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"Chigasaki."
Chikage raises his head to find Sakyo looming over Chikage's sitting form. The blond looks tense, pursing his lips in a rather anxious stance.
"Are you free tomorrow night?" the gruff voice asks.
The way Sakyo lowers his voice even though there's virtually no one else in the living room right now aside from the two of them alerts Chikage that this might be pretty important.
"Yes," Chikage moves to mark the page of the book he's been reading before Sakyo showed up. "Is there something…?"
"I just…" Sakyo frowns, visibly trying to formulate words. He stops and sighs, the troubled look a far cry from his usual tough yakuza exterior.
"Need advice, probably alcohol will help."
There's an amused glint in Chikage's deep blue eyes.
"I know that face, Chigasaki. Zip it. Just so you know you'll keep this between us."
The threat would be much scarier, closer to its usual level of doom if it wasn't for a slight dusting of blush on Sakyo's cheeks.
"Understood, Sakyo-san."
"Good. I'll be expecting you at eight then. The usual beer garden."
"Oh, are you two going somewhere?"
So much for keeping things between them when they live with 20 something people around. Even in the middle of night, someone is bound to hear. Like Citron always said; walls have ears. Itaru pokes his head into business, coming up behind Sakyo. Itaru's eyes dart between the other two men in the room, looking curious. He's still dressed in his office attire, briefcase in his arm, albeit with a slightly skewed tie and messy hair. The other blond just freshly got back from an overtime.
"Chigasaki," there's a warning in Sakyo's eyes, telling Chikage not to spill.
"What?" Itaru looks confused.
"Not you, the other one," Sakyo waves his hand dismissively at Itaru, muttering under his breath why it's less annoying with people sharing Hyodo name than it is with Chigasaki. The bespectacled blond directs his gaze back at Chikage, violet eyes sharp beneath rimmed glasses.
Chikage nods at Sakyo, nonverbally swearing his allegiance at staying silent.
Seemingly satisfied, Sakyo nods back.
"Um, did you guys learn telepathy or something…" Itaru tries to decipher what is unfolding before him.
"I need your husband's input on stuff, so I'll borrow him for tomorrow night," Sakyo says curtly to Itaru, not allowing more room for added conversation as he walks out from the room.
"... Sure," Itaru shrugs at Sakyo's retreating back. The ruby eyes follow the yakuza's sweater clad form before shifting focus to the other man in the room.
"Welcome back," Chikage rises from his seat, now with Itaru home it would be better for them to retreat to their room. It is getting late.
"... 'm home," the blond loosens his tie, standing on tip toes so he can peck Chikage on the cheek. Itaru smells like his car's freshener combined with traces of his cologne, lips slightly cold from the AC. A familiar scent. Chikage feels himself relaxing. His hand gives the tousled blond strands little pats.
"How's overtime?"
Itaru makes a disgusted face.
Chikage chuckles, his footsteps airy and light as he brings himself walking to room 103. Itaru follows Chikage's pace closely behind, complaining about how the new intern's mistake prolonged Itaru's department's overtime misery.
The topic switches as they arrive at their room's doorstep.
"Hey, why did Sakyo-san ask you out?"
Chikage shrugs, though he can vividly make a mental prediction.
The issue, after all, is somewhat a public's secret at this point.
"Relationship advice? Is he finally gonna propose to Izumi?" Itaru immediately takes a wild guess, which, to be honest, aligns with Chikage's own.
"I don't know, Chigasaki. Maybe."
The door to their room opens with a click.
Itaru looks happy hearing that. "Oh, nice! That took him forever!"
"You're terribly sure this is about advancing their relationship."
"Come on, Senpai! He singled you as the only one with more experience, that's why he asked for your help. We all know where this is going."
The familiar motion of Itaru moving around their room changing his attire into something more casual tugs a small fond smile from Chikage's lips, all while the blond keeps blabbering at how everyone just kinda grew tired of Sakyo and Izumi circling each other for years. How they're basically dating in everything but name, and considering Sakyo, he would probably jump straight to proposal at this point. Something Azami would approve of.
"He can also talk to you as someone 'more experienced', so to speak."
"Between the two of us, you're definitely the better pick. He'll probably be offended if I use dating sim analogies," Itaru shrugs. "This will be a proposal talk. I call it."
"I don't know you're this invested in Sakyo-san's romantic endeavors."
Itaru, now in his comfy sweatpants and t-shirt, throws himself on their couch, plucking his Switch from the table and booting it up. "Nah, Citron is. He talks about them all the time, maybe it rubbed on me a bit."
Itaru then pats the vacant place beside him, beckoning the taller man over. Chikage lowers himself beside his husband. The blond immediately parks himself on Chikage's side, using him as a pillow.
"Did you place a bet on Sakyo-san?"
Said husband blinks, pursing his lips at the accusation.
"What? Can't I genuinely be happy for them?"
"Itaru."
"Fine. It was 10.000 yen with Banri. I bet on their wedding at the end of the year."
"Figures."
Names were never a big deal for Chikage.
He cycled through countless of them. The pretense for each mission. He never really got attached to any of his identities, no matter how August tried to fit the most beautiful sounding name for him (completed with intricate meanings because August was thorough just like that). He thought it would do him better if he didn't get attached. They were meant to be tossed away after all, no matter how great of a care August took in crafting each of his aliases.
That also changed with Mankai Company.
He liked being Chikage Utsuki. The name August so carefully picked, his unexpected last memento for April. 'Chikage' had everything 'April' lost, had gained everything back and more. A new chapter in the book. Something he could hold on to with his head held high.
"Chikage got married," Hisoka said to the stars that one night.
The cold winter night where they usually ate gingerbread together at the rooftop, the quiet night where they would reminisce about their past together in honor of August. Their beloved family.
That was also the first cold winter night after Chikage officially changed his last name.
August's memento had changed. The name attached to Chikage had signified his bond with another. It used to be half of August's memory, something to tie him to his past. It changed to reflect on his future. A vow.
With Itaru.
His name now was a big deal. A gift from two important people.
"Can you believe it, August? That April, you should've seen his face at the ceremony," the lethargic voice held no bite, just amused and… happy.
Chikage threw the blanket he brought up at Hisoka. "Shut up."
"See he's still a meanie. And cranky. You'd think being married will mellow him out."
"No."
"Hmm," Hisoka wrapped himself with the blanket, and as Chikage sat beside him, Hisoka moved to lie down on Chikage's lap, arranging himself to the comfiest position.
"You're heavy," yet Chikage made no move to disturb Hisoka.
"Do you think August would like Itaru?" Hisoka stared up at Chikage with his bright green visible eye.
Out of habit, Chikage tucked several strands of silver behind Hisoka's ear. A frown on his face when he contemplated his reply. "I don't know… but he'd gladly share my embarrassing past stories if he can."
Hisoka snorted a laugh at that. "He would."
A comfortable silence lapsed between them, with the background noise of the ever busy Mankai dorm. Tenma was yelling something in the distance, followed by rowdy footsteps. Perhaps Misumi stole his triangle-shaped snacks again. Laughter could be heard echoing through the walls. A comfortable daily chaos Chikage never expected to be part of, yet has come to love after all.
"I like Itaru," Hisoka sounded fond.
"You do?"
"He gave me Penpen… and drove me around, and let me use him as a pillow, and gave me marshmallows… though not as much as Alice…" Hisoka trailed off, a smile tugging at his lips.
"... so I'm sure August would like Itaru as well…"
Chikage adjusted the familiar ring on his middle finger, cold to touch in the winter night. He felt his lips turn up into a smile matching Hisoka's. Just this time, Chikage let his emotions be painted in his answer for December and August to hear; gratitude, hope, melancholy.
Honesty.
"I'm sure he would. Itaru is a good man."
Beside the silver ring, snug on his other finger, Chikage's golden wedding band gleamed under the stars.
Itaru might get his 10.000 yen after all.
Chikage sips his beer, listening intently to Sakyo pouring his heart out with the help of alcohol. It didn't take a lot for the older man to open up. He must've let it bottled up for a long, long while (also the way Sakyo is draining the alcohol glass by glass definitely helps those loose lips). The dam is just one single tap away from breaking.
"I don't know, Utsuki… how did it go for you?"
Sakyo keeps slipping into Chikage's old name, head hangs miserably with fingers massaging his temple. He's definitely not sober.
"I don't know if my personal experience can be used as a reference, Sakyo-san. Our circumstances are a bit different…"
"Which one of you proposed?"
"He did."
Sakyo takes another gulp of his drink. "That's unexpected."
"Is it?"
Sakyo shrugs. "You strike me as the one who's gonna make the first move."
"I'll take that as a compliment," Chikage smiles.
"You going into his family registry also his idea?"
Chikage takes his time munching on some rice crackers. He feels the conversation starts straying from Izumi, or is it Sakyo's way to try and relate to his case. Chikage doubts that adding Izumi into the Furuichi family has the same impact as him adopting the Chigasaki name to give 'Chikage' a legal citizenship. He needed to pull some strings back then to be able to bypass scrutiny over his fabricated background.
Of course, there's also the sentimental value of changing your name to match your spouse. This one Chikage can relate.
"It's mine, actually."
"So you were okay with changing name?" Sakyo's glass is almost empty again. That's weird, Chikage is sure it was half full a moment ago.
"Of course, I wouldn't have brought it up in the first place if I was not willing," Chikage answers without missing a beat, with admirable certainty that Sakyo catches from his slight widening of eyes.
Sakyo worries his bottom lip between his teeth, brows knit together in a frown.
Chikage tries a different approach by asking first. "Are you anxious she'd say no?"
"She won't say no. And that's what I'm anxious about. I… don't know if I can be the best for her. She only deserves the best."
Chikage smiles slightly, silently agreeing that their hardworking director only deserves the best. He savors the alcohol he has, his mind slowly attunes to Sakyo's worry.
"I understand where you come from, Sakyo-san. While I do think you two are matchmade in heaven," a slight pause as Chikage revels in the darkening of Sakyo's cheeks. So he could make those kind of gentle expressions after all. Honestly, he thinks Izumi is in good hands. "Ultimately the ones who're going to go through this are both of you. You should talk it out, have you ever brought up this plan of tying the knot to her?"
Sakyo's silence is telling enough.
"You should talk it out. Something as big as a proposal shouldn't be a surprise…"
Sakyo swirls his almost empty glass, watching the leftover liquid slosh around with a newfound determination in his violet eyes. "I get what you mean."
"Of course, you can surprise her with one... but she should know it's coming…"
"That what happened with you?"
Chikage smiles warmly, a rare display of honest emotion. He takes a sip of his drink.
"Indeed. Chigasaki did the extra mile for me. You know how my family only wanted the ones who can make the best curry ever? Chigasaki stepped up to the challenge even though he can't cook to save his life, but of course a newbie like him wouldn't satisfy the world class curry connoisseurs. He had to take office leave and enrolled on a crash course in India—"
Sakyo narrows his eyes. "... just because I'm a bit tipsy don't think your stupid lies will work on me, Utsuki."
Chikage chuckles, amused.
"It's Chigasaki now, Sakyo-san."
"Welcome back my dear!"
Chikage comes home to Itaru who's way too giddy in the dead of the night. The green haired man closes the door to their room behind him, narrowing his slanted blue eyes at Itaru. The blond rolls his gaming chair closer, looking up expectantly at Chikage.
"Did something happen?"
"Oh, I just finished a campaign in first place, as expected from Taruchi," Itaru gestures vaguely at his PC, sounding proud. "—and I also want to know what will become of my 10k yen. Spill, please?"
Chikage rolls his eyes, completely immune to Itaru's pleading stare. "I'll keep you on your toes, then."
"Oh come on! I can't even gloat in advance to Banri?"
"You're so sure about winning."
"Gamer's hunch," Itaru breaks into a grin.
"Sounds unreliable."
"It's not about the money, it's about winning from Banri," Itaru makes a point by jabbing his finger in the general direction of room 104.
"That's actually worse. But okay, Chigasaki, whatever floats your boat," Chikage reaches out and ruffles Itaru's hair, loosening his hair tie on purpose.
"Hey!" Itaru laughs, swatting Chikage's hand away. He shakes his head a bit, letting his loosened fringe fall over his forehead. The hand stubbornly stays, rubbing soothingly on Itaru's scalp.
Itaru smiles, tugging on Chikage's sleeve.
"On second thought I want a kiss, haven't seen you much today."
Chikage lets out an amused puff of breath. That's one offer he won't turn down.
The green haired man dips his head down and catches Itaru's lips in a searing kiss. Itaru readily accepts, circling his arms around Chikage's broad shoulders. Chikage trails his hand down the back of Itaru's head to his nape and uses his grip to pull the blond closer. Their lips move together in practiced sync, a familiar dance Chikage learned throughout the years being together. He know which button to rile Itaru up, to bring him to his knees.
They separate with a wet sound, Itaru is slightly out of breath and his cheeks tinged pink. A dazed, content look on his face.
"You reek of sake," Itaru twirls his fingers on the short hair at Chikage's nape.
"I'm sober," another peck at Itaru's lips. Chikage braces his arms on Itaru's chair, leaning over the blond who doesn't let up his hold on Chikage. The older man's lips travel to Itaru's cheek, down to his jaw. Enticing but not quite. Teasing. "Sakyo-san isn't though."
Itaru purses his lips. "Unromantic. Bringing another man's name in our make out session. Unbelievable."
Chikage laughs.
Itaru swats at Chikage's shoulder.
"Come here," Chikage suddenly swoops down and readily lifts Itaru up as if the blond weighs nothing, securing a firm hold around Itaru's lean body. A yelp is torn from Itaru as he circles his legs around Chikage's hips. His protests in the form of Chikage's name fall on deaf ears. Long strides of Chikage's steps bring both of them to the familiar black couch, where the green haired man unceremoniously dumps his sack of a husband into the soft cushion.
"Ow! Seriously!?" Itaru's body sink further into the cushion as Chikage crawls on top of him, trapping Itaru with a laugh.
The kiss Chikage drops to Itaru's head draws an unamused stare from the blond. "That's it. No sex for you today."
"That's fine, wasn't aiming for it," Chikage braces his arms on the sides of Itaru's head, tangling their legs together. The mirth on his deep blue eyes visible to Itaru, who softens his expression into a small, amused smile.
Chikage feels that smile reflected on his own lips as he stares down at Itaru. The affection he harbors for the blond surprises even himself, years after Chikage came to terms with his emotions. The talk with Sakyo earlier brings him back memories of the time he made this big turn in life. The day he decided that he wanted this.
Gentle fingers thread into golden locks, tucking the highlighted fringe up, exposing Itaru's forehead and his eyes. The ruby gaze obscured by blond hair now crystal clear, gazing into Chikage's own orbs with clear adoration in them.
Chikage feels the familiar grip on his chest. Of something only Itaru can stir in him.
"I'm glad you're my spouse."
Itaru blinks, the beginning of blush tints his cheeks, the warmth spreading until the tips of his ears. "What brings this on…?"
"If I say Sakyo-san would you get pissed again?"
Itaru snorts. "Unromantic."
But Chikage knows Itaru won't have him any other way.