm an assassin. I'll do gigs for you, because you're my friend, but I'm definitely not Tyger material."

She took a moment, eyes narrowed at me before scoffing. "We shall see."

The rest of the drive was mostly quiet, Hayato was breathing slowly, seemingly getting herself ready for what was coming and I didn't disturb her, while I did something similar.

Ugh. This was going to get so awkward.

Finally we pulled into a garage area, and I noticed right away that the place wasn't empty.

Tyger Claw motorcycles and vehicles littered every inch of the garage, and gang members sat on them, or hung around.

We joined a stream of vehicles that entered, and each stopped disgorging men and women in suits and fancy dresses.

When it was our turn, I stepped out, feeling eyes on me, I scanned around, but everything was clear, and I stopped and held out a hand for Hayato.

She took it and lifted herself out of the car.

She strode forward chin tilted up seeming confident and I followed. Up into the elevator, that was held open for us.

"Nakagawa-Sama." The man that was already inside with his date greeted us with a solid bow.

"Kojima. I wish you fortune."

"And I you." He offered back and I joined beside Hayato, noticing the girl the man had on his arm was a doll.

Poor thing she probably wouldn't remember any of tonight when she got home.

"It is a pleasure to see you join us this year, Nakagawa-Sama. Will you be joining your Nakagawa-Sama for the declaration?"

"I will Kojima. Today I stand with Otou-Sama."

"Excellent. I will look forward to seeing your flourish Oujo-Sama."
"Hmph!" She huffed at the older man's pretty words, and I had to fight to keep the smile off my face.

Heh.

He called her Princess! She totally was the Yakuza Princess!

The elevator pinged, and I noticed Hayato shift, standing straighter, her arms shifting those long kimono sleeves adjusted to practically flair around her as she looked at me for a moment and I nodded.

Then we stepped out, Kojima standing back as she stepped out first, and I followed.

This thankfully was familiar, it was the same high end apartment area that I'd been dragged to before, only this time everything was fancy and decorated. The security checkpoint was still there, and as we approached I grumbled a bit as I was obviously scanned, and I had to sigh and adjust myself.

It had taken a bit of work to get the Burya properly sandwiched but with a bit of work that had Hayato growing redder and redder, I pulled the heavy pistol out of where I had crammed it in, and then dropped it heavily onto the little bin that had been held out for me.

Everyone was looking at me, but I shrugged.

"A lady should always carry a weapon capable of dealing with a heavy cyborg." I informed the attendant, who looked from me to the Burya before looking back at me, and bowing.

"Motoko." Hayato said, her voice a bit quavering in anger, but I shrugged.

"I had to at least try." I admitted to her as we walked past, only a glance given to my Katana as I shuffled after Hayato who was a bit huffy after that.

Then we walked into the main room.

The apartment had been done up like a ball room. Lights strewn above us, and beautiful women and well dressed men were in every corner.

Some of them weren't even TC.

I think I saw a few semi-famous faces hanging around, which was a bit weird.

Hayato stepped forward and the crowd of course parted for her as she headed deeper in, and yet, she walked slow enough for me to keep pace. So I figured that was my role.

I shifted to be at her side, my eyes flashing over the crowd as if prepared to deal with any enemies. I could totally play the role of the loyal samurai bodyguard. At the least it was more fun than just hanging around doing nothing.

"Hayato." The whiskey and smoke voice of Hayato's father called out, and Hayato walked through the spread crowd to stand before the well dressed man.

Seriously, it was kinda unfair. The guy looked stupidly handsome.

"Otou-Sama."

"Good, I am glad you arrived. Look Otowa, my daughter has truly blossomed, she will stand beside me tonight." The man said, turning to the suit clad man he had been talking with. Not someone I recognized to be honest.

"We are honored by Nakagawa-Sama's presence tonight."

"Thank you Otowa. I wish you a pleasant Holiday."

"Your words are too kind." The man offered with a bow.

I just stood there, at least I could fall into the bodyguard role, it made this whole thing a little less embarrass-And now I was being spoken to.

"Kusanagi Motoko, I hope you find the party pleasant?"

"I know some people so it's not terrible." I admitted, probably a bit too bluntly as Hayato glared at me.

Shinobu just smiled, and damn was even his half smile handsome.

Stupid handsomes!

"You are here as a guest of honor, so I hope at least that our party will be more than not terrible. There is another matter, Hayato, show Motoko to the guest room. Hagihara-Sama is waiting."

Hayato didn't quite jolt, at the words, but I could see the way her body reacted under the Kimono like she wanted to.

"I understand, Otou-Sama. I will do so now. Come Motoko." Hayato said, her voice blurring a bit as she was excited. She was so excited she actually reached out and grabbed my hand to tug me along.

I just rolled my eyes and let her, and waved to the men as I was pulled away.

I think I was surrounded by girls that really liked bossing me around.

"Who is Hagihara?" I asked, but Hayato just sent me a smug look and pulled me along. While there were a few stops, as men and women spoke to Hayato, she thankfully kept the conversations brief as she moved on.

Then we headed up a set of stairs to the next floor, which was set up like a quiet pavilion, and I noticed Wakako was sitting up here at one of the tables set out.

But Hayato just nodded at her grandmother as she tugged me along, and I just sent a helpless shrug.

Then we came to a door and Hayato stopped and knocked on the door.

A word in Japanese was called out, and Hayato opened the door carefully, in a very japanese style, as she guided me inside.

The room was mostly empty, but not bare. And a man sat in Seiza in the center, a very old man. I glanced him over. He had cyberware, but it was odd. Only one eye was an optic. One arm was entirely chrome and it ran all the way to his chest, just like my own.

He'd lost his arm? Or was the look intentional. His… Hakama? Kimono? Dangit I always hated trying to remember what it was called. His top was half off, showing the flesh of his stomach, and the chrome that riddled his older body, but the guy was fit.

And what caught my eye was the set of Katana that stood out before him.

They were fancy black lacquer, but they weren't completed. I couldn't remember what they were called, but the wooden sheath the sword was placed in, was just bare white wood, and it was meant to store a Katana when not in use.

The man's optic glared at me, it's Iris shifting and growing and shrinking. He was scanning me.

No, he was scanning the sword on my hip.

He spoke again and Hayato replied in Japanese, and I just felt left out.

"Sorry, I don't speak Japanese." I said finally, and the man went still as he stared at me, only his Optic seemed to shift glaring at me, while the rest of his face was made of granite for all it shifted.

"Ugh. Motoko, get a language chip if you-" Hayato started to hiss at me before stopping and shaking her head. She instead spoke to who I could only assume was Hagihara.

"I speak English." The man said, in very broken English.

Fairly confident he did not in fact speak English.

"As you wish Hagihara-Sama." Hayato replied, but I moved forward, and then knelt in front of him. With an easy motion I pulled the sheathed sword from my hip and offered it to him.

He'd never really taken his eye off it.

He said nothing but reached out and took it, unsheathing it without hesitation and looking the blade over.

"It is… How do you say… Trash." He said, seemingly coming to his decision.

"Yeah, but it was a blade that was trying to kill me. So it's mine now."

He nodded at that. And then he resheathed it, and offered it back to me.

"Show me… Take… Hold." He said seemingly finding the words, and I nodded.

I pulled the blade in a quick motion and then while still kneeling held it in both hands.

He took a look at my grip his eye scanning and then without a single motion he seemed to get to work.

Reaching out to grab the top Katana from the stand that had been in front of him, and pulled the blade free from the wooden sheath, I felt myself stiffen.

The blade was beautiful.

I wasn't a connoisseur of swords. If it was metal, and mostly sharp I was fairly satisfied. My Arasaka brutalist Thermal Katana was still my favorite after all, but…

A part of my Blades Skill was knowledge on handling, and use of blades, and you can't use a blade properly if you couldn't read the weaknesses of a blade.

Where the cutting point was, where the weight would jerk a blade out of your hand, or if it would snap if stabbed into some gonk.

I'd seen some fancy Katana, but there was a fancy Katana, and then there was a functional sword.

Built by a Master.

The wave in the blade… Hamon? That sounded right, was something beautiful, like a fire flickering across the edge.

"You, cut words." He said in broken english as he pulled the blade free of the wood and placed it gently on the cloth in front of him, and then he seemed to set to work, pulling out pieces of a hilt, and right there, with tolls he pulled from around him with clean cuts with his chrome hand he cut the wood, and even steel plates, that he began fixing into the wood. "Blade, cut only, want."

Those were certainly words. I don't know what cutting words had to do with anything, but of course I only cut what I want.

I nodded, and he continued to work, his hands a literal blur, as the hilt was put together in moments, the speed of a man backed by cyberware, and the experience of a master.

Just there as I watched, he fixed the length of the handle, finished putting it together, and slipped the tang of the Katana into the handle, along with a hand guard that he pulled from a pocket within his hakama.

Then he pulled what I could only assume was some sort of silk, and began wrapping it. It only took a few minutes, longer as he finished the wrap, and a real sheath was already prepared and the blade slipped inside.

The whole time I was shooting glances at Hayato, who was being a good girl, staying still and stoic, but I could tell she was interested too.

"You Kensei, a blade, worthy." He offered it to me, and I couldn't help but swallow a little. I reached out and took the blade from him, instantly I could feel the balance, even in the sheath it was perfect.

I put my hand on the hilt and… "You reinforced it. So I wouldn't damage the wood with my grip." I said, the slightly heavier bits of steel in the hilt. It had been because in the age of Cyborgs, if you just used normal wood, you'd end up cracking the hilts if you squeezed too hard.

He stared at me, and then slowly glanced at Hayato.

Who quickly translated, much to my amusement.

"Hai." He said finally. Then he started putting everything away. I watched for a moment, but Hayato rose up and bowed.

"Arigato Hagihara-Sama."

The old man grunted once in response.

I looked at the katana in my hands.

"It's the finest blade I've ever seen." I told him, and his eyes glanced to me, and he nodded.

I rose and slipped the shiny fancy sheath into the slot in my Obi that Musashi's shitty Katana had been in before.Then I sighed and it felt a bit wrong, but I slipped that blade in with it.

Turning I left the room, nothing else needed to be said.

I stepped out and noticed Wakako again and rose an eye at her, as Hayato came out behind me.

"Decided to see both parts of the entertainment Wakako?"

"Hmm. Perhaps." She offered glancing at my sword with interest, but I didn't unsheath it.

She shrugged at my refusal to give her a peek.

"Hayato. Your father wants to show off Motoko before the meeting begins."

"Yes Grandmother. Come Motoko."

"I didn't ask or anything, but I sort of expected to have to pay for this."

"You are paying for it." Wakako offered bluntly. "You will be shown as a wild pony, a sign of Japanese superiority to those present. Do well, and the payment will be in full."

"And if I fail?"

"Don't. You are not wealthy enough."

I scoffed at Wakako's blunt response and nodded at her.

Hayato pulled me along and down we went back down the stairs and into the main room, where Shinobu was easily holding court among everyone here. The center of attention, even as he casually talked with those around him.

"Ah, excellent." He spoke as he saw Hayato. "I see that Hagihara-Sama had no issue providing a blade to our young Kensai!" He spoke warmly, and his voice carried despite his lack of any shouting.

Hayato puffed up proudly as she looked from me to her father.

"Indeed, Hagihara-Sama worked diligently."

"As he always does. Young Kusanagi, how is it?"

"It's the finest blade I've ever seen." I admitted, feeling the weight of the blade on my hip, and he smiled.

"Perhaps you would be willing to reveal your blade to those present? I believe, yes there it is." A pair of well dressed men pulled out a stand with a tatami cutting matt wrapped around it.

It was brought out and placed, and secured, and it was obvious this was all part of the show.

"Motoko?" A voice quietly whispered out, and I looked away from Shinobu to see Jun…

"Hey Jun." I greeted him casually, as I walked up to the cutting post.

He was standing next to Fujimura and I could see the absolutely lost look on his face as Fujimura looked from Jun to me, before he seemed to sigh and started whispering to Jun.

I though, wasn't here just to say hi to Jun.

I walked up to the cutting post, and looking to Shinobu, the man gave me a nod, and I could see just how many people were watching, so right then, the moment he nodded, without any extra movements, no adjusting my stance first or gripping the hilt.

Sliding my feet on the tatami floors, my hands gripped sheath and hilt, and I drew,

The sound of the cut was dead silent, but there was a noise as the head of the post flopped onto the floor having been cut free.

I held the cut for a moment after and then slowly resheathed the blade. I'd barely felt the blade cut through the tatami cutting mat. This was a very sharp blade.

"Excellent! Truly Excellent! A new Kensai born here in Night City! Our very own home grown blade master!" Shinobu called out, and I got a few quiet claps at the performance. "Perhaps the Deravaja Dojo might see a young Kensai going to perfect her craft further, and of course show those with the proper mindset the right way to cut." He called out, and I realized that was purposeful.

He'd just set me up as a sort of teacher at the Dojo. Or at least the potential of me doing that.

I kept my face calm not showing any irritation.

And thankfully not long after, Shinobu shifted the attention from me, as I stepped back into the crowd towards where Hayato was waiting, getting congratulations at my accomplishment, from men and women I literally wouldn't even hesitate to kill if it came down to it.

What a weird situation.

"Motoko." The heavy hand on my shoulder made me look up.

"What's up Jun?"

"What are you doing here, what do you mean Kensai… What the fuck!?" He hissed quietly at me, and I blinked.

What?