Hello! Happy New Year everyone! Once again, I'm sorry for the delay. I finalized my plot during this time so I should be able to get chapters out faster now! Enjoy!
Review replies-
TheJadeWarrior- Hey C.J. welcome back! Thank you again for your kind words and helpful hints! I hope you had a good holiday and competitions! Lol yeah, the life of a pilot can get crazy at times, but we love it. Don't worry this review was as help as all the rest! Stay safe too! -Kiera
"In case you forgot, meetings are a part of the job. Secret meetings? Well, that's the norm around here boys." Daishou leered at the two men in front of him. He was well aware of the fact that he was having secret meetings with a man that would immediately end his rocky alliance with Seijoh, but he wasn't going to give up that information for free. He really didn't care what Seijoh thought of him, but he still needed information from them before he could allow all ties to be cut.
"You know exactly what we're talking about." Hanamaki scolded him. They were ordered to give him a chance. No one in Seijoh who knew of their secret alliance was happy about it but keeping Nohebi close was an excellent way to keep an eye on them. These meeting Nohebi were having was not something Aoba Johsia would tolerate.
"If it's such a grave offence, tell me why your boss isn't here to chew me out. This little pity show isn't appreciated." The Snake snapped. He wouldn't stand for these games. It was one thing to send people to threaten him to stay in line, but it was another to have them just toy with him. If they continued, they would learn why people feared the fangs of a snake.
"Then I'll be blunt. If you keep meeting with Shiratorizawa, you will lose Aoba Johsia." Matsukawa said seriously.
"Ah so that's what this is about." On the outside, Daishou appeared as he always had, but on the inside, he was swearing up a storm. He didn't think he would be able to keep the meetings with Shiratorizawa a secret, but he was hoping he would last longer than this. He supposed it was a good thing he already had a backup in place. If he lost Seijoh, he would have to sacrifice his information on Nekoma, but with his alliance with Johzenji he could keep ahold of his information flow on Fukurodani. It would have to do.
"Do not act coy with us. Did you think Seijoh would stand by this offense?" Makki raised his voice. How could he still act like this? Did he not realize what was happening here?
"Let me guess? You're here to make sure I'm aware of how grave of an offense this is?" Daishou hummed.
"Oh, so you're not quite as dumb as you look." Mattsun rose to his feet and cracked his knuckles.
"Before we begin, let me tell you a story. Do you know how snakes hunt? Some go solo, but the smartest of snakes lead their opponents into a false sense of security. An assurance of victory if you will. Except, right when they're opponent goes for the killing blow, the snake will use the terrain to their advantage and even have fellow snakes emerge out of hiding places. They easily overpower their enemies, not because of the venom in their fangs, but because of their minds." Daishou smirked when Mattsun and Makki's eyes went wide. The trap had been sprung. Mattsun reached for his gun, but by the time he pulled it out, three men had sprung up behind him and wrapped their arms around him. Makki elbowed the man nearest him, but one step later arms shot around his legs and dragged him down to the ground.
"You boys paid too much attention to the fangs, and not enough to your surroundings." Daishou laughed. He knew he would be at risk playing this game. He added extra security weeks ago; he was prepared for this. Now, it was his turn to inform them of their grave offense.
"Are you two out of your minds?!" Yaku yelled loud enough for the entire club to hear.
"I told you." Akaashi whispered into Kuroo's ear from his seated place beside him.
"Yaku, I told you, we've taken every precaution I just need this one thing from you." Kuroo spoke, ignoring Akaashi's taunts. At least he didn't bet anything on how Yaku would react.
"You're asking me to kill him!" Yaku lowered his volume slightly but was still yelling throughout the room.
"That's not it at all!" Kuroo yelled back, "It's risky I know, but Kenma, Akaashi, myself, we've all thought about this. This is the plan whether you help or not."
"That just makes all three of you idiots! You might be willing to risk the life of a family member but I'm not. I don't care whose plan it is, do it yourself!" Yaku couldn't control his anger nor the words spilling out of his mouth. He knew this wouldn't end well, but how could they think of this without consulting him? He was the head of security it was his job to protect all of them!
"Yaku." Kuroo's voice dropped dangerously low. Akaashi was suddenly very aware of the fact that he was leaning against the other man, but he didn't dare move now. He recognized this tone. Normally he heard it in a different setting, but it still had the same effect. It was the first time Kuroo used this voice as a boss. Akaashi smirked, that's right he was the boss, and some people needed to be reminded of that fact. Akaashi crossed his legs and leaned further back against him.
"Remember your place." Kuroo growled out. He felt Akaashi press against him and angled his body slightly to ensure he would be a comfortable pillow. He recognized what Akaashi was telling him through that simple, almost unnoticeable action. He didn't like to pull rank as the boss, but he wouldn't stand for outright disrespect, plus, he was getting tired of explaining this plan.
"Do you have a contact or not?" Kuroo asked, he rose his voice an octave, but Akaashi could still feel it rumble from his chest.
"I do. I'll contact them immediately. Excuse me." Yaku gave a bow before slipping out. He knew he crossed the line and needed to get out of there. He still wasn't happy about the plan, but he would rather this be done through him that someone else. At least he could make it as safe as possible.
"Well good morning Mr. Boss." Akaashi purred after Yaku left the room.
"I didn't scare you, did I?" Kuroo quipped, slowly coming back down to his usual attitude.
"Me? Never. Though I think you did scare poor Yaku-kun." Akaashi giggled.
"He deserved that."
"Hmmm maybe. I know you two fight, but you acted like a boss."
"Is that judgment I hear?"
"Pride." Akaashi smiled at him. "Everyone was a little nervous at Nekoma-sensei's choice of successor, but that little show you of yours proved the doubters wrong. If only they could've seen it." Akaashi sighed.
"I wasn't that bad in my youth." Kuroo argued.
"The Kuroo I used to know would've gotten in a fist fight then, not command respect with words." Akaashi reminded him.
"What can I say, I'm the face of Nekoma now, I can't keep getting bruises all over me like I used to." Akaashi laughed at his words. Kuroo realized he would miss that laugh of his, but this was their only option. He vowed to check up on Akaashi regularly, no matter what it took while he was on this mission.
"I was wondering when you would show up." Bobata joked as he saw Terushima walk in. "I was just about to send Doc out to hunt you down."
"Where is he anyways?" Terushima asked after a quick glance around the room revealed the man in question was nowhere to be found.
"Out. He'll be back in a minute."
"And how're you doing?" Terushima asked as he circled around to stand in front of the shirtless Bobata.
"Clean through the bicep. Doc said it's nothing too serious, but it's going to be a bitch to move my arm for the next month at least." Bobata moved his arm slightly to show his boss he was okay.
"Stop it. We'll get someone else to run my security in the time being. You recover, then you can go back to nagging me." Terushima smacked the man's other arm to force him to stop before he hurt himself more.
"Speaking of nagging…" Terushima groaned as he turned around to sit in a nearby chair, "What did Bokuto want?"
"What everyone else wants, for us to run a job for 'em." The boss gently lowered himself into the chair to avoid jostling his own injuries.
"What is it?"
"Don't know. He just wants us on standby for later."
"What about Nohebi?"
"What about 'em? They just want us to keep our ears open for any interesting information and report it if we find anything. Maybe suggest a thing or two to Bokuto. It's no big deal." The blond shrugged.
"It's dangerous to play both sides Teru." Bobata warned.
"No need to tell me. This ain't the first time I've done it." That didn't seem to appease Bobata, so he continued, "If it comes down to it, I'll prioritize Bokuto over Daishou any day, but for now, they're both none the wiser."
"Fine but be careful."
"Aren't I always?"
"That shit line might work on Ichika, but it doesn't work on me." Terushima was about to retort, but Doc walked in right at that moment.
"Doc! Bobata is bulling me again." He fake pouted.
"Nonsense, he's just keeping you humble." Doc commented.
"Exactly. Can't have any of this boss stuff getting to your head." Bobata joked high fiving the doctor.
"Trust me, Ichika doesn't need help with that job." Terushima muttered under his breath.
"You're all good to go Bobata-kun, remember what I told you now." Doc said sternly waving him away. "Let's see what problems you have caused me now Terushima-kun." Bobata's loud laugher resounded throughout the small room as he exited, and Terushima shook his head for what he felt would be the first of many times that night.
"You should've come to see me right away." The older man scolded the young boss.
"I had business to take care of." Terushima used as an excuse as he allowed his head to be tilted so the man could get a better view of the cut on his face.
"This wouldn't be the first time you've discussed business in front of me. Everyone knows that the family doctors are the real guardians of secrets when it comes to the families."
"That may be, but it doesn't exactly project strength."
"Are you worried about your image with Bokuto-kun?" At Terushima's surprised face, he elaborated, "Bobata told me you were injured, but that Bokuto-kun pulled you away."
"How could I not be concerned? Fukurodani has always been a powerhouse, but with Bokuto leading, it's even more so."
"Hmmm all of you new bosses are so young these days, but what you can do is impressive."
"Impressive is growing the stability of the Family, concerning is growing the territory and strength. It's too 'world domination' for my tastes."
"Is that what you fear with young Bokuto-kun?"
"I don't know. I can't get a read on the guy."
"And that makes you weary of him."
"Everyone has an angle, Doc and people look to me to find it. The other families are easy, but Fukurodani has never been readable to me."
"Sometimes our only option is to let fate play things out. We won't know what fate has in store for us otherwise."
"You know I'm not religious Doc."
"Fate isn't religion, my boy, it is just how the world works."
"How the world works is concrete, fate isn't. I know this better than most."
"That is true." Doc conceded. There was no changing the young man's mind on this anytime soon. "Now, stand up. Let's get you cleaned up before Ichika sees you."
Before anyone asks- The Ichika referenced is an OC of mine! She'll pop up a few times throughout the story. She's my only planned OC for this story at this time. I'm sorry this chapter was a little shorter than the others, but we needed some set up. Chapter 13 is actually mostly finished and should be up soon. See you next time!
~Kiera540