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Toichi’s little mistake was in his last year of high school when it happened.
Kaito had been using the KID identity since the boy was sixteen. He’d made his papa proud, ruling out Pandora candidates while Toichi barely had to lift a finger. Not to mention his son infuriated the hell out of the sydicaite. Even if Toichi was sure some had started to figure out it wasn’t him. At least one did.
The syndicate wasn’t Kaito’s only rival. The task force -Toichi was a little jealous that he no longer had Ginzo’s attention, but well, you win some you lose some-, that demon brat that was either a shinigami or some bastard son of Yusaku, many, many others, and Hakuba Saguru.
Until now.
Toichi was disguised as a fellow shopper, ready to change to another soon so neither teen got suspicious. Observing, waiting.
He’d heard some details about what happened to the (former) Hakuba heir, and wanted to get a better look. Especially with him suddenly latching onto Kaito. An outside, unknown factor could ruin everything Toichi had been working for.
Nearly two decades of work to find Pandora before Belladonna did could shatter in an instant.
Little of a refined dignity lasted in the boy. Hakuba looked awkward and gangly, hair an unstyled mess of curls, and too big for the outrageous clothes of Toichi’s son. Sudden disownment didn't leave much opportunity to pack a bag it seemed.
The goal of today must have been to fix that particular problem. With how tight the clothes fit Hakuba, the bandages wrapped around his arms kept poking through. Chikage had asked, and Kaito claimed it was just a precaution. ”haaaa, don't worry mom. He was just digging into his arms a bit too hard."
It was an exploitable factor. Emotional vulnerability was easy to play around with, as long as you have the will and a good poker face.
A hand roughly grabbed his wrist and pulled him back behind a display.
“I knew I’d find you here.” An icy voice growled as he was released and he spinned around to glare at-
“Falcon.” Toichi stared down the other man, keeping his tone flat. He didn’t let it bother him that Falcon was wearing Hibiscus’s favorite sweater. Falcon was a higher ranked member of the syndicate, known for his bloodlust, and one of Belladonna’s favorites. And even now Toichi could only picture the weird silly kid following Toichi and Belladonna around at that party all those years ago.
“Toichi.” Falcon pulled a knife out, no consideration for how they were in a public place. Somehow, nobody noticed. “Stay the fuck away from my little brother.”
“Well,” Toichi scoffed. “He’s no so little now, is he?”
“You know exactly what I mean and how serious I am about this.” Falcon brought the knife closer, voice dropping into a whisper. “I once strangled a man to death with his own intestines, and I’d love to recreate the experience. Or I can go over there right now and tell your kid everything about your little faked death. Oh, and of how you robbed him of a childhood and his teen years being your pawn.” Falcon smiled. “How abouts it?”
“That would…be less than satisfactory.”
Falcon pulled back with a nod. “Glad you and I can come to an agreement. I can’t call you out for stalking since I was doing the same but you leave Saguru out of whatever sick plan you have in mind.”
Toichi smiled, but of course it was a promise he’d never keep.