Disclaimer :: I don't own anything but the story and the OCs!
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Meetings. One of the horrid reasons why Akihito had run away from the entire mafia world. Honestly, the entire cliché-ness of it all made him want to tug his hair out. He wasn't even inside the room, yet he could already feel the smoke press on his chest. He could hear the chatter even as he only approached the door of the main meeting-room of the Vongola HQ. It was the only room large enough to accommodate every allianced mafia boss and one bodyguard.
Yet, their egos were suffocating the room more than the cigarette smoke.
Akihito heaved a sigh as he resisted the urge to straighten his burgundy blazer, instead keeping his hands in his pockets as he approached the busy meeting room. Behind him, Gokudera could barely keep his hands of his tie, a grimace pulling on his lips. Clearly the young guardian didn't hold meetings in high regard either.
"Will you be able to do it?" Akihito asked out of the blue, drawing Gokudera's attention away from his dark red tie knotted around his neck, under the collar of his grey button up.
"Able to do what?" he asked and Akihito looked back at the door looming up in front of them.
"Remain calm" he said because God knew that in the beginning, Akihito had been unable to sit out an entire meeting, making a grand exit with two raised birds and some choice-words that would make even sailors blush. He had been scolded for his behaviour often enough, but it took years before the blonde was able to stay inside until the end. Keeping his mouth shut had been something different entirely. He wondered what it would be for Gokudera, who was Tsunayoshi's number 1 fan-boy. Judging by the lack of answer, Gokudera wasn't making empty promises he was unsure he would be able to keep.
Akihito could appreciate this as he gave a nod at the mobster guarding the door, signalling the man to open the doors. Almost immediately, a cloud of smoke rolled from the room as if to welcome the two newcomers. Akihito steeled himself and straightened his spine as he walked inside, taking one hand from his pockets. Gokudera followed him into the room, looking around as a silence fell.
"My goodness! Would you look at what the cat dragged in!" a familiar voice called out in Italian as whispers broke out and sharp side-way glances were thrown at the blonde approaching the slightly smaller blonde.
"It's been a while, hasn't it, Dino? Glad to see your stupid mug hasn't changed" Akihito answered, unable not to answer the loose grin on his old friend's face with one of his own. Both blondes moved in for a hug with a kiss on both cheeks before pulling back to look at each other. It had been a long time since Akihito had seen his friend and he was glad to see the other still alive. Dino Cavallone wouldn't be the first friend Akihito lost to the life of a mafioso.
"Going flower power, huh?" Dino said good-humoured as he straightened the smaller blonde's black and white flower-patterned tie. Akihito swatted away his hands with a scoff and a sharp look.
"Don't be jealous 'cause you can't pull it off" the shorter blonde said and Dino snorted.
"Will you two shits sit down, before I make you" a grumpy, familiar voice cut in with a growl, earning the attention of the two blondes.
"Don't mind him. He's in a bad mood" Lussuria said as he stood behind the Varia boss. Xanxus was glaring at them, sloshing whiskey around in the glass between his fingers.
"What? Did they get the wrong whiskey? Regular fireball instead of fireball X" Akihito teased as he moved to take a seat next to the Varia boss, sitting in between him and the Cavallone boss. His lame jab earned a chuckled from the blonde boss while Xanxus looked tempted to whip out his guns at the smaller blonde.
"No, it's not that. Squalo had a day off yesterday and he returned to headquarters late and smelling like cheap beer and even cheaper perfume" Lussuria disclosed, earning the full force of Xanxus's glare as Akihito laughed full out.
"So Squalo got lucky? Are you sure he didn't just go for a drink and had a cheap whore give him tips to please a partner?" Dino asked and Akihito couldn't stop smirking at the raven glowering next to him.
"Maybe you should suggest being a test subject? Good or bad, either way, you'll get something out of it" he said and Dino played in on it extremely well.
"Unless you can't get it in first" he said and both blondes bit on their lip to muffle their laugh at the glare they received. Akihito reached out for one of the bottles of whiskey on the middle of the table, picking out his favoured one before pouring it into the tumbler in front of him. He was going to need alcohol to get through this. Especially when his eyes connected with surprised blue ones further down the table.
Great. Just what needed to be added to this shit storm of a meeting.
Akihito had been fully aware that the Arbatov bratva was allied to the Vongola familigia as one of the few non-flame user criminal organizations. During the whole kidnapping where he had been passed around like a dirty AV in high school, Akihito had had to play the role of innocent, overly-curious photographer that had become the victim of two crime-lords acting childish. Akihito had remained in his role to avoid having his identity exposed, because if Mikhail knew, so would Asami.
At least in that moment. Now, Akihito might have a chance of silencing the Russian crime-lord. To swear him to secrecy by the omerta so he couldn't let Asami know anything about his lover's real identity. In his position, Akihito had the right to hold the omerta over the Bratva leader. He would, but only if he had to. Maybe he could get by with just a few well-placed threats here and there to remind the mob-boss that Akihito out-ranked him.
A hum next to him drew him from his internal planning, glancing sideways to see Dino hold out the end of a cigar towards him in invitation. One Akihito took, wrapping his lips around the tip and allowing the taller blonde to light the other end while he poured Dino's glass.
"Honestly, the clichéness of this all is almost amusing" Akihito said, letting the smoke roll past his lips.
"You said it. But then again, it's likely so all of us will be able to sit through this bullshit without shooting anyone" Dino said and Akihito scoffed, leaning back in his chair and reaching up to take the cigar from between his lips.
"Tell that to the hot-head next to me. I can already feel his irritation like a hearth and we haven't even started yet" Akihito said and Xanxus huffed.
"Maybe that's a fucking sign that we should start. If that old geezer doesn't hurry the fuck up, I'm out of here" he said and Dino looked at him.
"If you're going to Mama, I'm joining you. I'm missing Ria's company" he said and Xanxus grunted. It was only an answer for those who knew him, which included Akihito and Dino, who took no offence in the less than friendly or clear answer.
"Count me out. If I'm going there, it's only for a drink. But maybe Gokudera here will finally be able to relax. Get the tension out of his shoulders a bit" Akihito said, earning a sharp look from the young storm guardian.
"Are you suggesting I go to a whore-house to fuck my troubles away?" he sneered and Akihito waved it off.
"Don't be so uptight, Gokudera. If you can't do it alone, try inviting Yamamoto. I get the feeling he'd be up for it" he said and Gokudera's reply was instantly.
"He's too possessive for that" he said, earning a Cheshire smirk from the blonde whose chair he flanked. His answer drew the attention of the two other bosses and Lussuria as a blush coloured the silverette's pale cheeks.
"A-at least that's what he told me" Gokudera tried to save himself, but nobody was buying it with the way his eyes shifted.
"What kind of conversation were you having for Yama-chan to bring up how possessive he is in a relationship?" Lussuria asked amused and Gokudera's hand wrung uncomfortably.
"He was dumped by his ex-girlfriend and he came to me for a drink. That's all. We're not like that. Please, me and the baseball-idiot? Don't make me laugh" the young guardian said defensive, earning a hum from the two blondes. Before they could continue on the subject to tease the storm, the doors opened for the big bad boss to be announced. As one, a cripple one, the mafia bosses rose from their chairs to silently great Timoteo and his storm guardian.
"Sit" the old boss said, his voice pleasant but firm as he walked over to the large chair at the head of the table, allowing the bosses to sit down.
"I'm glad you were all able to make" Timoteo said with a pointed look at both Xanxus and Akihito right next to him on his right side. Xanxus grunted as he averted his eyes to the table and Akihito dipped his head.
"I called this meeting because many of you have heard the rumours and were growing restless. I'm here to confirm the rumours. Vongola's tenth boss, Sawada Tsunayoshi, has disappeared" Timoteo said, murmurs breaking out and causing a chaos that only grew louder. The other bosses clearly weren't happy with the news, though some were doing a bad job at hiding how pleased they were. Their voices grew louder as accusations were thrown around, each boss trying to set-up the other in order to rise in the rank and cause suspicion enough to have the other boss be thrown out. Akihito caught Gokudera's tense fists and Xanxus's twitching eyebrow and decided to step in.
"Are you quite done now?" he asked, his icy voice shutting up everyone close to him and the others following because of their confusion, looking over at him as he pinned them in place with a sharp look.
"Yelling accusations at each other like head-less chickens, how unsightly. If you're going to accuse someone, you better have some evidence, and not just 'He didn't like Decimo from the beginning' or 'his lip twitched when he heard Decimo's name was mentioned', because that's bullshit. If that was proof enough, Don De Grigorio, you would be suspected because you have never hidden your desire to take over the Vongola. Don Armata, you would be suspected because you've been wanting to stick you tiny, little prick up Decimo's ass ever since you first laid eyes on him. Don Del Caro, you would be suspected just because I really can't stand your mug and the way your eyes lit up at the opportunity to shut out the Russian bratva" Akihito said, picking out the three most suspicious ones to shut them up and making them sit down again.
"Thank you, Akihito. I assume you have evidence, or else you wouldn't be here" Timoteo said with a friendly smile at the blonde who gave a nod, holding out his hand over his shoulder and feeling Gokudera put a manila folder in his palm.
"I did some research and managed to find some solid leads on the identity of the master-mind. And it is none of you here, since you're all too stupid for it, so you can stop thinking to accuse anyone in this room" he said and placed his cigar between his lips to open the folder, ignoring the glares directed at him. He passed the folder to Timoteo before starting to explain the results of his research.
"It's not much yet" Akihito finished and Timoteo shook his head.
"It's more than enough, for now. Everyone will keep an eye out for rumours and anything connected to the Yasuo-gumi, who hired Minami Benji to buy our Decimo. Every information you find, goes straight to Akihito" the old boss said and Akihito scoffed.
"It would help me more if they did nothing at all. Dumb oafs always fuck things up" he muttered, only loud enough for Xanxus and Dino to hear, earning a snort. Everyone was dismissed after it, with Timoteo leaving first. Akihito remained seated as he noticed a familiar face walk up to him.
"How peculiar for us to meet again here, Mikhail Arbatov" Akihito said once the Russian mob-boss was close enough to hear him, switching over to English.
"Indeed. I never expected to see you here. I doubt Asami is aware of this" Mikhail said and Akihito scoffed.
"You think that guy will allow me out of the house if he knew?" he asked and Mikhail gave a wry smile.
"Truly, a ball and chain, that one. I wanted to apologize for the way I treated you the first time we met. I had no idea you were" he started, not sure how to finish what he started.
"A mafioso? A flame-user? Your superior?" Akihito suggested with a raised eyebrow and noticed the twitch in the foreigner's hand. His eyes glanced over at Yuri standing behind his boss, glaring at him, before they turned back to Mikhail.
"It doesn't matter what I am, as long as you know I'm not a grudge holding person. You like to gamble, right? Why don't we settle this with a little bet?" Akihito asked and Dino stood up to allow Mikhail to take a seat, ignoring his surprise at the cloud's suggestion.
"I have to warn you, I'm very good at gambling" Mikhail said as he sat down, earning a smile from Akihito.
"Let's hope it for you. Romario, can I trouble you for a revolver? How about we play a game of Russian roulette?" Akihito asked, first directing himself to Dino's right-hand man and then back to Mikhail, who raised an eyebrow at him. Clearly, he didn't believe Akihito would have the heart to play a game that dangerous. But that was the Akihito he had known during the time he had been held hostage, not the one whispering into Romario's ear.
"The rules are simple. This gun holds five bullets, one chamber empty. It's self-explanatory, really. You pull the trigger and if you live, all is forgotten. If you don't, it means I didn't forgive you. Simple, right?" Akihito said and Mikhail looked at the revolver presented to him. The others watched as Mikhail lifted the revolver and placed it against his temple with a confident smile, that was answered by Akihito's own, their eyes locked. Mikhail took a deep breath before he pulled the trigger and a click resounded.
"You should really make this gamble a bit more fun" Mikhail said as he laid the hilt of the revolver in Akihito's hand, obviously not believing Akihito would be capable of killing anyone, especially not in a bet. His eyes widened in shock and his face paled as Akihito aimed the revolver at the opposite wall, pulling the trigger. Once, twice, trice, four times, five times. The blonde held the gun up, ignoring the smoke that rolled from the barrel of the revolver and the wall that crumbled around the bullets that had embedded itself into the surface.
"I guess you could say you're lucky" Akihito chuckled and handed the revolver back to Romario.
"But as promised, with this, everything is forgiven and forgotten" he said and Mikhail released a shaky breath, his face still not regaining any colour as he ran a shaky hand through his hair.
"And here I thought you were a nice person" he said, prompting a laugh from the others that had stayed behind. Lussuria and Xanxus laughed loudest, while even Romario was unable to cut back a chuckle.
"This trash 'nice'? Maybe in his free time!" Xanxus laughed and Dino shook his head.
"You're lucky you met Akihito Takaba, and not Akihito Falconeria, the honey viper. If you had been a flame-users, you would have been dead already" the blonde said and Akihito stood up from his chair.
"Anyway, we're going to Mama's now. Hopefully get this kid to relax a bit" Akihito said and Gokudera made a noise.
"I don't plan on fucking a whore" he snapped and Dino smiled at him.
"Then just take a few drinks. We know why we're going to Mama's, so just keep your mouth shut and your ears open" he said, not unfriendly, and Gokudera frowned.
"You're going to a brothel for information?" he guessed and Akihito looked at him.
"No. We're going there to get some time to wind down. If anyone says something, that's just a bonus" he said and Mikhail raised an eyebrow at Akihito.
"You sure you should be fucking a whore? Asami won't like that" he said and Akihito rolled with his eyes.
"I don't plan on fucking anyone, Mikhail" he said and Lussuria leaned forward on Akihito's shoulder.
"You've been mentioning a certain Asami since before. Who are you talking about?" he asked and Mikhail looked at him, standing up when he finally got back the feeling in his legs as they stopped shaking.
"Akihito's lover. He's a kingpin in Japan" he said and Akihito grimaced at the looks he gained. Xanxus was the first one to start laughing, a few chuckles before it turned into a deep belly laugh. Honestly, it was disturbing how much Xanxus was laughing that night.
"This honey trap?! The same trash who has fucked over a hundred women, made more than half of them divorce their husband before telling them that he was only interested in sex, has a male lover?! Priceless! That shark needs to hear this! The man-whore of the famiglia has a male lover!" he laughed loudly and Akihito send him a glare.
"Could you not call me a man-whore" he said, but was ignored as Dino laid his hand on Mikhail's shoulder.
"You need to tell us more about this. Everything you know" he said and Akihito grimaced. Did he really count those two as friends, or should he add them to his body-count? Because of their long friendship, he'd go easy on them and give them a quick death. A bullet to the head should do it, nicely placed in the middle of their foreheads.
"I heard some interesting rumours about a three-some with Fei-long" Mikhail said and Akihito's eyebrow twitched.
"Don't talk about that. You'll spoil their interest in Ria" the blonde tried to plead Mikhail into silence but none of them were having it. There was no way they would pass up the chance of getting some blackmail material on the blonde.
"This is much more interesting than Ria" Dino said as he ushered Mikhail towards the door with Xanxus on their heels. Akihito groaned as he let his head fall forward.
"It's okay, sweetie. They'll lose interest soon enough" Lussuria said and Akihito raised an eyebrow at him, making him doubt.
"Okay, maybe they won't" the sun guardian said and Akihito shook his head as they started walking to catch up with the others that had gone before them.
"They'll never let me live it down once they find out Asami is into SM and has a secret room" he said and Gokudera frowned.
"Doesn't that hurt?" he asked and Akihito looked back at him.
"Most of it skims the border between painful and pleasurable, but as long as you set up rules, it feels good- wait, like hell I am talking about this with someone who can't even accept the fact that it feels pleasant to finger himself to thoughts of the rain guardian" Akihito snapped, prompting Gokudera's face to turn bright red.
"I don't do that!" he snapped and Akihito scoffed.
"Don't try to lie to me about that, kid. I know how someone walks when they've stimulated their ass when they're not used to it yet. The first time I took it up the ass, I wasn't even able to walk, so you're lucky you're already preparing yourself" he said and Gokudera sputtered to find a way to deny his embarrassment. Akihito ignored it as he pushed his hands in his pockets.
He wanted to return to Tokyo already, unashamed to admit that he was missing his lover and not only in bed. They had a good lead on Tsuna's kidnapper and his location would follow soon as well. The sooner Tsuna was found, the sooner Akihito could return to Tokyo. He'd have to deal with a sex-deprived Asami and his punishment for disappearing so long, but he'd gladly take it, compared to the absence of any touch he was currently experiencing. Honestly, Xanxus was not wrong. How far had he fallen that he, who had broken up countless households because he had seduced the wives, would settle down with a man.
But currently, finding Tsuna had priority over his life outside the mafia. His cousin was waiting for them to reach out their hand and help him escape. Thinking about something as distracting as his relationship with Asami would only slow them down. Every second they were slowed, was a minute longer that Tsuna was in danger. A danger unknown to them until they had a lock-on on the culprit. That was Akihito's job and the only thing that his attention should be focussed on.
Thank you for reading!