(A/N: Dedicated to one of my avid readers. This is a long, overdue request in the past. Apologies if it came out late since I was sort of stuck up with finishing other in progress fics of mine previously and I was having trouble getting the right inspiration for the premise of your request. But here it is now. A part of me is thankful for the beautiful yet bittersweet track of, "cowboy like me" from the Evermore album of Taylor Swift since the lyrics itself sparked an idea within me to create this oneshot fic of mine. Basically, the overall premise of the request is to write Takemichi who can fight and a bit sadistic with the pairings for almost everyone and a special participation of Takehina. I made it mainly a Takemikey and Takehina (even though they're exes in this story) since the timeline is in Bonten arc – but in AU. Some side pairings will be mention to Takemichi so it's also mostly a pairing for everyone. I hope you enjoy this request of yours, to one of my avid readers. I don't own this franchise and the song cowboy like me. Respective and rightful ownership belongs to Ken Wakui for this wonderful manga and Taylor Swift for this poetic song. Lastly, credits to ( _itseuni) in twt for this beautiful art of Bonten Takemichi).
forever is the sweetest con
By: Aztec999
And the tennis court was covered up
With some tent-like thing
And you asked me to dance
But I said, "Dancing is a dangerous game"
Oh, I thought
This is gonna be one of those things
Now I know
I'm never gonna love again
The maître d held the tray of alcoholic drinks with his right hand as he effortlessly circled around the ballroom hall littered with guests who're dressed to nines with sparkling and elegant masks adorning their faces. He served each guest who called for his attention and requested for a glass filled with sparkling yet tempting moonshine encased with ice cubes.
It was a masquerade party.
Normally, he didn't have any patience and interest in attending to gatherings such as this one. Preferring to leave it to his other members such as the advisor of their group, Takeomi and his top 2 and top 3 members, Sanzu and Kakucho to oversee the event.
Nevertheless, he'd make an exception since this was a special event. Not only did they acquire of the most successful partnership in the underworld of Tokyo, but a new era will be reborn again starting tonight. And he had no doubts that he will make it happen.
He proved it. Time and time again. Keeping his promises and word was one of his greatest strengths after all.
Soft music lulled into the air. The pairs started to occupy the middle of the luxurious, banquet hall and swayed gently into the rhythm of the music.
He wasted no his time as he strode towards the man who was wearing a royal blue three-piece suit and a coal-colored mask that was swirling with shimmering and elegant small Swarovski crystals lined at the side of it. His steps were idle yet confident at the same time.
"Would you like to dance milady?" He asked in his usual playful yet sincere voice that's only reserved for him as he offered his gloved hand towards him.
He was the only one who could strip bare easily the other side of him that's not apparent with anyone.
Electrifying Neptune hued irises clashed against his brilliantly dark sable orbs.
He accepted his offered hand. "I thought you'd never ask Mikey-kun. Also, drop the overly formal voice. It sounded weird on you." The familiar light, airy tones and sweet laughter that's akin to the soft chimes in a summer breeze of June that never failed to make his heart skip a beat as always.
"Awww. You wound me Takemitchy. I practiced so hard last night for this." He feigned a hurt look on his face as he guided him towards the middle of the dancefloor.
Takemichi rolled his eyes playfully. "Now stop it with that look Mikey-kun. Would you want me to kiss it better instead?" He placed his hands on his shoulders as Mikey gently encircled his arms around his waist and pulled him closer to his frame.
Together they swayed slowly to the music.
"I really wouldn't mind if it's you." Mikey whispered lowly against his ear that sent a delicious yet dangerous thrill on his spine.
Takemichi gazed at his face that was covered in a dusky, yet glinting mask shrouded with miniscule red diamonds and golden crystals that brought out the shade of his midnight eyes.
He couldn't help but to be swept away by the hidden promises laid underneath his gaze.
"You're still a rascal Mikey-kun." He whispered back; his lips almost brush teasingly against his.
I've got some tricks up my sleeve
Takes one to know one
You're a cowboy like me
Never wanted love
Just a fancy car
Now I'm waiting by the phone
Like I'm sitting in an airport bar
You had some tricks up your sleeve
Takes one to know one
(Several years earlier)
A tall man dressed in a black pinstripe suit and a lavender necktie stepped out of the burgundy Porsche with the Ray Ban sunglasses adorning his eyes. The heliotrope highlights on his short, raven locks glistened under the rays of the sun as he walked confidently along the streets of the city.
"You're late again." A bored voice drawled from somewhere inside the penthouse upon reaching the inside the top floor of the building.
"Better late than never my beloved brother." Ran replied in amusement as he took off his sunglasses which earned a grunt from Rindou as usual.
"Whatever. I'm going out now. Koko called me to assist something in Kyoto. Keep an eye on Hanagaki if you don't want to earn Mikey's ire when something's bad happen to him." Rindou stood up and picked up his coat from the stand.
"Good luck on the errands Rin." He chortled as Rindou flashed him his middle finger as he left the penthouse and closed the door.
"I've prepared something in the dining table…" The familiar airy yet soft voice greeted his ears and he turned around to came face to face with the raven-haired boy who wore his signature awkward smile on his lips and those wide, expressive oceanic eyes that held most of his thoughts and emotions like an open book.
Hanagaki Takemichi.
How could someone not know him? Especially in the world of delinquency?
Ran had saw him several times in almost every gang fight that was held before starting from the Bloody Halloween war to the Tenjiku fight that had him displayed his reckless yet ballsy attitude and valor.
His determination and honesty were laughable…yet…it was something else entirely.
No wonder Kisaki had always been pissed off at him.
Many other people who were clearly bigger and stronger than him was also shook at him despite being beaten down several times.
And he couldn't help but to be fascinated by him.
"Isn't that considerate of you Hanagaki-kun?" He crooned. "Preparing a meal for someone who is clearly an obstacle from you roaming free outside to escape?"
His words made the other's ears tinged with pinkish hues and face beet red as he sputtered.
What an amusing guy.
"Well, I just don't want you to exert too much effort when you get here cause I know that you're exhausted from whatever you did earlier…!"
It made him laughed airily.
"You're pretty entertaining sometimes Hanagaki-kun. Now c'mon let's eat those food you've prepared." Ran shot him a playful wink and walked past him going to the dining room.
It didn't escape in his peripheral vision about the adorable confusion and shyness that engulfed his face.
Somehow Takemichi's appearance made his days more interesting and vibrant.
You're a cowboy like me
Perched in the dark
Telling all the rich folks anything they wanna hear
Like it could be love
I could be the way forward
Only if they pay for it
The waiter placed the plates of savory foods in their table after they've ordered a group of meal that was like a feast for ten people.
"Are you sure Takemichi that you can pay for all of this?" Kakucho asked in askance as he stared at the banquet of food laid in front of them.
"I'm sure of it Kaku-chan. Don't you have a bit of a faith in your childhood friend?" Takemichi asked in feigned offense.
"You know that's not what I meant Takemichi." Kakucho sighed. "You ordered these bunch of foods where it's just the two of us and I doubt it that we can finish eating all of them. I just don't want your money to go to waste."
"Don't worry about it Kaku-chan! Think of it as like a reunion lunch of some sorts since it's been years since we last saw each other and I'm just happy to see my childhood friend again." Takemichi beamed at him.
Kakucho blinked a few times before he coughed slightly and prevented himself from blushing at his words. While it's true that it's been ages since they last each other, one of the few traits that Takemichi still actively possessed was how damn honest and sincere he was most of the time. It was both endearing and embarrassing at the same time.
"Okay whatever you say. Let's just eat." He muttered as he picked up the spoon and started to scoop some soup from the bowl.
Hours had passed with them eating in companionable silence and some mild conversation injected in the midst of their lunch along the way.
Takemichi mostly do the talking with him answering and listening quietly to what he had to say. Even if he was too talkative for his own liking…Kakucho found it nice…and comforting…the vague memories of their lost childhood washed his senses.
He found himself missing it.
He found himself missing Takemichi despite the terrible turnarounds of their own destinies.
"Ah, sir excuse me!" Takemichi's voice jostled him out from his nostalgic thoughts and watched him whispered something at the waiter with an arched brow.
Afterward Takemichi let him go smilingly with the waiter nodding politely at him. "Thank you for letting me know sir. I'll go ahead and send him the bill."
As soon as the waiter left them, Takemichi took his hand and quickly stood up and pulled him outside of the restaurant.
"Oi Takemichi! Wait! Why are we leaving suddenly? The bill wasn't given to us yet." Kakucho asked in half confusion and half exasperation.
"Silly Kaku-chan. Do you even think that I have the capacity to pay for all of that? We have a great benefactor who can pay on behalf of us!" Takemichi grinned at him.
"What do you mean…?"
"I saw some politician eating at the other side of that resto. He had a notorious reputation in money laundering and other forms of corruption within the government. Not to mention, he's a dickhole who mistreats his wife physically and verbally. So, a little bit of a punishment like this will be nothing for him anyway." He shrugged but his usual tender, blue eyes held nothing but coldness within them.
It was at this period that he realized that Takemichi was still the same yet different at the same time.
Yet he still had a soft spot for him inside his heart.
You're a bandit like me
Eyes full of stars
Hustling for the good life
Never thought I'd meet you here
It could be love
We could be the way forward
And I know I'll pay for it
His viridian irises looked in feigned disinterest as Takemichi kneeled to the traitors who were gagging and drooling in the pieces of cloth tied around their mouth, desperate tears streaming down their cheeks.
"Ph-ph-phlease… re-releash us… we don't wanna die yet…!" Words came tumbling out of their lips in the middle of their agonizing cries while Takemichi just smiled at them beatifically and caressed their heads gently.
"Ah, as much as I've wanted to make you all cling for that thin kind of hope… I'm not that cruel. Besides you all knew what you're all getting yourself into when you joined our gang right?" Takemichi replied cheerily as he brought out a gun and pointed at them.
Upon seeing the gun pointed at their faces, one of them trashed and cried loudly.
"Traitors have no spot in here except in hell." Takemichi smiled coldly before he pulled the trigger, blood came splashing all over the place.
He might put on act of being bored and indifferent to all this event but Sanzu could not deny that he was facing one of the most beautiful smile and sight in front of him aside from his own king, Mikey.
"So, how's that Sanzu-kun? Did I pass your initiation test?" Takemichi faced him with a bright smile on his face as specks of blood coated his cheeks and clothes in crimson.
And for the first time in his life, Takemichi had caught his attention and his heart leaped erratically inside his chest.
That day fate had decided that he'll also serve and protect Takemichi alongside with their king, Mikey.
"No need for you to ask that Hanagaki since I think you know the answer to that one." Sanzu smiled sharply at him, his eyes gleamed with unabashed curiosity and interest.
You're a cowboy like me
Perched in the dark
Telling all the rich folks anything they wanna hear
Like it could be love
I could be the way forward
Only if they pay for it
Rindou eyed the raven-haired boy analytically behind his indifferent yet intense lilac irises.
Unlike his brother who was much more flexible, talkative, feisty and playful around other people, he was much more reserved, silent, critical and preferred to observe things in the background. Although he admitted that being in the shadow of his brother's colorful personality and aura irritated him sometimes, being in this position had its perks in certain situations.
Just like now.
They were dealing currently with asking…no…interrogating possible people who could be their lead into the clusterfuck disposable shipment that happened unexpectedly at the Ōsanbashi Pier a few days ago.
They were tasked in finding some leads on the how, why, what, when and where it exactly happened.
And he wasn't pleased being paired up with this bubbly, naïve male.
At all.
Hanagaki Takemichi had an irritating bright disposition around him. A sunny smile that he wanted to punch. A pair of wide, blue eyes that could not lie. And a gleeful buoyancy that he can't stand of.
He didn't understand why his brother was interested in him.
Nor Mikey who had an irrational fixation and possessive behavior towards him.
He doesn't get it.
And he watched him critically as he does the work of conversing with the 2 people who wore fearful yet hopeful expressions on their faces.
'What the fuck is he doing?' Rindou thought exasperatedly. They don't have time for this pointless conversation. If he was in Takemichi's position, he would've just pointed the gun and demanded answers from all of them.
He was about to make a move when Takemichi turned around and went back to his side with a bright expression on his face.
"It's all good now Rindou-kun. I'll tell you all the details that they've spilled to me earlier. Now c'mon we only have a few minutes before Mikey-kun asks us to come back to the headquarters."
"Wait Hanagaki. Are you sure you extracted something important from them?" Rindou asked suspiciously because in his own experiences you don't get anything with just a "mere innocent conversation."
"Yup! I'm sure of it. You can check with them if you want." Takemichi smiled cheerfully at him and gestured for him to look at the 2 people he conversed with.
What the hell.
When Rindou looked at their direction, he masked his own surprise upon seeing the pale and terrified faces looking at them.
Just from that look alone Rindou had decided. "Right. Tell me about it as I drive the car." He took out the car keys.
He didn't need to be wizard to know that Takemichi told some incriminating thing to them that would probably ruin their lives if they don't cooperate.
Who knew that he had it in him?
He hid a smirk as he opened the door of the car and slid inside.
He understood now why they're enthralled by his presence. And he might be the additional one as well after this day.
You're a bandit like me
Eyes full of stars
Hustling for the good life
Never thought I'd meet you here
It could be love
We could be the way forward
And I know I'll pay for it
Koko looked at the glass of wine placed silently at the side of his table. His attention on the financial documents that he was perusing was cut off temporarily because of it.
His brows furrowed and he noticed a shadow looming on it that made him looked up and arched a brow.
"Hanagaki?" He questioned at the smiling raven-haired boy in front of him.
"I've read somewhere that when you drink alcohol it lessens stress and elevates your mood and relaxation. You looked stress Koko-kun. So, maybe a glass of wine will help?" He offered him that signature innocent yet determined smile that made Inupi besotted and followed him religiously back then.
Although he wasn't closer to him like Inupi does, he understood the charisma that Takemichi had. It could almost rival that of Mikey when it came to making people listen and beckon to their words.
A force to be reckoned with.
Nevertheless, it still came to a shock to him that Takemichi was willing to join their gang and did things that was a complete opposite of what he stood and believe of in the past.
Koko didn't know on what to think and feel about him right now.
But one of the few things that remained the same was he still possessed the genuine concern to those people that he held close to his heart.
To a fault.
It exasperated and amazed him sometimes.
And maybe…just maybe…he was also spellbound by Takemichi's invigorating presence like Inupi a long time ago.
But he would not admit it until he was in a grave.
"Thanks." He muttered and drink the glass of wine, unable to withstand the warm hues of his tender gaze directed at him.
And the skeletons in both our closets
Plotted hard to mess this up
And the old men that I've swindled
Really did believe I was the one
And the ladies lunching have their stories about
When you passed through town
But that was all before I locked it down
"Maybe in another timeline you were really happy with me Hina." He said in a stony voice, yet silent tears streamed down his cheeks as he stared at the woman who was standing a few meters apart from him in an alley.
His form was mostly shrouded by the darkness of the area so she cannot see the entire expression on his face.
But Hina knew him. Knew his heart and soul from the very start. Even if he could temporarily deceive her with a coldness within his voice and actions, his heart and eyes cannot lie.
So, he mostly confined himself in the darkness as he talked to her because he knew that once Hina will see him falling apart, she would beg for him to stay and he's not sure within himself if he can withstand her like that.
Hina had been his strength and weakness at all.
"But I am happy with you Takemichi-kun. I'm willing to stay by your side. I'm willing to wait whatever it takes so please…" Hina's voice grew fainter and smaller as a small sob escaped from her lips.
"If you're happy with me then you wouldn't be crying like this, so you need to let me go Hina. This was for the best. Don't look for me any longer. This is the last time that we'll ever meet. I don't regret on loving you, but this is the end. So do not wait for me Hina because I'm not really worth it." Each word that slipped past his lips was like a stab through his heart and soul.
But he had to do it.
He had to.
Because destiny wasn't kind to people like them.
In every timeline, he brought nothing but pain and misery to her by either her dying or him ending up as fucked up person in general to the point of leaving her with no context that left her emotionally scarred and heartbroken for life. And he wouldn't want that to happen to her in the long run.
He loved her so, so, so much that he's willing to let her go to pursue her own happiness without him.
Because their worlds are different.
Hina was the shimmering light of his existence.
Yet at the same time he was the bottomless pit of despair that brought nothing but disappointment and misery not only to her but to the people around her.
Now you hang from my lips
Like the Gardens of Babylon
With your boots beneath my bed
Forever is the sweetest con
Seeing Hanagaki Takemichi in the flesh was like a reminder of his past that he wanted to move on.
It was like Shinichiro had possessed his soul and body because of that familiar sincere smile and eyes that held steely determination and an aura that you could trust your life into.
Takeomi was witnessing the glory days of the Black Dragons whenever he saw his presence and the way he handled the situations and people around him.
He didn't know if this was a blessing, or a curse bestowed on him since it also reminded him of how he failed Shinichiro and didn't even paid attention to him when the news of his death had hit him back then.
Too wrapped up in his own problems to give a damn about his funeral.
Maybe this was his punishment whenever he saw Takemichi.
The smile that was devoid of malice. Eyes that was always open yet steadfast at the same time.
He knew about the boy's sacrifices that he'd made to get here. The way he dirtied his hands just to get Mikey to finally listen to him.
Regardless…
Takeomi felt like this was another shot given to him by fate to rectify his mistakes.
Because no matter what he did, he couldn't help but to flock towards Hanagaki Takemichi.
Like a moth to a flame.
And this time he will not make the same mistake twice with Shinichiro and will protect him from now on.
I've had some tricks up my sleeve
Takes one to know one
You're a cowboy like me
(Present Day)
"Thank you everyone for coming here. It's an honor for us to have you people celebrating with our success. But even so, there is also an important reason why we've gathered you around here." Takeomi's calm yet compelling voice from the top of the staircase of the ballroom hall caught the audience's attention and looked up at him. Behind him were the Bonten members who were looking indifferently down the crowd.
"Joining our celebration here is the Bonten leader which is a feat considering that he doesn't attend formal parties like this religiously." He added.
Murmurs and speculations erupted from the crowd.
"Wait. Isn't Mikey the leader? I mean he'd always attend parties like this several times in the past although he doesn't mingle with the crowd." One of them whispered.
"But I heard he was just the acting president of their gang." One of them whispered back.
"Really?" Another piped up from behind them.
Mikey stepped up and nodded to Takeomi who silently understood and backed away.
"Listen up people." He said in a terse yet commanding voice that made the crowd quieted down in an instant.
"I'm happy to introduce all of you our leader, Hanagaki Takemichi. Any disrespect or questionable actions against him will not be allowed as you're also directly questioning our presence." Mikey announced calmly as another male who wore a glittering mask stood beside him and finally took it off to reveal a pair of deep, blue eyes and stylishly short raven locks coupled with a pair of earrings on his ears that displayed the Bonten symbol on them.
"Thank you Mikey-kun. I'm looking froward to work with all of you and hopefully get along with everyone." Takemichi said with a cheerful yet ruthless smile adorning his lips.
The crowd just stood there silently before a round of applause reverberated inside the halls.
Mikey took ahold of the other's hand and gave it a firm yet gentle squeeze. He looked at Takemichi blankly, yet his eyes held a silent reverence and fondness for him.
He looked back at him tenderly, squeezing back his hand in return.
They let the world fell away and noises drowned between the two of them.
And I'm never gonna love again
I'm never gonna love again
Mm, mm, oh, oh
I'm never gonna love again
(A/N: Reviews are amusing. So, let me hear them from you).