A/N: School has been killing me as midterms draws closer, but I suppose if North Korea bombs us then... school doesn't even factor in anymore. T_T So, to all of you who celebrate Black Day, here's an update!
Disclaimer: I wish I owned these boys...
Summary: Mafia AU And we see how the Prince fell in love.
~Prequel~ Underworld: The Captive Prince
Ryoma strolled out of the shade of a nearby birch and resolutely ignored the presence walking a little behind him.
"…and my wife was quite upset I missed a week's worth of dinners at home. But my children…"
"Why are you following me anyway?" Ryoma interrupted flatly. Only four more streets to Seigaku's headquarters, endure it, endure it…
The older man smiled. "It's my job to stalk you, young master."
The teen frowned. "Tetsu-"
"It's Ueda today."
Ryoma's face darkened. "Just stick to one name!"
His companion hummed thoughtfully. "I'm dropping by Seigaku to check up on something." A hand clapsed briefly on Ryoma's shoulder. "Good luck."
Used to 'Ueda''s frequent disappearances, Ryoma looked up to see that he had arrived. The same guards greeted him with polite bows and he nodded back at them. Ryoma walked into Seigaku and stopped to take in his new home. A hand automatically lifted to tug his hat lower over his eyes.
"Ochibi!"
Eiji ran out of the main doors and choked the teen for a second before dragging him towards the building. "Come on, we're waiting for you!"
Before he even had time to feel apprehensive, Ryoma already found himself in front of a big crowd, staring dumfounded at the gathered mass and the huge banner behind them that said "Welcome, Echizen Ryoma". Vaguely, he spotted Ryuuzaki-sensei stading at the side, smirking at his obvious discomfort.
That old hag.
Ryoma blinked and turned towards the door. Eager hands quickly dragged him back in.
"Yo Echizen! Long time no see!" Big purple eyes invaded his sight.
"Momo-sempai," he greeted dully. "You're too loud."
Momo let out a bark of laughter. "I see you've grown from the last I saw you at obaa-chan's place."
Ryoma scowled at him but then Eiji pushed Momo aside ("Ouch! Eiji-sempai!") and pulled a bowl-haired man in front of the teen.
"Ochibi!" he exclaimed, bouncing excitedly. "Say hi to Oishi, nya!"
"Welcome to Seigaku, Echizen-kun." Oishi smiled warmly and extended his hand.
Ryoma took it and bowed slightly. So this was the man in-charge after Tezuka; mild but steady, warm. "Doumo, sempai." He said somewhat stiffly, unused to being polite.
"No need to be so uncomfortable, Echizen-kun. Treat us like your family." The older man patted him on the shoulder. The party fell into total chaos behind him when Momo accidentally bumped into a hissing man (who was later pointed out as Kaidoh) and a food fight was only prevented by Tezuka's presence. "Ah, those two are fighting again!"
Oishi hurried away to split the yelling duo and Eiji took this opportunity to introduce him to the rest of the people, and warned him to stay far far away from Inui's drinks. The man in question had smiled rather eerily and toasted to him with what seemed like a bubbling froth of green, so Ryoma took Eiji's advice to heart. And then, of course-
There was a flash of brown, and there he was.
"Fujiko!" Eiji threw his arms around his friend's shoulder. Ryoma stared unabashedly as Fuji turned to face them. A tiny smirk pulled at his lips as Fuji's gaze landed on his and the brunette's smile grew slightly sharper.
"Fuji-sempai."
"Echizen Ryoma." Fuji returned smoothly. "Our previous encounter was all too brief."
Oblivious to the mutual appraisal, Eiji prattled on beside them.
"Of course, Fujiko is still banned from going out, nya!"
Ryoma caught the amusement on Fuji's face as Eiji's words seeped into their ears. "Really?"
"Direct orders from Tezuka, you know." Fuji smiled widely. "Didn't even consider that I would ah, bribe some guards to when he is out."
"Fujiko always sneaks out." Eiji whispered to Ryoma, glancing about for Tezuka or Oishi. "Oishi gets so worried."
"Fuji." Tezuka's quiet voice cut through the ear-splitting singing Momo started with a bunch of people.
Fuji waved to Eiji and Ryoma and started away. "Well, got to pick up some people."
Fuji Syuusuke was interesting, Ryoma decided. Very interesting.
XRXRXRXRXRXRXRXRXRXRXR
Half an hour later, Ryoma did not really care if Fuji Syuusuke was interesting or not. What was a purple-haired monkey doing here?
Ryoma stared at Atobe's ridiculous hair, wondering on what was the best way to annoy the man who was currently draped over Tezuka's chair, ignoring the latter's attempt to put some space between them. His childhood friend certainly had no shame, he mused.
The Monkey King had entered the room with a smiling devil beside him, and immediately threw a smug "you're finally a man, huh, brat" at Ryoma, who then retorted by glancing at him up and down and then proceeded to stare at the wall.
"Che, just a monkey." He muttered.
Atobe's eye ticked. "Still so bratty, Echizen."
The teenager in question lifted his nose. "Diva."
Fuji hummed thoughtfully from the side. "So you do know each other. Well, no introductions needed then."
"Echizen was fortunate enough to have met me in his early childhood." Atobe informed. "But he failed to acknowledge my greatness." He sniffed in mock sadness.
Ryoma scoffed. "Mada mada dane." The teenager hopped off the table. "Buchou, where's our third party?"
Atobe frowned at the younger boy who smirked at him when no one was looking. "Third party, Tezuka?"
"I'm pleasantly surprised, Echizen Ryoma."
Yukimura Seiichi stepped out from behind a pillar gracefully. The Seigaku members stared in surprise before the lower ranked trainees bowed and stuttered awed "hello"s. The blunette smiled mildly and said, "Good evening."
"The Child of God," Ryoma murmured, tipping his head. "How appropriate."
Yukimura laughed and came to stand next to Fuji. Their identical smiles suddenly sent shivers down everyone's backs. "Well, since I have been exposed, I suppose I should bring out the offering."
"Offering?" Momo asked.
Rikkaidai's leader simply reached over to his previous hiding place and single-handedly dragged out a bound man. The man fell unceremoniously at their feet, eyes looking anywhere but the smiling duo.
"We had a reunion earlier on." Fuji explained.
"Fuji…" Tezuka lifted a hand to his temples.
"Maa, house arrest is boring, Tezuka."
"…"
"Anyway," Fuji continued peacefully, seemingly unaware of the pain he just caused his Captain, "Echizen's welcoming present!"
Ryoma raised an eyebrow. "Che. Stop using me as an excuse."
Fuji beamed.
"We decided to take a little detour on our way back." Yukimura spoke up. "And guess who we ran into? Yashita Reito, who conveniently disappeared three months ago. Ring a bell?"
"Wait." Inui cleared his throat. "You found the man last Friday, presumably when Tezuka was not here." Fuji tipped his head. "It's Monday today."
"…"
"Tezuka, you'll get mistaken for a teacher if you keep frowning at me like that."
Yukimura patted the Captain on the back. "Don't worry, we just extended a warm greeting."
"We gave him food too."
"Heh." Ryoma peered at the man on the floor. "Does this has something to do with the bombing incident?"
Inui pushed his glasses up his nose. "Several men from Rikkaidai, Seigaku and Hyotei have disappeared at the same time, with an interval of several months. It is quite suspicious how they knew there would be a rounds check at that particular time Fuji and the rest where there…"
Tezuka kneeled down and peeled off the man's gag. "Speak."
Yashita sucked in deep breaths, having gagged on his tongue. At the Captain's stony glare, he sputtered out a few incoherent words. "F-Forgi-just followed…mon-ney…help-"
A few minutes later found all the Elites in a more private room away from the main party.
"So," Atobe said. "You mentioned money?"
"We were told that they would pay us if we joined them!" The man cried. "I d-didn't do anything! Just the same kind of jobs I did before. Mostly deliveries."
"Who do you mean by 'they'?"
"I don't know." Yashita gulped at Fuji's leer. "I really don't! We have never seen the leader before."
"Then how did you find out about this gang?"
"I followed a bunch of guys from Rikkaidai… I'm not sure how they knew either."
"Che." Ryoma muttered. "He doesn't know anything."
Seeing the blank faces around him, Yashita worried his cheek. "I don't know about their headquarters, but… I was put to work at an old factory a mile or so East away from Dock 32."
"The old textiles place?" Eiji frowned.
Inui pushed his glasses up. "Well, I think that's all we're going to get from him."
"Kaidoh, Momoshiro."
"Hai Buchou!"
"Take him to the holding cells."
The two men grabbed Yashita by the arms and bodily lifted him from the ground. Yashita's eyes grew wide. "W-wait, no, don't kill me!"
Yukimura smiled. "We would never degrade ourselves like those filth out there… but do not forget that we are and always will be, yakuza."
Ignoring the wailing of the man as he was dragged out, Tezuka gathered everyone around him. "Alright. Who wants to investigate the factory?"
"Oishi and I will go, nya." Eiji volunteered. "Fujiko had his fun already!"
"Yudan seizu ni ikou."
Tezuka rubbed his pinch between his eyebrows as everyone dispersed elsewhere, Yukimura and Fuji whispering to each other as they did so. A hand dropped on his back and he nodded at Hyotei's leader.
"I will send Choutarou and Shishido with them. Don't worry."
Sorry, a bit short. But at least the party has started? . Please, give me strength to survive my midterms and give you more Thrill.
