Chapter Text
There are 3 main Yakuza groups in Miyagi-Ken -- Aoba, Sei and Karasuno. These groups have been fighting over this area for territory for almost a decade. The fallen power house known as Karasuno, the one that used to reign over Miyagi-- longer than the other factions, had a huge falling out, the past 5 years, giving way for Aoba and Sei to gain a reputation, but recently the Crow's den started gaining more influence over the region because of the new head of the family, 18th generation boss, Daichi Sawamura.
This makes the 7th generation Oyabun, Nobuteru Irihata, nervous for his house's future. hence he came up with the idea of joining the main house, Aoba and the branch family, Sei together. Making the ultimate powerhouse that would have a chance to stand head to head against Karasuno, the problem is;
The next in line Kumicho, Oikawa Tooru is disliked by the branch family due to his sudden rise in status.
Even though his talents and keen eye are highly sought after, he is still being discriminated for his age, blaming it all in luck and the connections he might've had to pull those strings. The current head however cannot give the position of power to someone from the branch family for they would be breaking traditions and customs, and god forbid the other families hear the news that Aoba would stoop so low, having a young head from the main house is better than getting an Alpha from the lower status household. The only thing he could offer is to make the branch's chosen head, is to appoint him into a Wakagashira (second in command) to Oikawa.
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Iwaizumi Hajime, read the invitation letter; a handwritten note inviting him and his most trusted men for an unofficial meeting with his new future boss. He crinkled the note with his balled up fists contemplating if all this trouble would be worth it in the end. He doesnt really mind being a right hand man but he just could not stand the fact that he has to swear loyalty to *that*. He sighs, massaging his temples, pushing down the forming headache from stress and lack of sleep.
He has only met the rumored Oikawa twice in his 27 years of existence, and he cant exactly say those encounters gave him a good impression about the soon-to-be head.
The first time was Junior year highschool, they were both 17, he was accompanying the former branch head, Sadayuki Mizoguchi for what seems to be a 3 hour meeting about Tokyo sect's recent conflict with one another. He was uncomfortable with the American suit he was forced to wear to look more formal. In the crowded tatami room, sitting in seiza across from him is the brunette. Perched perfectly, smiling and nodding along the adults, but his smirk not really reaching his eyes. His irises are in a deep state of focus. Taking in the details of how the Tokyo incident unfolds, offering some comments and suggestions, the adults treating him as if his opinions are a huge revelation. He notices Iwaizumi staring at him, mouth slightly agape from fascination on how he could conversate with the older house heads as if they were the same age. Oikawa offers him a small smile, his eyes crinkling at the corners, Iwaizumi has never felt so unsettled his entire life. As if he's being speculated and put under a microscope and stripped naked, if his eyes are daggers, Iwaizumi isnt sure if he would come out unscathed, alive even. He broke eye contact and tried to focus on the pain he feels on his knees being bended in a weird position for such a long period of time, barely paying attention on all the information being laid down in front of him.
The second time they crossed paths was 2 years ago, when the 7th got sick and everyone was called into his chambers to discuss the future they would want to achieve before or after he passes. Iwaizumi's eyes quickly found Oikawa amidst the sea of people litering the room. He was poised elegantly despite the current mood of the topic, wearing the usual fake smile. Iwaizumi was unnerved by how calculated and mechanical the taller man moved, they briefly made eye contact but Iwaizumi is the first one to turn away. He doesn't know what it is about Oikawa Tooru that made his stomach turn sour, he decides it's the pompous air surrounding him. It's as if he's always looking down at people despite who he is interacting with, the peer pressure of his stong gaze and scrutiny laced between the deep dark layers of his sweet words. Or maybe its because of his strong pheromones, "An Alpha thru and thru." Iwaizumi thought at the back of his head.
This will be the third and most recent time he will be in the presence of the aforementioned pompous bastard.
Today is the disbanding of the branch family in favor of joining the two houses together. Iwaizumi had been appointed as head of the family in place of Mizoguchi-san. Everyone placed their bets on him, being one of the top alphas in the branch helped cement their trust along with his physical abilities, his mental resillience and brains. Now that the decision for the union had been passed, there is only one problem-- the members from his sect did not approve of the new heir, hence the third time he will be meeting Oikawa Tooru.
He wanted to be as comfortable as possible today, he wore his traditional kimono. The one's he wears for sake exchange and for meeting important clients, Iwaizumi needed something he could breathe properly with, so much better than an itchy American suit.
The limo arrived in front of their lot, everyone quiet throughout the whole car ride towards the main house, he's bracing himself for the encounter, trying to swallow his pride so he doesn't make a bad impression in front of his soon-to-be new family. He's also trying to uphold a good name and a good image for his current one. He sighs again, earning concerned looks from his peers.
They had arrived 15 minutes earlier in the manor, a servant in traditional clothes greeting them at the entrance. The main meeting room is in the heart of the house, they had to thread thru the garden, passing by the ginko trees and the stray leaves that littered the pathway,
He has heard a lot of rumors surrounding Oikawa Tooru-- how he's one of the youngest Wakagashira that's ever been appointed without having previous Yakuza connections. About how he suddenly became the 7th's adopted son, his previous family background unknown. The recently retired boss did not marry nor have illegitimate kids, so when everyone heard he is going to pass succession to his brat of an adopted son. The branch family was not happy so to say, they gave succession to Iwaizumi so he could go head to head with the new main house head, to see the gap, to see how big a mistake the previous boss is making with this decision.
He tries not to think too hard about it, instead he focuses on the camelias and the wisterias that surround the property, how well kept the small pond in the middle of the garden is. If he ends up living in the main house, he doesnt mind escaping here and basking in the warm sun, away from all the drama that the whole Aoba-Sei is trying to go around on.
They finally arrive at the main room, the floor boards start creaking as they thread thru the corridors, the lady opened the door and showed them in, gesturing with her palms where they should sit, "Ill bring you something to drink and snack on while waiting for Waka-san" she bowed then exited the room.
A few ticks later, once the whole crew settled in the room, drinks and snacks in hand. Iwaizumi is just staring outside, watching the leaves sway with the wind, "I have to serve his every whim huh? I'll just be a right hand man after all that work." he shakes his head. Kindaichi placing a hand on his shoulder. "Boss, you know that everyone in branch trusts your judgement right? If you say we can't work with Main because how shitty the new boss is, you know that we'll all drop him like a hot potato right?"
He sighs, "Kindaichi, thats not how it works" trying to give his subordinate a reassuring smile but all he could manage is a tired smirk. "My opinion matters as much as his do. If people are still at his side, at his aide. He can't be 100% bad right? We just have to believe in him. He might have questionable beginnings but what matters is how he is now right?" he says, more to himself than his subordinates. They just look at him and nod.
He strung along his most trusted men to be witnesses to this train wreck thats about to unfold before their very eyes.
Another sigh escaped his lips, feeling suddenly parched. They sat in the tatami room, waiting for their host's arrival. A strong smell wafted around the room, making everyone uncomfortable; Yahaba and Watari are shifting around their seats, Kyotani started adjusting his kimono's neck piece and covering his nose. Hell! even Kindaichi who's a beta started gulping hard next to him.
His presence is announced via the strong scent he's purposely releasing around the vicinity even before the shoji doors even slide open, he could only predict the disaster thats about to walk in, a 6 foot tall menace named Oikawa Tooru. "Yohoo~ Thank you so much for waiting!" the taller man chirped, making his way towards the helm of the table, followed by his subordinates that are eyeing everybody else in the room, smirking and nodding as they go. The brunette tucked his kimono between his long legs, finding an easier way to sit properly as he settled directly in front of Iwaizumi at the opposite end of the table.
They locked eyes for what seems like an eternity, Oikawa is the first one to break the silence "Im not going to beat around the bush, we already know why we're all here." he smirks, tilting his head to the side as if mocking those he was talking to. Iwaizumi has never wanted to punch the lights off of that pretty face of his so bad. "--You've made quite a name for yourself Iwa-chan," Iwaizumi narrows his eyes on the nickname. "...considering you only came from Sei." Kyotani shifted in his seat and Iwaizumi raised his hand to stop him from doing anything stupid. Fighting Oikawa would only prove his insults right.
"Oy," he started. Earning an amused look from the main family members and a geniune smirk from the sly bastard "You know I only do what I think is best for this family and this region. Also, with making a name for oneself, I could say the same to you." baring his fangs as he stares the brunette down, wondering if he said the wrong thing, then he is as surprised as the others who are now looking at the man, laughing, "Heh~ I knew Iwa-chan is a capable man but i didn't know he also has a soft spot." waving his hands in the air, looking very arrogant. "I thought you were just a gorilla-- all muscle and no tact."
Kyotani stood up in his spot almost immediately, getting pissed off more than Iwaizumi who just got insulted. Oikawa stared him down, "Ara ara~ violence is not good here. We're already dealing with a lot outside no?" his eyes crinkled, his voice saccharine but poisonous. "Why don't you sit back down Mad dog-chan?"
Kyotani's expression twisted in pain as he smelled the pheromones coming out from the man opposite to their table. He curled up on the floor and wanted to puke, everyone is visibly getting uneasy with the atmosphere in the room. Oikawa kept staring him down as if he was lint that got stuck between his clothes.
Iwaizumi stood up and strode towards the other end, surprising everyone including the douche in question. It gave Oikawa little time to react until he was face to face with Iwaizumi. They stared for what felt like an eternity and Iwaizumi has never seen anyone as beautiful and captivating as this asshole, Oikawa petrified by the sudden closeness. His eyes are wide and devoid of the fake expression Iwaizumi had seen from their previous encounters. He parted his lips and "STOP IT ASSKAWA" he yelled at the top of his lungs slapping Oikawa at the back of his head.
Earning a gasp from everyone at the table, the initial shock left everyone still.
A thousand thoughts run around Iwaizumi's head, how he has disgraced his family, how disappointed Mizoguchi-san will be because of his behavior. No matter how much of a bastard Oikawa is he shouldn't have hit his new boss. His hand, the one he hit the brunette with is throbbing equally as hard as is head now, it was silent, the room was still, nobody was talking, until two of Oikawa's men started breaking out in a laughing fit. The elicited giggles seem to break his trance as a blush broke from the pompous king's face down to his neck,
"MAKKI! MATSUN! YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO BE ON MY SIDE!" Oikawa whined.
Makki and Matsun, who Iwaizumi assume. Come towards him and placed their hands on his broad shoulder, ignoring the whiny protests of the newly appointed boss, "I like you!" exclaimed the one with the bored expression, "You'll definitely make our family even stronger!"
"He could finally be the one to straighten out or boss" The smaller man sitting behind Oikawa whispered, "Not you too Kunimi!"
"I will never agree to him being my right hand man!" Oikawa pointed an accusatory finger at Iwaizumi.
"You mean your handler?" said the salmon- haired one of the duo.
"Or your husband?" chidded the other.
Iwaizumi blinked one too many times before it registered, the throbbing in his head from this morning back in full swing. The reality of the full situation in front of him like a huge pill waiting to be swallowed dry.
"Is this what the old man meant by union?"
He didn't have to wait for an answer. He saw it in Oikawa's face.