Thank you for your patience! I am a pilot and college student so I struggle to find time to write, but I do as often as I can. The support for this story has been amazing! Thank you again, it means so much to me! Enjoy!
Unease was growing in every step Daishou took. He didn't like that these two decided to drop in for a surprise visit. How did they even know he would be out alone at this time? He knew Seijoh was going to keep a close eye on him, but if it was going to be like this, he would need to be a lot more careful in his other activities. It didn't matter what they saw him do; he figured they already knew just about everything there was to know, but some coming things needed to be kept under wraps. If word got out about what he was planning, there was no chance in hell he'd ever be able to pull it off.
Daishou found it interesting that these two showed up. He figured if Oikawa or Iwaizumi didn't relay the information themselves then they would just send a runner to get the job done. What was so important they'd send these two? They were ranked high in Seijoh, they wouldn't do a task like this without a reason.
The Snake glanced behind him to see the two other men following nonchalantly behind him. He stole a glance up to see if any of the shadows moved. To his disappointment, they remained solidly in place. He groaned. Of course they did! It wouldn't take long for his men to realize he missed his walking check in, but it didn't seem like he had anyone currently deployed in this area. It irked him how clearly they knew his route and schedule. There was no way this was a coincidence. Just how long had they been watching him?! It fed the growing feeling of unease the longer he thought about it. He needed to figure out how much they knew, and how they knew it. One of the most concerning parts was the fact he had never seen any Seijoh members around. Where were they hiding?
An unpleasant thought popped in his head that almost made him freeze in his tracks. How did they know? Did he have a mole? His upper ranks where the only ones who knew of certain things, and they were extremely close knit. It was unprobeable, but not impossible. It was a growing concern he would have to look into.
"You're not leading us into some kind of trap are you Snaky-boy?" Mattsun leered loudly from behind him. If the following thunk were anything to go by, he assumed his partner had elbowed him into what he hoped would be silence.
Daishou ignored him and rounded another corner. In front of him stood an abandoned apartment complex that he promptly shoved the door open and led them into the nearest room.
"Nice place you got here." Mattsun's ribs were sore, but he just couldn't help himself. He swiftly sidestepped Makki's elbow and proceeded to make a beeline for the couch.
"You said you had information for me. Spill." The Snake got right to it, lowering himself into the chair right across from the couch.
"I don't recall ever saying the word 'information' to you." Makki smirked as he took his seat on the couch.
"What is this?" Daishou hissed out. He was pissed. He had just let himself play right into their hands. Something wasn't right and he was confused and alone. Not a situation he ever wanted to find himself in.
"I'll 'cut the crap' like you said earlier. We're here because we know about the secret meetings you've been having." Mattsun said with a shit eating grin while leaning forward to place his elbows on his knees. He was looking forward to making this bratty boss squirm.
"So your genius plan is to put me in extreme danger, have a rival boss save me, give me to him as a reward, and somehow get close to him all while being a double agent and not getting myself killed while I feed information to you?" Akaashi raised an eyebrow.
"Basically, but it sounds better in my reassuring deep voice." Kuroo snipped.
"I hate to tell you, but it isn't socially acceptable to give away people and call them gifts." Akaashi crossed his arms, he didn't like what Kuroo-dono was implying.
"No, but Bokuto happens to be in need of a performer for a party he is throwing soon. I'm sure he would love to have someone with your reputation there."
"How do you know of this? And what about after?"
"Doesn't matter how I know. Little birdie told me if you will. As for afterwards, well I'm sure Bokuto would hate to part with his beloved performer who he grew attached to. Just like I'm sure the performer would love to remain close to the man who saved his life." Kuroo finished pointly.
Akaashi turned away from him to look out of the large window in Kuroo's office. Kuroo knew he needed time to wrap his head around this plan and left him be. Instead he wandered around to the small, but fully stocked, bar that was attached to his office. Finishing off his glass, Kuroo looked to his side to find Akaashi coming over. Knowing the man wasn't a fan of what he was drinking, he switched to making martinis instead.
"I almost forgot you started here as a bartender." Akaashi commented at his boss's skill and speed.
"Technically I started as a bouncer, but they were shorthanded and I knew the basics. Right place at the right time and then I was here full time." The Cat answered sliding a drink over.
"You seem to have a talent for being at the right place at the right time." Akaashi spoke softly before taking a sip.
"I guess I'm a man of many talents then." Kuroo leaned closer and smirked at him. Akaashi was one of the many who didn't know about the chain of command, but he wasn't surprised to find him suspicious. The man was much more than a pretty face and a killer act after all.
Akaashi wrapped one hand around Kuroo's tie while swirling his drink with the other, "Is that so?" he whispered, looking Kuroo dead in the eyes.
"If you're worried about not being able to get through to Bokuto, don't be. You can make any man weak." Kuroo matched Akaashi's volume. He stole another look before slowly standing straight up.
Akaashi let his tie slip out of his hand and gave him an innocent look, "I have no idea what you could possibly mean, Kuroo-dono."
Kuroo smirked at him and grabbed the other drink he made, "Oh I'm sure you don't little one."
The two men continued to give each other teasing looks while they finished off their drinks. They knew they were playing a dangerous game, but frankly neither cared enough to stop. To them, this was a fun game they could play. Two flirtatious people who rarely found a challenge in this aspect of their life could go all out against each other without worry of the end result. After their game they would return to their life as if nothing had happened and await the next round. It made life interesting that way.
"You know I love our little game, but I have to ask." Akaashi spoke as he finished his drink and the atmosphere returned serious. The boss hummed to signal he was listening. "What does Kenma-san think of this plan?"
Kenma. Of course. To Akaashi, Kenma was just one of Nekoma's strategists. Well maybe he was more than that to Akaashi, but he certainly didn't know of Kenma's family relations and actual position.
"He came around." Kuroo offered. He knew that if he gave any indication that Kenma wasn't onboard with this plan then Akaashi would walk out right now. He couldn't outright lie and say Kenma loved it because no one would ever believe that, but he had to play his cards right. Fortunately, Kuroo was an excellent poker player.
"Then why is he not here?" Akaashi stared him down, he wouldn't drop this without a fight.
Kuroo's mind flashed back to when he had approached Kenma again about talking to Akaashi with him. How small he had looked at the end of their conversation.
"Kuro... I can't... I can't ask him to do this... anything but this." He had said. Kuroo had to force his heart not to break at those words and vowed to never ask Kenma anything like this ever again. The man had looked too small, too broken.
"Busy. Got some things in the works and I need my top strategist on them." Kuroo said instead to Akaashi. It wasn't a lie, but he doubted Kenma was doing anything right now.
"Fine. Now, how do you plan on putting me in danger without killing me and be conveniently close to my knight in shining armor?" Akaashi moved on.
"Yaku and I have a plan for that. As for your knight, we know his routes, it will be easy to position you close."
"Yaku-san is a part of this?"
"He will be. I'm running it by you first. This isn't our first ride though."
"How do you explain my presence in Bokuto-san's route?"
"You're a performer, you go where your services are required."
Akaashi twirled his glass in his hands, this plan was surprisingly thought out. It did indicate Kenma was involved in this. He wouldn't help if he didn't approve and there was nothing that could be done to force his hand. Akaashi himself wasn't thrilled, but he couldn't get himself to walk out. Kuroo had made a point in the beginning of their meeting. He was the best option, and they needed this information. He thought of everything his family had done for him. He had to do this. He had to help his family any way he could.
"One condition." Akaashi muttered without looking up.
"Name it and it'll be done." Kuroo was serious, he wasn't risking Akaashi for nothing. If Akaashi thought adding something was necessary, then it was.
"I want a phrase. A code. Something I can relay if I need out."
"Done. Anything in mind?"
"If everything is okay then 'Blue Moon' if I need out, 'Black Sun.' If you hear that, I need out immediately."
"We'll make it happen." Kuroo recognized the names. They were titles of two of the performers routine, but they also held a more personal meaning. They were memories that Akaashi would never forget, making them perfect code words. He knew Kuroo understood the meaning behind the seemly random words, but that just meant he would instantly know what was going on. Since they were titles of his performances, they would also be easy for him to work into a conversation.
"Where are our two little troublemakers?"
"Running a job for me. Why are you here? You're supposed to be off until tomorrow." Iwaizumi scolded the man who had just dared to freely walking into his office. It was also his office, but that was beside the point.
"Being off isn't much fun without someone to spend the time with." Oikawa replied.
"Someone to annoy you mean." Iwaizumi huffed.
"Hedgehog's are awfully cute when they're grumpy, aren't they?" Iwaizumi would've thrown something at his taller counterpart if he had anything that wasn't important on his desk. He cursed as his organization betrayed him and he was left without a suitable, non-pointy object to throw.
"I get any cuter and you'll die." He settled for instead.
"Yes I would, and I'm okay with that." Oikawa faked swooned.
"This is the only time you will ever hear me say this, but keep talking so I can hurry up and kill you." Iwaizumi grumbled.
"See? Adorable!" Oikawa giggled. They were back to work, but that didn't mean he was going to waste the time he was supposed to have off.
"Where is the Dynamic Duo off to this time?" Oikawa changed the subject before Iwaizumi really did kill him.
"Off making someone squirm. Nothing too serious, just applying a little pressure."
"You've been back for a day and you're already like this? What was the point of the off time."
"For you to pester me where I can't escape and for me to ignore you and sleep for days straight." The shorter man jeered. Oikawa covered his mouth as loud, boisterous laughs threatened to spill out of him. It was an accurate representation of their time. He couldn't even begin to count the number of times Iwaizumi would fall asleep in the middle of their conversations. Not that Oikawa ever minded, he just curled up next to him and let the exhausted man finally rest. He would pick up right where they left off when he woke back up.
"Anything major happen while we were gone that I don't know about?"
"Just that Mattsun has stolen a total of three of Makki's sandwiches, two drinks, and one particularly good brownie. Makki got revenge by adding hot sauce to anything of Mattsun's he could get his hands on." Iwaizumi rattled off.
"What does that have to do with the Family's ordeals?" Oikawa questioned.
"It doesn't, but my time was wasted with it, so now I'm wasting yours. Just be lucky you didn't have to put up with their theatrics to get that information." Iwaizumi groaned at the memory. Oikawa snorted as he could only imagine how that went down. He grabbed his chair and pushed it over next to his Iwachan to see what was stealing his attention away.
"This again?" He prodded at Iwa's arm to ensure he got his attention.
"Yes." He confirmed. "It just doesn't add up."
I have written a total of 3 other Haikyuu stories including – IwaOi, BoKuroTeru, and BokuAka, so check those out if you like my writing style. I also have a BoKuroo story in the works and it will be up soon. Chapter 12 is in progress and will be up as soon as possible.
~Kiera540