Chapter Text
...
Takemichi pressed his lips together, leaning against the wall outside beside the door, watching as two members dragged out a screaming male, begging for mercy. The blond sunk into his shoulders, avoiding the males' gaze as the poor guy screamed out his name, begging him for help. Soon after the guy was dragged away, a black-haired male walked out of the same room, stack of cash in his hands.
"Koko... what did he do?" Takemichi sighed, to which Koko pressed his lips.
"Sorry, Takemichi, rat's a rat, and Taiju... you know how we deal with those guys..." Koko also dimmed, stuffing the cash into his left pocket.
"So... Christmas eve?..." Takemichi pulled out his phone, checking what time it was. Koko hummed, rubbing his temples, frustrated with whatever just went down in that room.
"... I'm sorry, Takemichi..." The black-haired male fluffed Takemichis hair, pursing his lips as he looked at the shorter with a sorrowful gaze. The blond stayed silent as he could only watch Koko turn on his heel and leave, presumably to go tell Taiju about the ambush on Toman that would be happening in just a few days. Takemichi sighed, sliding down the wall behind him, lips trembling.
"Hanagaki?..." Takemichi looked up at the person who called out to him... 'Inupi...'.
"Ah... Inupi, perfect timing! We're fighting Toman on Christmas eve, y'know, when Taiju usually goes out to church?" Inui nodded, muttering a quick, 'Got it...'. Takemichi, satisfied with the olders confirmation of understanding took a step past Inui, making his way out of the building before a light, stern tug to the sleave stopped him. The blond turned around, an expression of question (hey- that rhymed-) plastered on his face.
"Takemichi... Are you okay?" Inuis grip on Takemichis wrist tightened, causing him to wince slightly.
...
"... Taiju has done a lot for us, hasn't he?" The blond looked down, Inui nodding to the question.
"But don't you ever stop to think whether or not 'he' would've led the Black Dragons to this point?" Takemichi muttered out, just loud enough for Inui to hear, causing the blond to go silent. The shorter turned, ready to leave once again, before getting stopped... Once again... Inui pulled the blond into a warm embrace, his nose burying into his fluffy bleached hair.
Takemichi pressed his forehead into Inuis collar bone, dimming at the effection he was being shown. A moment was shared between the two before the shorter pushed away on Inuis chest, humming softly, then finally leaving, without being held back this time.
...
Taiju cackled, slamming his fist down on the table before him, Takemichi, Koko, and Inui all standing before the blue-haired male, hands behind their backs as a show of respect.
"These Manji twerps think that they can take me down just because of the ninth generation?!" The larger male's eye twitched.
"You three, my most devoted soldiers, you know what to do, right?" Taiju narrowed his eyes at the three, who all nodded, causing him to grin uncontrollably.
"That's my boys! Don't hold back, bring whatever you feel is needed for taking those bastards down." Takemichi dimmed as he watched Taiju cackle, Koko avoiding his gaze, and Inui watching the bigger male with an unreadable expression. The larger male stool up abruptly, making his way out of the meeting room, leaving the three alone. Koko blew out as if exhausted, slumping down in the seat that Taiju had been sitting on just a moment ago, his usual lack of genuine respect bleeding through the goody two-shoes act he was putting on earlier.
"As expected, he's calling another brawl again... with just us three backing him." The black-haired male waved his hand around, eyeing Takemichi. Inui furrowed his eyebrows, also taking note of the younger.
"Hanagaki, I'll get something for you, if we get to an all-time low then you can come out, I guarantee that we'll at least puncture Toman somewhat thoroughly, enough so that you can still support Taiju if the unlikely happens and we can't beat them." Inui sat down on the spot, looking up at Takemichi, who was the only one of the three who remained standing.
...
"You two really take good care of me, huh? Don't worry, I'm still an exclusive to the Black Dragons! I don't go that that easily!" The blond smiled, a hint of gratitude in his eyes. Koko stunned for just a second, before leaning in on the heel of his hand, grinning at Takemichi.
"True, Inupi, you should really have more faith in our Michi, shouldn't you?" The black-haired male sneered, to which Inui faltered, looking away from the two.
"Sorry... Just, please don't get hurt, Hanagaki." The blond made his statement swiftly, then rushed out of the room, ears dusted with a faint tint of red, leaving the other two alone, Koko sighing.
"He's just paranoid... but still, correct, watch yourself, Takemichi. You understand that you're not one to lose a fight, but you are one to get extremely hurt in the process." Koko also turned to a scolding tone towards Takemichi, narrowing his eyes at the blond.
"Don't worry, Koko. I won't get too hurt this time... besides, won't Taiju be doing most of the work?" Takemichi dimmed at the mention of the current Black Dragon commander. Koko sighed as well, closing his eyes.
"Yeah, he could probably take on all of Toman without breaking a sweat... still, if he says we have to back him then we have to back him." Takemichi sighed, also taking his leave, bowing to Koko before leaving the room, being returned with a wave of goodbye.
Walking down the halls, Takemichi dimmed, any loitering members bowing at glance of the blond...
'Great...' The blond sighed out under his breath, taking off his uniform jacket as soon as he got out of the building. Takemichi swerved around the stone hedge, unlocking his parked bike, slugging his jacket over the handles, then hopping on himself.
"Let's see... where this'll lead us."