Black Lagoon Book 5

 "I.. I'm right in the middle of all this, and you are my enemy." - Yukio

Continuing my look at the manga series Black Lagoon written and drawn by Rei Hiroe it ran through the noughties but is actually set in the mid 1990's.  It is named after the boat used by a team of three men and one woman who operate a courier service out of the fictional Thai city Roanapur. Said city is a haven for criminals big and small, but this volume takes place in Japan as we continue and wrap up the arc "Fujiyama Gansta Paradise".  Only two of the titular Black Lagoon company feature here, Rock the ex-Japanese salaryman and Revy an expert with all kinds of guns.  Rock has been hired by Balalaika the head of the Russian mafia in Roanapur to translate as they made a deal to help a smalltime Yakuza clan called the Washimine Gumi in their struggle with their rivals the Kosa Kai in return for an increased presence in the city. Rock befriended a girl in her late teens called Yukio but as events played out it turned out Yukio was the heir to the leadership of the Washimine Gumi, which she stepped up to take control of as teaming up with the Russians turned out to be a very bad idea. The previous volume ended with the betrayal of a loathsome individual called Chaka and his men who kidnapped Yukio in the hope they could ransom her to someone when the dust settled and Rock and Revy, who had gone to check on her when the figured out who she was and that she might be in danger from the Russians, were confronted by Yukio's bodyguard Manslayer Ginji.  And now the conclusion.

[Note:  This manga is "unflipped" so must be read from right to left]

We begin with Revy, Rock and Ginji all driving together in a car. Revy complains aboout the radio until she finds one playing rock music. We then flashback to Revy holding the sword armed Ginji at gunpoint in the home Yukio was kidnapped from and where Yoshida, one of her underlings, body was.  Revy and Rock together convince Ginji that they had nothing to do with Yoshida's death nor did Hotel Moscow.

Ginji starts to leave silently, but Rock says because he stormed in alone means the rest of the men are back at the office.  How far can he get on foot? Rock says that the foot prints mean a large group and one is armed. Ginji can't take them all alone.  Ginji finally says it has nothing to do with them.  But Rock says there is no time to argue, the person who did this was on the inside.  He would have predicted Ginji but not Revy coming after him.

Back in the car Ginji asks why they are helping them.  Rock says "I can't help thinking she doesn't belong in all this.  She should be living a normal life."  Ginji says that might have happened if "somebody had done his job."  Then we cut to Chaka and his gang at a bowling ally with Yukio who is missing several items of clothes as she is being made to disrobe peice by peice whenever Chaka gets a strike.

Yukio in the hands of Chaka.

He wants to see her naked and wonders if they should shave her.  The other gang members asks what they are going to do next? They want to hurry and sell her off rather than gang raping her and ditching her. Chaka says there is no harm taking a night to think about it. The gang wave their guns around asking what they are to do with them, they have no idea how to shoot them.  A couple of gang members decide to split as soon as the shit goes down. Chaka reward this disloyalty by smashing a bowling ball into the plotter's head.

Chaka: "Hmm? You little shits.  You've been ridin' our backs and reapin' the benefits and now your talking about splitting? Anybody who tries to leave now's gonna get his ass executed, you got that?"

Then he notices Yukio giving him a look, he tells her she is awfully poised, "after all that shit we put you through." He tells her they'll deal with Ginji then find a buyer for her, he threatens her with doping her up.

Outside the car holding Rock, Revy and Ginji parks.  Revy tells Rock to go round back, while she and Ginji goe through the front. Rock says she and Ginji don't speak the same language, but Revy says "when the shit hits the fan.. we'll be moving on instinct. That's just how we're made."

Inside they start beating up, slicing and shooting the gang. Chaka grins saying "they really came' eh?  Whatever for I wonder?"  And he is pleased to see Revy saying "you did wanna fuck after all, huh? Cool!" When Ginji sees the state Yukio is in he growls:

Ginji: "You gentlemen... have really done it this time. You wanna see my sword do badly...?!  Very well, I'll send you all... to paradise."

There then follows a raging gun battle taking place across several pages as Revy and Ginji take out the gang.  Chaka seems very excited, yelling "check it out! Check it out! Have you ever been in a brawl like this?" And he demands Revy come face him. But when he realises things are serious he starts to leave, dragging Yukio with him. He wants to face Revy one-on-one, "the stage has to be set just right". Then Rock appears and belts him round the head with a bowling pin and gets Yukio away from him.

Chaka gets Revy's boot in his face.

Revy mocks one of the gang as he pleads for his life.  Ginji appears and Revy says she'll leave Chaka to him while she goes and looks for Rock and Yukio.  She mows more gang members down as she does so, "hmmph it's like hunting ducks" she says to herself.  Then she bumps in to Chaka.  They face each other in a corridor, he says he never faces a female gunslinger before and when he drops the can he is holding that is a cue for them to fire.Instead she runs at him and kicks him hard in the face.  She keeps laying into him and then says to him:

Revy: "You wanted to challenge me as a gunslinger?  Don't make me laugh.  Like I'd actually throw down with a third-rate sack of shit like you."

She goes on to say she'd love to kill him but she's going to leave that to Ginji.  Nursing a broken nose he calls her a bitch, but she just walks off and leaves him.

He draws his revolver to go after her but comes face-to-face with Ginji.  Chaka tries to pretend Yukio is dead by his hand.. But Ginji says a cunning dog like him would never throw away is meal ticket.  As Revy watches they go at it gun versus sword.  Chaka fires and Ginji cuts the bullet in half.  Then he hacks Chaka gun hand clean off.  He then rams him with the sword scabbard pushing him into an ornamental pond.  Chaka keeps making threats as he splashes in the water sans hand.

And Chaka minus his hand about to drown.

Meanwhile Rock has got Yukio to a safe place and given her his coat to cover her up.  Yukio asks why he came, Rock says he couldn't leave her alone when she would have been dragged into the whole mess of their job with Hotel Moscow.  But she sighs and says she wasn't dragged in. And that Rock is her enemy now.

Rock asks her what she means, and she tells him she has succeeded as the Washimine-Gumi's 14th Grand Leader.  Rock is horrified and shouts at her:

Rock: "Did you step into all thi knowing what kind of world it is?!  You saw what happened!  It's filled with malice and not a shred of reason!  It's a world filled with people who betray and kill each other!"
Yukio just quietly asks him why did he come here again.  Rock says he couldn't stand to see her dragged into this.  But Yukio says it was her decision and she is going to tell him the story right from the beginning.

Her father and the Kosa Kai's previous chairman were friends, they knew each other from the black markets after the war.  They were "sworn friends that survived through it all."  But that changed five years ago when her father's friend passed away and was suceeded as chairman of the Kosa Kai by his brother.  Unfortunately he had a volatile relationship with his brother and her father.

When her father passed what was left of the relationship was gone and he started making moves to weaken the Washimine's foundation.  With the Kosa Kai postioned above them there was nothing they could do to resist.  They were driven to a point where they were unable to maintain their organisation. But, "it was Mr. Bando... who saved us." He went against her father's rules and began meddling in dishonourable businesses, to keep them afloat and repay her father.

But this just led to harsher demands from the Kosa Kai, they began to insist that if the issue of leadership was not resolved they would force their own representative on them.  So Bando decided to take a gamble. "Hotel Moscow" says Rock.  Yukio says yes and that it was a "critical mistake."

Yukio: "An organisation prepared for bloodshed without moderation or restraint.. driven by their violent tendencies and anti-social nature for the constant pursuit of profits. The desperation and desires of people that were formed and decayed in the closed off world called the Soviet Union.  With its collapse, they bared their vicious fangs... Russia's great darkness.  Mr. Bando could not see their evil ways."
She believes that his death at Balalaika's hand was a suicide, because he finally realised how badly he screwed up in trying to work with them, "he travelled into the world of death to fulfill his responsibility to my father." She says to Rock he must have been there, which he was but says nothing.

Yukio and Rock discuss destiny.

Yukio goes on to say that with Washimine abandoned and now compelled to confront an overwhelming force, the one person who can salvage the situation is her.  Rock asks why it has to be her? And she says that a non-family successor won't be recognised, this was how it was presented to them.  "It may be absurd, but that is how people like us do things" she tells him.  Rock says that's no excuse, nobody wanted this, not Bando, not Ginji, not even her.  Everyone did what they could to keep her out of the feud so she wouldn't be in this postion.

She calmly says that if she had stood up earlier, none of this would have happened.  Rock says she should blame the Kosa Kai.  She says maybe it is there fault, "but our world does not allow us to kill if it means putting aside humanity and neglecting duty.  If we violate that we become the same as Balalaika."  Rock says it makes no sense, she's forcing responsibilty on herself.

She asks him if he remembers what the talked about at the cafe?  She says she chose this to do what she could for her father and the people who respect him.  Rock says she's been forced to make that choice, and she'll have to live her life shouldering it.  Finally Yukio gets tearful and angry, telling Rock he's in the "twilight" and that's how he can say that.

She goes on saying she has to tell herself she made the choice, otherwise she couldn't have done it, "if somebody's life, their honour, their future all depends on me... what else can I do but fight for it?" She has decided to accept all the horror and ugliness if it means everyone else can be saved.  She then asks Rock why he stepped into such an ugly world.  Before he can answer she goes on to say:

Yukio: "What you were seeking when you threw yourself into the Thai underworld.  Perhaps you thought you were looking for something that didn't exist in Japan.. no... in your daily life.  But.. in the end you didn't make a choice at all. You didn't return to the light of day. Nor did you sink into the depths of darkness.  Because all you did was stand there."

She says that he wants to save her, so help her save the Washimine-Gumi, Ginji, the other members, everybody, help them.  She then says he can't can he, because he doesn't want to save her he just doesn't want to lose the life he left behind.  Because if he lets her die, he'd lose the "last piece of the memories... you left in Japan."

Yukio has Rock pegged.

Making a choice, she says,means giving something up to gain something.  Rock keeps holding on to things he thinks he's throw away, "you still have a shred of attachment to them.  How can you protect anybody like that?" She repeats that, shouting it at him.  She then calms down, saying she wanted a normal life, that neither of them wanted to live a life of suffering.  She tells him not to come near her as he moves to comfort her and tells him "that's why I hate you."

Back with Revy and Ginji, Chaka is still splasing around in the pool uttering obscenties at them.  Ginji uses his sword scabbard to push Chaka under the water and drowns him, "it's a bit too easy a death for you.  But it'll do."  Revy tells him to show her the move where he cut a bullet in half again.  But Ginji just says he owes her and Rock, he and Revy will only go at it if she gets unlucky.  The four of them leave the building Ginji says he hopes they'll never meet again, and Yukio agrees.  They part company as this chapter ends with Balalaika and her man planning attacks on both the Kosa Kai and Washimine-Gumi.

She tells her men they must "thoroughly neutralise the Washimine-Gumi's forces".  If a third party interferes they'll withdraw and wait for the next opportunity. She tells her sergeant to "instruct the Japanese in the manners of combat."  We then get a few pages showing one of the Washimine-Gumi's offices being wiped out by the Russians.   In a car with Ginji, Yukio sadly mulls the news of the deaths over saying they underestimated the Russians. Their methods aren't like a Mafia, they are much more like an army.  Ginji says that they can still fight them, "we ain't dead yet."  Yukio smiles at him saying they can't back out now.

We return to Rock and Revy in a cafe. She's been on the phone to Balalaika who wants them back to the hotel before nine as she has one more job for them.  Rock just sits quietly.  She asks him what the matter is, because after the Washimine-Gumi are done they can all go their seperate ways.  Rock comments that she seems to be enjoying all this.  Revy says he's pegged her right.

Revy: "It's that big guy, Rock.  How lucky am I to meet somebody like him.  Can you believe it, baby?  That guy slice a bullet right in front of me.  Now how cool is that?  I'm just itching to go at it with him."

Rock says what is the point of rushing to your death?   Revy says the both of them are the "walking dead" already. Everyone in Roanapur might as well be dead. Living or dying is not that big a deal, what they should be concerned about is, "whether of not we're allowed to crawl to our graves."

Life lessons from Revy.

People who cling too tightly to their lives lose sight of things, if you let go "you can fight till the end of time."  Rock says is dying in a dirty swamp her idea of cool?  Revy asks what's the matter, he being "awfully snappy today".  He apologises to her.  She says they have a job coming up and when he is busy he'll forget all about what's bothering him.

We then cut to Yukio in a meeting with the leader of the Kosa Kai.   When they question what right she has to be there and she says succession by blood kin was the only way they'd accept a new leader of the Washimine-Gumi. The leader asks what they plan to do about dealing with the Russians.  Yukio agrees it was their fault the Russians got involved and they will rally all their men to drive them out.

The Kosa Kai leader says how will they deal with the political fallout.  Yukio says she knows they know why Bando was driven to such a desperate act.  The Kosa Kai leader says it was their fault for turning down a rep from them to act as leader.  Yukio says they will make a formal apology in front of the mediation council at a later date.  The Kosa Kai leader says they are looking to get crushed that badly?

Yukio: "Both of us.. will be standing on the threshold of death.  We are in the midst of a war for our lives.  We will atone for what we have done with bloodshed.  What more could you want from us?"

The Kosa Kai leader and bodyguard watch them go, the leader says that if the Washimine-Gumi want to do it so let them.  They have to just wait, "what'd you think tomorrow's meeting is for?"

We then cut to Rock and Revy as Balalaika gets out of her car apologising for being late as she had to stop at the Russian Embassy.  They are having a meeting with the Japanese, but not the Washimine-Gumi because their ties with them are in the wastebasket.  She says it's more constructive talking with a septic tank than them, they are in fact going to be meeting the Kosa-Kai.  This sends Rock into a short flashback to Yukio saying he's standing in the twilight.

Rock balls his fists and tells Balalaika that there is no need for them to join forces with the Kosa Kai, they should be taking them down not the Washimine-Gumi who are weak and no threat to Hotel Moscow.  Balalaika cuts him off saying he is just an interpreter, not a fellow soldier, not a comrade, not a member of Moscow.  Rock just carrys on saying that the Washimine-Gumi's new leader is just a child, doesn't she have a sense of justice.  Balalaika says enough, "you're becoming a problem". And she knocks him down holding a pistol right in his face.  Revy pulls her gun and points it at Balalaika.  The sergeant pulls his gun and trains it on Revy. 

Balalaika explains a few things to Rock.

Balalaika says that "justice" is an amazing word.  But hoping for another's death, without exercising your own power and relying on others to do it for you, "this justice you speak of smells too.  It reeks like a puddle of blood, don't you think?"  She says she isn't condemming Rock just that she didn't expect such words out of his mouth, "I'm giddy actually".  Revy says she should put the gun down now, she's made her point and her trigger fingers are getting tense.

Balalaika she doesn't know what's going on but she should wish for a life like Rock's. Revy says she knows that, and as Balalaika's victory is assured she has nothing to lose by letting Rock go.  Balalaika says that when someone has your life in their hands you should either entertain them or make a case that would satisfy them.  Revy has done neither.  Rock then pipes up saying, "I'm not asking you to do this out of obligation, or justice.  It's for only one reason.  It's my hobby."

This sends Balalaika into paroxysms of laughter. She puts her gun away and tells him they will be busy again tomorrow and she thinks it's wise if he didn't risk his life over such trivial matters in the future.  She and the sergeant drive away and Revy grabs Rock saying that the only reason they are both still breathing is because "for some strange reason, that psycotic coat-wearin' war-freak felt like holstering her gun." 

Revy: "Over here, I'm your gun.  I know I could protect you even through Tarawa or The Alamo.  But... there's no way of protecting somebody who can't wait to die, you dumb fuck."

Rock says that she's angry and she says she's beyond that, she's furious.  Rock then asks her for a favour and to come with him back to his town.

Meanwhile Yukio and Ginji having taken some bad news about another Washimine-Gumi office being taken out stop off at a takamachi [street carnival].  Yukio says it feels so long since she last went to one, she asks Ginji if that when all this is over will he put up a new stall.  Ginji tells her that in the last three days, four offices have been raided with eight dead and twenty in the hospital.  They have lost about a third of what they were before the feud started.  Yukio just says she wishes the takamachi would go on forever.

Rock and Revy are sitting on a park bench, Revy says she is used to living where the air is dirty and Balalaika knows that.  She says to Rock, "go, and don't look back.  You're about to wake up from your nightmare."  But Rock says thoughtfully that he's already dead, the man he was died the day he met Revy for the first time.

Rock: "Revy.  I didn't come back to stay.  I came back to forget.  I came back so I'll be able to see everything that's about to happen."

Revy says he'll regret it.  Rock says he was done with regret a year ago.   He just missed resolve, but now he feels like one things been decided.  Then they are interrupted by the same kids Revy showed her air pistol skills off to.  They beg her to knock the cans down again.  Which she does.  Using her real guns much to the kids surprise, then she and Rock leave.

Ginji gives Yukio more bad news.  The Russian's attacks have hit them hard and now they don't have the numbers to raid the Kosa Kai's office, "either we back out now, or go out with a bang. Miss, give me an order." She says that as long as the Washimine has its emblem up, they can't accept defeat.  But dragging the rest of the men down isn't right either.  So they will allow those who want to, to leave and those who want to stay can stay. "If we have even one who would walk with us to our deaths. We could at least take down Balalaika and that would be satisfactory."
We briefly see a couple of cops talking about their suspicions the two foreigners and the Japanese guy are somehow involved in the Washimine and Kosa and also the shootings at the bowling alley.   The older cop says he wants to do a joint investigation but the higher ups won't budge, so he wants the younger cop to keep his eyes open.

Rock, Revy and Balalaika are at the head of the Kosa Kai's place.  Balalaika says to Rock that it will all be over soon, she is curious how the Kosa are going to persuade the mediation council but her job here is over, "my replacement from 'Moscow' will handle the rest.  It's unfortunate I won't get to see how it all ends.  Very unfortunate." She looks at Rock curiously saying he looked like he wanted to say something just now. 

Rock: "If this is how it's all going to be settled... I want you to utterly crush the Washimine-Gumi. To the point where... it's impossible for them to recover. Only that will set her free."

Balalaika says he's a bad man, and he's made the right decision, "you'll make a good villain."  Then the sergeant calls them back inside.  Balalaika sits and the head of the Kosa Kai says the previous attacks Hotel Moscow made on them is water under the bridge.

Balalaika has standards dammit!

Balalaika tells him that they must make plans for who is going to suceed them in the future.  If certain contingences occure in their absence she wants to know the state of readiness concerning firearms.  Mr. Kosa says they are more heavily armed than most crews, even have machine guns they bought from guys in Hawaii.  She asks to see, and the bodygaurd slams his pistol down on the table.

She picks it up and declares it "absolutely atrocious".  She says even lowlife gutter trash wouldn't use a gun like that, "what a hideous gun".  She then asks Mr. Kosa and his bodyguard what it would feel like to be shot with a gun like that.

Balalaika: "Well that does it.  I can't work with scum who shamelessly sport such shoddy hardware."

And she shoots them both. The rest of the Yakuza hear and run inside, and the police follow.  Inside Balalaika decides the gun wasn't so bad after all.  She was told by the Big Boss "start a war, burn it all down" and she has dutifully carried out those orders.

She hands the gun to Rock saying he can have it as a souvenir.  But he refuses it saying that he doesn't like guns, but he won't forget he metaphorically pulled the trigger.  She tells the sergeant to leaves his weapons and that they are heading back to base.

The police from the organised crime control section barge in and say they want to speak to her about the gunshots. Balalaika just speaks Russian at them.  Then she tells Rock to tell Yukio that Hotel Moscow for now is declaring a ceasefire.  But she must not show up in front of them and to pack her things and leave town before sundown.

Revy spirits Rock away from the cops.

Revy then roars up on a motorbike and Rock jumps on the back and they escape from under the cops noses.  Then a car with diplomatic plates arrives and unable to stop her, she and the sergeant get inside and leave.  Luckily for them just in time as a cop from the International Division arrives and tells them she is a notorious Russian Mafia boss.

Rock tells Revy to drive to see Yukio so he can tell her the war is over.  Revy says they should be hurrying to the docks before it gets closed off by the cops.  But Rock pleads saying they need to clean this up before they are not allowed back in.

Yukio and Ginji are talking.  She says it all makes sense and there is nothing dishonourable about it.  But she is sad she won't hear the bustling of the takamachi anymore.  Ginji says she can call him a cheater or a coward but "I just can't say yes to this...!"  He says she has done more than many men could have and now she should let the rest of them to carry out their obligation.  She says he's always been with her and so she'll continue to be with him.

Ginji and Yukio.

Then we cut to Revy and Rock waiting in the yard of a deserted building.  Yukio and Ginji come to meet them.  Rock tells Yukio that Hotel Moscow have declared a ceasefire as long as she stays out of their way she'll be safe "Balalaika gave her word".  Yukio says that is no kind of guarantee. She broke every promise and spat on honour, how can anyone like that be trusted?  The Washimine-Gumi is exhuasted to the point where they can't maintain themselves as an organisation.  But the sign still has their emblem it hasn't fallen yet.

She understands that the Kosa Kai gas disintegrated from internal conflict but the person responsible for Bando's death is still alive.  Balalaika is that person, their mortal enemy is now Hotel Moscow.

Yukio: "To live with chivalry... with honour.. and our duty us our pride. Only when she is dead... will we have closure."

Rock says that's just rhetoric, nothing obligates her.  Yukio says that is what Balalaika would say.  But she is Gokudo [gangster], she always lived in the night only those around her nudged her under the sun.  Revy cocks her guns saying to Rock that it's no use, "she's already one of the walking dead."

Yukio asks Rock to move aside, because they are going to slash their way through.  Rock says he can't let her die. So Yukio tells Ginji to "please proceed." And he and Revy stand and face each other. He draws his sword and she points her guns.

Ginji cuts Revy's bullet in half.

There are several pages of Ginji and Revy fighting.  They get within melee range and Ginji knocks her flying with a kick to the midriff.  She picks herself up and they both grin as Ginji says there is something not right with them and this is a place where people who are not like them should be.

Rock says to Yukio that he has hoped she wouldn't become like Balalaika.  She isn't here for the Washimine-Gumi, she and Ginji should have escaped.  Because he is standing in the twilight he can see certain things, "you haven't thrown the dice.  You only think you did."

Revy and Ginji's battle gets more intense and finally Ginji has jammed the sword into Revy's lower leg but she has her gun pointed at his chest and she fires. Ginji falls sideways dead.  Rock comes running over and pulls the sword out and helps Revy to her feet.  Yukio comes over saying how did it come to this?

Rock: "Because both you and I... are twisted. Your twist was in self-deception.  You could've escaped. Instead of living a lie you were better off getting away from it.  You didn't realise that till the end.  You were too smart for your own good. And too young."

Yukio asks if he'll continue to stand in the twilight and he says yes, thanks to her he see things through to the end.  She cleans the sword and says she is sorry for all the trouble, "with this act, all grievances will be laid to rest."  Revy yells at Rock not to look, but he can't stop himself and Yukio stabs the sword through her throat and falls dead on top of Ginji's body.

And that's it for them both.

A while later at the airport Rock calls Dutch back in Roanapur.  Dutch tells him there is a job for them when they get back, then Rock asks Dutch if he has heard of a Frenchman who said "people are like dice.  We throw ourselves into life"? Dutch says yes it's Jean-Paul Sartre a philosopher who practiced his theories by putting himself in the middle of the responsibilities and choices free citizens have.  Rock says that has cleared something up for him and ends the call.   Revy comes up saying this is Rocks last look at Japan and Rock says "let's go Revy.  Back where we belong."

A someone sad end to the arc there.  There is a lot of stuff in this volume about responsibility, honour, destiny and sacrifice and the extremes to which some characters take it feels very Japanese in places.  Notable is how the Yakuza (who let's not forget get up to some pretty horrible shit in real life) are portrayed as almost impotent in the face of Hotel Moscow who have no codes of honour guiding them and whose precision savagery and unpredictability basically wipe out two Yakuza gangs in about a week. Rock and Revy continue to develop as characters, once again Revy proves her loyalty by pulling a gun on Balalaika to defend Rock even though doing so would result in almost certain death if she went through with shooting her.  Yukio is something of a sad character, taking on the kind of responsibilities no young girl ever should and sacrificing herself when it became clear that the Washimine-Gumi was no longer viable.  The art continues to be a delight.  Lots of high octane battles and while bringing a sword to a gunfight should be suicide for the sword owner, Ginji just about pulls it off due to his awesome mastery of the blade.  Still dying to Revy's bullet was still a foregone conclusion.  And wasn't it nice to see the disgusting Chaka beaten and humiliated before his death.  I enjoyed that.   Anyway have a happy Easter everyone and I'll be back in April with more Black Lagoon.

Black Lagoon Book 4

"My family doesn't expect much out of me.  So maybe they don't even care about me anymore." - Rock

We continue the adventures of the Black Lagoon company.  A team of four individuals who run a courier service out of the fictional Thai city Roanapur.  They are Dutch, an African-American Vietnam Vet who is the Boss.  Benny, a white American who is their tech geek.  Revy "Two Hand" an explosively tempered Chinese-American woman who is expert in all types of guns.  And finally Rock, their newest recruit, a former Japanese salaryman who has a knack for coming up with crazy plans to get the Black Lagooners out of the trouble they are in.  The are both written and drawn by Rei Hiroe and orginal published in the noughties, but are set in the mid-nineties.  We begin this volume with the conclusion of the story "Goat, Jihad and Rock and Roll".  Which saw Rock kidnapped by middle-eastern terrorists aided by a revolutionary Japanese man who are planning an poison gas attack on Manhattan Island and wanted the valuable intelligence info the Black Lagoon company was delivering elsewhere.  We finished the previous volume on a cliff hanger with Revy and Rock with their contacts, a knife wielding woman and a drug addled man driving them away from the chaos caused by Revy's rescue.  We continue with"Fujiyama Gangsta Paradise" in which Rock and Revy accompany Hotel Moscow, the Russian Mafia gang lead by the fearsome woman Balalaika in their quest to increase their presence on Japanese soil.

[Note:  This manga is "unflipped" so must be read from right to left]

GOAT, JIHAD, ROCK N'ROLL: We begin with the Roanapur Triad leader Chang informing the CIA that the intelligence is on its way to them and to make sure he gets payment for it.  After he gets off the phone he declares that everything depends on a successful delivery, "godspeed the transporter".

Which is Revy and Rock in a jeep being driven by the coked up Leigharch as Revy shoots and Shennua throws deadly knives at their pursuers.   Revy tells Shennua that at this range her blades won't reach and to leave this to her. Revy then climbs up on the vehicle's roof and gets to blasting away.   This impresses Shennua, "you walk like you talk".

Revy in her element.

Revy drops back inside saying she wishes she had an anti-tank rocket or machine gun.  Leigharch is still hallucinating madly while Rock quietly smokes, while noting the ciagrette tastes a bit different than he is used to.  Takenaka meanwhile tries to get Ibraha to stand down, they are nearly at the DMZ and they'll all be killed if the breach it. Ibraha ignores him and orders all units to charge ahead. 

Ibraha: "Our work... is not some job, is it Takenaka? It's our life!  That means there are times when we must stand our ground.  And this is one of them!"

Back with Rock and Revy, the clearly now stoned Rock is mumbling about how he keeps running away from things, all his life since he was a kid.   As he rambles on, suddenly Leigharch shouts "Holy shit!! Look at this!!" And he sees a gang of Playboy Playmates.

They finally have reached the US base, not actually manned by Playboy Playmates and the soldiers hold their fire after being told they are friendly.  Takenaka tells Ibraha to let this one go, "we've lost this one."  He gently tells the enraged Ibraha that making a doomed assault will not bring his son back.

Ibraha says that they are too close to being able to get revenge on the "filthy dogs... in Jerusalem and the bastards that protect them".  He wants to make them understand what it was like to be in a Red Cross camp on Beirut in 1987, that is why he is here.  He orders a storming of the camp.  Takenaka immediately tries to rescind the order and begs Ibraha not to betray their cause over this mission.

They argue and finally Takenaka takes out his pistol and coldly shoots Ibraha dead.   He orders the units to not return to camp but to regroup at a secondary rally point.  He says to Ibraha's body that "neither of us can take our eyes off the past." He supposes they won't get far until they stop doing that, but also that they couldn't stand their ground if they did.

Enter the CIA.

At the base, a CIA helicopter arrives.  When Rock panics that they don't have the briefcase, Revy merely produces the intelligence documents from under her tank top.  The agents examine them and pronounce them legit.  Before they leave, the agent says to Revy, who he addresses as "Ms. Rebecca", what would the warden at Buffalo Hill and the guys at the NYPD 27th precinct station house say about what she does for a living now.  He says he just mentions it "in case we have another job come up.  See you around"  And they fly off.

Rock then thanks Revy for what she did, she tells him not to get too hung up on it, because she won't put her ass on the line for him like that again.  The next time he fucks up the only help he'll get is "from the Almighty".  Then she shrugs and just goes, "jeez..."

We finish with Takenaka waiting at the airport he bumped into the Japanese family beforehand.   He says he had a wonderful holiday while Takenaka tells him that his couldn't have gone worse. A deal fell through, he hurt his back, he fell out with a close friend over having young kids do the things they couldn't, but "as long as you're alive, there's always a next time."  The man asks Takenaka what his occupation is and Takenaka walks away saying "my job description is... public enemy".  End of storyline.

FUJIYAMA GANGSTA PARADISE: We begin in Japan.  Rock is on the phone to Benny saying he never thought he'd return to Japan like this.   Revy's been complaining a lot since they arrived, but Benny says she only went along because she's worried about him.  Rock brings the call to an end and goes to find Revy.  It's winter in Japan and snowing, Revy says it's been a while since she saw snow, then she grumbles about all the men who have hit on her only to back off saying "gajin" [outsider] when she speaks English to them.

Then we join Rock doing his work as a translator for Balalaika in a club.  They are meeting with a local Yakuza clan lead by Tsgumi Bando. Rock passes on Balalaika's eagerness to set up a Japanese base and they appreciate the assisstance.  There has already been a Russian presence there run by a man called "Laptev" who has been pushed out by the expansion of the Chinese and the machinations of the Kanto Mediation Council.  So they, the "Washimine Gumi" thought they could help.

Balalaika asks if they are a member of the council, Bando says that they take an oath of loyalty but that only goes so far. They have to pay hefty tribute to their parent group the "Kosa Kai" and they have been leaving the Washimine out in the cold.  Balalaika says their goals are compatible, the Washimine Gumi will expand their reach and the Russians will "add another light to the city".

Hotel Moscow announce their presence.

Bando says they will get along fine, with Hotel Moscow holding down the Kosa Kai the Council will start seeing things their way.   He says he hears they adept even amongst other Russians.  Balalaika says they are a military force and now she has something to show him and she dials her phone.  She speaks in Russian telling her men to execute their next move.  There is a loud boom and Balalaika tells Bando they have blown up one of Kosa Kai's clubs.  When he demands to know if she is out of her mind she cooly replies:

Balalaika: "Intimidation with handguns amounts to nothing.  We make our strength very clear with our first strike.  This is how Hotel Moscow makes a show of force."

She goes on to say they are going to "decimate anything that stands in our way."  That's why she is her isn't she?  Bando is impressed saying it sounds fine to him, some fireworks to kick off their all out brawl.

We return to Rock and Revy who see the explosion reported on a rolling news ticker in the taxi they are riding in.  Revy is gleeful, Rock sighs and wonders if it was too much to ask not for her to turn Japan into a warzone?  Revy says Roanapur has been quiet lately and Balalaika was in need of some action.  All-out warfare is her idea of a good time, "fucking would only make her bored." Afghanistan turned her into a war-a-holic.

Then Revy spots a "Ennichi" [a sort of carnival] and decides she wants to take a look, so she and Rock disembark their ride. She finds a stall where she can shoot at targets to win a prize.  As she easily guns them down she grumbles about not being able to have her own "cutlasses" with her.  Japan has very strict gun laws and the police aren't as easy to bribe as those in Roanapur.

Rock and Revy hang out at the ennichi.

Rock has a faraway look in his eye and Revy asked him if he is getting sentimental about being back home. He has folks here doesn't he?  Rock changes the subject saying it hardly seems like a year has gone past since she first held him hostage on the ship.  He's back home, "... and yet I get the feeling I'm a stranger in a foreign land."

He goes on to say he doesn't really get on with his family, his older brother got himself a government job, while Rock needed two tries to get into college and only worked a regular job.  Revy says he should at least drop his folks a note before he won't be able to contact them anymore.

Revy: "They brought you up all legit.  No stealing, no killing along the way. As far as I can see, that's a damn good ordinary family.  Don't get me wrong.  I'm just sayin' go have a visit that's all."

Rock smiles and says his family is plenty screwed up, the fact he chose to join up with the Black Lagoon Courier Company should tell her something.  And Revy smiles back at him.

She then fires and hits another target but it is weighted down and doesn't fall.  She taps it saying it's loaded with a weight.  Then she says she got the high score so she wants the videogame prize.  The stall owner says touching the target with the gun is cheating, so no prize.  Revy flies into a rage and Rock tries to translate back and forth while also trying to cool Revy down.

Before it can escalate further, a huge Japanese man with a girl in her late teens accompanying him steps up and says it's the first day of the New Year so "let's make nice and enjoy ourselves. Please... kindly still your rage."  Revy squares up to him, but he continues asking her to be reasonable and drop her grudge.  "No way" she responds and grins while Rock pleads with her to let it go. Then the teenage girl pipes up offering to take them for sweet sake and to sit and talk. Rock puts his hand up saying he very would like that.

Ginji and Yukio.

So the four of them go to a bar, Revy is sat sulking with the big guy.  Rock is sitting with the teenage girl.  Rock thanks her, he says she didn't want a brawl breaking out at an ennichi.  She says she is also glad things calmed down.  Rock asks if she is with "the Tekiya" [street stall vendors often with links to the Yakuza] because she looks like a school girl.  She says she is both, her father was a Tekiya operater and the large man she is with, Ginji is her father's protege.

Because he is so big he soon became Takamachi's peacemaker.  She was on her way home from school to see if she could close up shop and the disturbance broke out.  Rock says she must excuse Revy because she has a very short temper.  He explains that he's been hired by some Russian "folk" to be their interpreter and Revy is his co-worker.  The girl says it sounds like a wonderful international sounding jobs. Rock says it's not that glamorous, it's back-breaking and dangerous.

Meanwhile Revy is watching Rock saying he's getting all "dopey". Ginji smirks and Revy asks what he is laughing at?  Ginji says to her that something about her is bothering him:

Ginji: "You... ain't a civilian are ya?  Those eyes... that look in your eyes says somethin' mean. Them eyes belong to a badass dog."

Revy retorts that she has no fucking idea what he just said to her, but she can tell he is just like her, "you reek of the stench of blood and guts.  I know that stench well."

Ginji then gets up and says to the girl that it is getting very cold and the low temperatures aren't good for her.  As they part, Rock asks to know the girls name.  She tells him it is "Yukio. Yuki like in 'snow' and 'o' as in the straps for a geta sandle" She wished him a pleasant evening and then she and Ginji are gone.

Next day Balalaika is discussing how things are going with her sergeant.  He tells them last night they shifted targets to Kosa Kai's underground casinos.  They took out two and suffered no casualties, they sterilised the scenes and left no evidence. The independant strike team hit the offices of the Kosa Kai and got twelve confirmed kills, they suffered no casualties or damaged equipment.

The police in the early hours of the morning started sealing off the areas they were operating in.  They are getting members of the Washimine Gumi to make transcripts of all the police radio dispatches.  They are awaiting Rock's translation but he is away on minor business.  Balalaika tells him to expidite the translation process.

Leptev.

Sitting with Balalaika is fellow Russian Mafia boss Vasily Leptev.  He says she is impressive, she says that one reason she is here is to clean up his mess, "can't you even hold down a simple pleasure spot like this?"  She wants to deal with this quickly so she can get back to Roanapur.  She says they will meet again in six hours.  He angrily says that she should show him some respect:

Balalaika: "Oh I'm so sorry.  My memory is weak when it comes to those who bought their way into their postion.  Perhaps I should jot your name down on a dollar bill.  Bark all you want.. you worthless bitch of a soldier."

He makes a lunge for her but she downs him easily holding a gun to his stomach.  She says she'll warn him once, there are two things in the world she can't stand.  One is blini gone cold, the other is "cowardly KGB shits" as neither do any good.  She tells him to keep his head down lest he get hit by a stray bullet.

We then cut to Ginji.  He is greeted by Bando, who calls him "Little Gin" and Ginji calls Bando "Kashira" [Yakuza underboss].  Bando asks Ginji how much longer is he planning on being "small time".  He says the money Ginji is turning over to the Kumi is "almost rock bottom."  Ginji says it's a "better racket than pushin' smack and pimpin' girls." Bando says he doesn't do that for kicks, their Kumi has been hurting for a long time, ever since the Boss died, maybe even further back than that.

Kosa Kai has left them alone so far for only one reason.  Their old man and their former Boss swore an oath of brotherhood. With that gone, there is nothing stopping them from wiping them out.  They've been without an "Oyabun" [Top boss of a Yakuza family] for three years, the Kosa Kai won't let any of them step into the position.  They push one of their own instead and Bando thinks he can't hold it off for much longer.

He tells Ginji he is working with the Russians to strike back at the higher ups. But also that Russians are always going to be Russian, "they got no code of honour or any of that shit."  For that reason he wants Ginji to carry the "Shirasaya" ["white scabbard", a Japanese sword with a plain wooden handle and scabbard] again, because "any Yakuza with half a brain remembers the wake of terror left by Manslayer Ginji."

Manslayer Ginji.

Ginji says to him that he is grateful that Bando makes things go smoothly for Yukio money-wise, and he understands where he is coming from with this deal.  But all the scheming he is doing, there is no "jing" [honour and humanity] in any of it.  The reason he carried the sword for the old man was because there was jing in his struggles.  Bando accepts his answer and leaves saying he'll see him around.

Before he goes, Ginji asks him if the Russians brought their own interpreter and what is he like?  Bando says Rock is pretty clueless but was with a tough girl who has a pretty face. "Straight as a ruler, you could see it in his face" continues Bando, "if he ever went near a clip joint... it'd be like he was beggin'... to get taken for every yen he had."

The next chapter starts with Yukio at the library.  A younger and excitable girl called Maki rund up to find her, calling her "Senpai" [an official mentor].   Yukio is reading a philosophy book by Martin Heidegger which kicks off a lengthy conversation between them about what books they like.  Most of the authors are Japanese and it seems Yukio prefers more serious fare while Maki prefers both lighter stuff and western horror.  Yukio says she doesn't like horror, it makes her think of the night and the dark, "It leaves me feeling trapped... in the blackness and the lonesomeness"  She can't stand nighttime especially when it snows, she feels like it will suck her in, "others might find it romantic. Not me."

Then we cut to Revy in a local park, she is a bit bored as she waits for Rock to get back from where he's gone off to.  She has a brief flashback to herself as a kid in the US, pointing a gun at someone. Then she is interrupted from her reverie by some kids who have been using BB guns to try and shoot tin cans and a pellet hits her.

She snatches the gun and from sitting down shoots all the cans without missing a shot.  The kids all crowd round her saying that was amazing.  As Rock starts to walk back to meet her, she is playing some more with the kids.  She and one of them draw pistols against each other.  She hits the kid and he throws himself down in a Hollywood version of someone being hit by gunfire.  Revy decides to correct this misconception and explains what happens when you get shot, stumbling forwards and face-planting on the ground.  The kids tell her it doesn't look as cool.

Revy teaching some kids an odd lesson.

She gets up and starts lecturing them some more only to see Rock has returned and seen all that. She grabs Rock and drags him away in embarrasment saying he must not tell Dutch and Benny what he saw or she'll "cut your balls off and stuff 'em down your throat".   He promises he won't say a word.  She asks him if he saw his folks or not, and we see him reaching for the doorbell before turning away.  He just tells her no one was home.  Revy says they will be here a while longer, he can try again later.

They take the subway for another meeting with the Washimine, Revy doesn't enjoy the journey saying it reminds her of her time "in the gutter."  Balalaika is meeting Bando inside a pole dancing club, which doesn't faze her of course. Balalaika says it is time to move on to the next phase of their war against the Kosa Kai, so they can resolve the issue quickly.  They will clamp down on their legal means of income, just to rattle their cage. 

Balalaika: "We employ a tactic that works in any situation in every nation.  Depending on the circumstances, it can dramatically resolve any and all concerns.  A kidnapping.  And abduction Mr. Bando. We target the family members of Masami Kosa, the head of Kosa Kai.  We know their location and everything.  We could execute this effortlessly."

Bando is shocked and tells her that is one thing they can't do.  He just wants them to scuffle with the Kosa kai until they loosen their grip on the Washimine, after which they can lure them in to talk.  She mustn't go overboard and make things complicated for them.

Balalaika just laughs, and tells Rock to translate what she is going to say next very carefully. Hotel Moscow will decimate anything that stands in their way.  They will employ "any and all means necessary to secure the maximum profits possible.  That is what a mafia does."  They are taking the risks here and so the decision making "is up to us, not you."

Suddenlt the tension is broken by a phone ringing, which is answered by one of Bando's men, a creep called Chaka who cheerfully threatens the girlfriend who called him with losing teeth then insinserely apologises for the interruption.  Bando's right hand man Yoshida yells at him to get the hell out, "shit for brains".  Then Bando asks Balalaika to let him and his men time to mull what she has said earlier.  She says fine as long as it doesn't interfere with their operational plans and she and her people leave.

Chaka tries to provoke Revy.

Chaka seems fascinated with Revy and wants to see her in action. Rock and Revy are waiting outside the Hotel Moscow hotel suite. Revy is restless and smoking, then Chaka approaches her and puts his hand on the wall next to her leaning in close to her face.  She tells him to speak English which he does so. He tells her he's capped like ten guys, but she cooly says that his breath stinks and blows smoke in his face, "fuckhead."  Rock comes back into the corridor and Chaka bars his way with his leg.  Rock tells Revy to go on ahead and get Mr. Bando or Yoshida.

Then Chaka punches him hard in the stomach, dropping Rock to his knees. Then he lays about Rock some more, "yo babe.  Your boy is a pussy.  His girl is watching but he won't fight."  He goes on to say that Rock no way satisfies her in bed, Revy watches, scowling, but does not make a move.  Chaka punches Rock some more, but then Bando and Yoshida appear and yell at him.

They apologise to Rock as Balalaika witnesses what happened, in Russian she says to her sergeant, "incompetant officers and insubordinate soldiers.  This is getting better and better sergeant."  Revy helps the bleeding Rock up, asking if he is OK. She starts to apologise for not being able to help, but Rock says he understands, Chaka had his hand on his gun the whole time he was beating Rock up.  He wasn't interested in Rock, he wanted Revy to pull her gun.

Revy says he was paying attention, his soul is getting hard like diamonds.  But if she had pulled her gun things would have got "real complicated real fast for all of us."  She tells Rock she is going to need her "cutlasses", she is sure Chaka will want to point his gun at her sooner or later.

Revy: "Don't worry Rock.  I'll kill him.  I will kill him."

We then cut to Bando and Ginji in a kitchen making some food together.   Bando tells Ginji that the Russians are "fuckin' monsters." Ginji asks why he joined up with them then?   Bando says they needed a strong arm to muzzle the Kosa Kai.  They would have shook things up then used money to smooth things over with the council. Ginji says you can't trust outsiders, but Bando says they should sit tight and ride out the storm while the Kosa Kai grabs all their rackets and turf?

He attended a succession ceremony for the new head of the Kosa Kai and it was made clear they "don't give a shit about the old oath". Things don't look good, if they could crush the Kosa Kai, there is the Kanto Mediation Council above them and then the syndicate of all the families in the Kanto reason. But the Russians don't give a fuck and it's now become all too much for him.

Elsewhere Rock is on the phone to Benny.  He tells him he's picked up the stuff Benny wanted, Benny thanks him saying he didn't fancy having to go to Bangkok for it all.   He also passes on the message to Benny that Revy wants her "sword and cutlass."  Benny asks if a storm is brewing. Rock says he hopes not.  Benny says he'll make arrangements and they end the call.

Unfortunately the metro he was going to catch has been cancelled due to a failure down the line.  He decides to try for a cab despite the snow and bumps into Yukio.  They exchange pleasantries and then Yukio invites him to come for a drink in a nearby cafe after Rock suggests they have more of a chat.  They sit and talk, Rock formally introduces himself to her and she asks if he has got around to seeing his parents yet?  He says he hasn't and "to tell you the truth.. I'm not eager to..."

Yukio and Rock chat.

Yukio tells him she reminds him of her in the past.  She used to dislike her family, but after her father passed away things became clear to her that she is here because of her family. Now she has fond feelings towards her father and family. Rock says she speaks wise words for one so young.  He explains he feels stuck in limbo, he doesn't want to let go but he doesn't have the guts to patch things up.  She tells him everyone has choices, then her phone rings.

She speaks to Ginji telling him she is with Rock.  He tells her that Bando dropped by so the sooner she returns home the better.  She says she will hurry back and ends the call.  She apologises to Rock saying she needs to go.  He asks her what her surname is and she tells him, to his surprise, that it is "Washimine".

Back in her home she overhears Bando saying to Ginji that he has to break things off with the Russians, because otherwise the way things are going they'd be banished from Kanto completely, hand over their nameplate to the Kosa Kai and close shop.  Yukio walks into the room and asks Bando to tell her more about the conversation they were just having.

Balalaika is getting impatient waiting to hear from the Washimine Gumi.  She asks if there have been any other developments and is told the police have barricaded the homes of the top Kosa Kai to ward off attacks and have started questioning members of the Washihime Gumi.  Balalaika says it is only a matter of time before their cover is blown so they will redploy the main body somewhere safe.  Laptev needn't be informed, he needs to die a useful death.

Rock tentatively asks her what would happen if the Washimine Gumi dropped out. Balalaika says it has nothing to do with him and he best be mindful of where he stands.  Revy says she shouldn't cut him off like that, it's no big secret.  So Balalaika tells Rock they'd simply add another target to the list, "it wouldn't change our job.  Wouldn't change anything.  Life goes on.  That's all there is to it dear."

Yukio is sitting in the library with Maki who is bemoaning a low test score, an argument with her mother and having to give up her job.  But Yukio is miles away remembering her talk with Bando and Ginji the night before.   That fateful night she decided it was time for her to step up and lead the Washimine Gumi as the only direct heir of her father.  Ginji is very against it but she says she was born and raised in this household and can't ignore the difficulties they face.

Yukio, Bando and Ginji discuss the family's future.

The Kosa Kai had previously said they would only make the oath with a direct descendant and they've used that to lower their standing and strangle them bit by bit.  She is also told that Rock is working with the Russians and for her not to see him again.  Maki finally manages to get her attention and apologises for thinking about something else.

Bando meanwhile has armed himself with a sword.  Yoshida asks what he is doing and Bando says he is just going for a walk.  Yoshida calls him "Aniki" [elder brother, a term of respect for senior Yakuza] and Bando says he hasn't heard Yoshida call him that in a long time.  He tosses Yoshida his watch and tells him to ask Ginji about what to do next, "you may not like him, but... he's a hell of a man in his own right".  He is to consider his words Bando's own and serve him well. Bando begins to weep as he turns and leaves saying "well... so long... or somethin'".

We then cut to the next day.  Yoshida reports to Ginji that Bando has been murdered.   Ginji says that a funeral will have to wait a little while, they can't let word get out yet.  It was the Russians who did it, they stuffed a note in his mouth when they left his body in a suitcase in front of their office which said, "Yellow is the colour of cowards."  Ginji says that the problem with Bando was that he was "too smart". Now what is to become of them asks Yoshida as Yukio listens to them.

Bando confronts Balalaika.

We then get a flashback to the previous night.  Balalaika and Rock are meeting with Bando in an underground carpark.   Bando asks her one more time, is she willing to work side-by-side with them?  She says that is not a question for him to ask but to answer.   He is silent and she says that's a shame it would have been easier if their arrangement had lasted a little longer, "but it's no bother.  It's rather trivial, really".  And at that Bando runs at her drawing his sword.

She elbows him in the face, dodging the blade and grips his neck in a chokehold.  She tells Rock to translate what she is about to say, and that tonight she is going to tell the truth. Working side-by-side is for office workers, she has no need of such arrangements.  She is here to bring "destruction and domination"  She is interested in nothing less, no compromises. She is just here to see how long she can "dance on the bottom of hell's cauldron."   Then she breaks his neck saying "...till we meet again".

Then Rock wakes from a nightmare and Revy asks if he is OK?  She tells him to be careful how he drinks especially as things are going to be getting busy, Balalaika wants them to tag along as she greets her reinforcements and replacements.  Laptev is being set up as an unwitting decoy, Rock muses that there seems to be no way to avert a conflict.  Revy says "hell no.  Hotel Moscow wants to raise all hell."

Back with Ginji and Yukio, she asks him if Kosa Kai will accept them as equals if she was the successor. He tries to talk her out of it but she says there is no other way.   She cannot bear to think of herself leading a safe life at the expense of those who died protecting the family.   Ginji says his one hope for her was that she enjoy "the kind of happiness that real folk do."

Ginji: "I... rage is boiling over inside me... against those rotten Kosa bastards.  Against the dirty lowlife Russians.  every single one of 'em... is hard at work, tryin' to wreck our lives, and tear everything apart!!"

Yukio looks out of the window, and says to him that the snow falling at night is so beautiful and this is the first time she ever realised it. She turns to him and says, "Ginji-san... will you protect me?"

He kneels before her and swears with every fiber of his being to protect her in this life and beyond.  Then we see her with Maki in the library where they have finished filing the library cards.  Then they go outside and Yukio cups Maki's face and tells her gently to "get along with your mother.  You're a good girl and you know it."  Maki says she sounds like she's about to die.  Then the Washihime Gumi pull up and collect her.  Yukio turns and smiles at Maki, telling her to take good care of herself and then walks away to join her men, leaving Maki crying in the snow.

Yukio leaves her old life behind.

They now address her as "Sodai" [term of respect for a top Yakuza leader] now.  In the car the men discuss where they think Balalaika has gone.  They are searching various areas hoping that the Russians will stand out enough to be easily found.  Yukio says that Balalaika wants to start a fight with them.  She pauses then thanks Yoshida for what he said at the General Assembly, if he hasn't she is sure the Washimine Gumi would have broken up there and then.

She has respect because she is sticking her neck out to get revenge for Bando's murder and she isn't doing this for power or glory.  Ginji then disembarks the car saying it's time to get things rolling and he'll see her later at home.  She tells him to be careful and he pulls out his sword saying "just leave it to me."

Inside the building is Laptev, his men trying and failing to get through to Balalaika. When he is told she and the rest of her people have cleared out of the hotel and left without a trace he stabs the bearer of bad news through the hand.  Realising he's been abandoned by his own boss he tells his underling it's because she hates not just the KGB but all the "Nomenklatura".  Afghanistan is her devil and she can't let go of it.

Then suddenly gunfire breaks out blowing the place to smithereens but leaving Laptev unscathed.  Then in walks Ginji asking "where might I find bearded Ikyu?"  The Russians try to shoot Ginji but he slices and dices his way through them in an orgy of destruction until only Laptev is left alive.  Ginji holds his sword to his throat and asks where he is going? 

Ginji takes out Leptev's men.

Meanwhile Revy has collected her proper guns and returns to the taxi which Rock is waiting in.  She asks why Rock is so pensive?  He says it's started as he reads a news ticker on the inside of the taxi.  Revy says Balalaika must be grinning from ear to ear, "an all-out brawl, just like she wanted."  Rock then turns to her and asks her if she will come with him to see Yukio, "I can't turn a blind eye."

She tells him to put his thinking cap on, they are their hated enemy.  But Rock passionately pleads with her saying that if she has something to do with the Washimine Gumi the storm will hit her too.  They can't trust Balalaika not to do something awful to her.  Revy says he must stay out of it for his own good.  Rock replies that she's a regular schoolgirl and this isn't Roanapur.  Revy shrugs saying what makes this place so different?  The gal's crossed the line and the madam'll take care of business. She says they are right on the dividing line and if he crosses over, he can never come back.  Rock backs down but Revy stops and thinks and then says to him:

Revy: "I forgot something real important.  While I'm here with you... I'm your gun.  My job's to protect your life... not tell you how to live it.  So, no problem.  Lead the way my master."

And the taxi changes direction.  We then cut to Balalaika holed up in another hotel, the men give her reports saying that the offices of the Kosa Kai have been sealed tight.  The country's police are excellent says the sergeant.  Balalaika sits and asks him if he heard the news?  He says yes, "Comrade Laptev performed his duties... exceptionally well."

This leads to a flashback to a short while ago.  Ginji is holding his blade in front of Laptev's face.  He demands to know how to contact "that lady boss of yours".  Laptev speaks untranslated Russian and Ginji realises he is no use to him and lops Laptev's head right off.  Balalaika says he was useful for a providing them with actionable intelligence.  His replacement is proficient in scams, schemes and savagery, "but violence is our speciality.  Let's begin our mission sergeant".

Yoshida and Yukio return to her home only to find supreme arsehole Chaka waiting there.  Yoshida chews him out but Chaka says he thought having more troops around would "put your mind at ease."  And in the main room are a bunch of Chaka's men.  Chaka then suddenly shoots Yoshida in the stomach and he falls to the floor.  He says that he sees the way things are now and they don't want to be on the losing side.  They aren't teaming up with either the Russians or the Kosa Kai, but they figure as long as they have a bargaining chip things will work out and Yukio is that chip.

Chaka executes Yoshida.

He then shoots Yoshida in the head and again several times while his goons laugh.  Then one of his men attacks Yukio but Chaka says who told him he could "slap her silly" and he smashes the man's face in.   He then tells Yukio to do what they say, or "who knows what might happen."

Revy and Rock approach the house.  Revy says right now the place smells "real familiar to me!" And she barges in guns drawn.  They find Yoshida's dead body and no sign of Yukio or Chaka and his men.   Revy says there are no casings on the floor because the gun used was a revolver.  Also the size of the exit wound comes from a large calibur gun, "the kind of gun a total moron who wants to show off carries around".  And one such moron comes to mind for her and Rock.  Rock is confused though, why would he betray his own?  Then suddenly Ginji comes running in holding his sword and Revy turns her guns on him as Rock yells, "No, wait!!"  And on that cliffhanger this volume ends.

Revy vs. Ginji.

This volume is very much Rock and Revy's show.  Dutch doesn't even put in a single appearance and Benny makes a short cameo. "Goat, Jihad, Rock n' Roll" is wrapped up satisfactorily with some tantalising little nuggets of information dropped about Revy's past in the US and raising the question as to why she might be on the CIA's radar.  Takenaka, still comes across as somewhat sympathetic for an itinerant terrorist and Public Enemy, unable to sacrifice the lives of his men in a futile assault and knowing when to cut his losses and move on.  "Fujiyama Gangsta Paradise" gives us a chance to see the softer side of Revy, despite all her warnings and tough words, she really does look out for Rock and her decision to accompany him to find Yukio which she warns could lead them both into Balalaika's line of fire is incredibly sweet and supportive.  As is her badgering Rock to do what she can't and see his parents, even playing with the kids is a nice moment.  Revy could have easily been a one-note gunslinger with a temper but each story adds more depth to her character.  I'm a big fan. And wow, Balalaika proves that while in business nothing is personal, she also shows that despite her cool moments she is a ruthless leader of men who will stop at nothing to get her way and even relishes being able to kill someone hands on when she takes out Bando.  The Washimine Gumi Yakuza clan feel like the butt monkey of the Japanese underworld, so desperate to cling on they accept a teenage girl, an admittedly very brave one, as their leader.  Of course one hopes that Chaka, who manages to be the one person in a whole cast full of mobsters and killers, who comes across as utterly loathesome.  Will he get his just desserts at the hands of either Revy, Ginji or even both?  Join me in a few more days for the conclusion to this arc and find out.