Lan Yibo's P.O.V.
I came back from a meeting with my informant regarding the case for Kim Mitzuki. Wei Ying had called me and we spoke briefly about Jinhong Eijirou's theory of why Izuka Yang would come to Wàng Jī. My Love was in the bistro drinking with Jinhong Eijirou and I was bringing Wei Ying's favourite liquor back to our chambers for later. I was making my way to our chambers from our smaller private second cellar past the back of the bar when I heard a low voice introducing himself to our bartender that worried me.
"Hello beautiful. I have a reservation to stay for two weeks. I'm Min Suga."
This was the voice I'd heard in the premonition in the last weeks. The was the person who was looking for Kim Mitzuki and the person who would most likely kill him unless we intervened. I had to tell Wei Ying about him, I know I'm not so good with people but I decided to introduce myself when I saw him admiring the Wàng Jī dining area.
Two white jars of Emperors Smile still in hand, I walked over to the male next to the motorcycle helmet on the bar. I know I am not as good as Wei Ying with words but I can easily place a tracking talisman on him for Wei Ying for later. I straightened the sleeves on my pristine white robes and moved to introduce myself.
"Welcome to Wàng Jī Lǚdiàn. I am the owner Lan Yibo. I heard you are checking in. Please enjoy your stay here."
The male in front of me had mint coloured hair, a little scruffy from wearing the motorbike helmet but his eyes reminded me of a cats eyes, slightly slanted but ever watchful; taking in and noticing everything though he may look completely disinterested. He was shorter than my Wei Ying before and after he was brought back to me, I feel I owe Mo Xuanyu still.
I wish I could thank Mo Xuanyu. For giving me back Wei Ying so I can love him every day. I still find it hard to believe that my Wei Ying loves me back, what is special about an emotionally constipated and strict man like me? I am the luckiest person to have the man whom I love the most, love me back. Ah, that's something I must refrain from telling others about. Wei Ying knows my heart.
"I'm Min Suga. You have a wonderful place here, I love the beauty of the design. It reminds me of somewhere I visited long ago. It's a small place near Caiyi called Gusu." The short male introduced himself with a small smile and held out a hand for me to shake. I was shocked to hear him mention Gusu - that he'd been there!
I tested his spiritual aura. 'No animosity present, he seems well balanced', I knew my face wouldn't reveal my thoughts but HOW would he have been to Gusu? You must be invited. What would someone who wants to kill our son know of our home? What is his purpose?
Wei Ying will come, I must ask Wei Ying to find out, he is better at talking than I am, it's one of the things I love about my sweet boy. I silently connected with Wei Ying using our communication talisman, then I bowed to Min Suga in the Lan greeting, showing him I knew the Gusu tradition instead of shaking his hand.
Ew. Touching people. Only my Wei Ying can touch.
"Mn. Zhèngshì xièxiè. Wàng Jī Lǚdiàn is styled off our home in Gusu." The mint haired males eyes widened and a genuine gummy smile graced his lips, it was definitely prettier than his polite artificial one but not as beautiful as my husbands smile, my Wei Ying.
"You're from Gusu? I'd like to buy you a drink, tea, sometime and talk about your home. It's so beautiful and it's been a long time since I was there. Has it changed mu-" the stranger kept talking but my whole attention was diverted immediately as I felt Wei Ying's presence, I knew he would come.
My eyes searched the room and my head turned as I found him sitting with an off-duty bartender at one of the tables. My Love was staring at me, I watched him finish the liquor in one swallow. His beautiful lips curved and his violet eyes not leaving mine for a moment creased with his genuine smile that never failed to leave me breathless. Wei Ying stood abruptly, saying something quietly to Jinhong Eijirou he made his way over.
I tried not to stare as he walked over to us, his legs looking spectacular in the black fitting pants he was wearing, I womder if I told him that he constantly takes my breath away. On arrival he didn't wind himself around me, as was his custom, instead wrapping an arm around my waist he leaned his head on my shoulder after pressing a soft kiss to my cheek.
"You're here, I missed you my Lan Zhan," he spoke quietly to me, his body saying more to me than his voice, then he looked over to the new arrival.
"Hello, I am Lan Wuxian, owner of Wàng Jī Lǚdiàn with my husband, Lan Yibo." My lips must have twitched in a smile because Wei Ying's eyes sparkled and his own smile blossomed making my heart race. I tried to keep my tone neutral with my next words.
"Mn. Wei Ying. This is Min Suga. Wàng Jī reminds him of our Gusu." I felt pride that this man admired what Wei Ying and I built here and told my husband this. I love that my husband (I always love calling him my husband, my Wei Ying) can read my moods, he seems to be able to read me like a book unlike most other people and I don't have to struggle as much with words because he understands what I'm not saying. My brother, Lan Xichen, is the only other person who can understand me like my Wei Ying.
I love hearing Wei Ying's voice. Every day I could listen to him talk about nothing or anything and it would make me happy, I love hearing the sounds he makes when I have him under me as well, he... Never mind... I... Just to be near him. I would do anything for my Wei Ying. He wants to protect our son Kim Mitzuki so I will make sure he is protected.
"Pleased to meet you, I'm Min Suga," he introduced himself to My Love,
"Your inn is absolutely beautiful. Are both of you from Gusu?"
My husbands eyes widened when he heard the voice, it was exactly as I had described it to him that I had heard in my premonitions. Wei Ying's beautiful silver-violet eyes flickered to mine with a questioning gaze and I nodded in answer to his unasked question.
*******
Lan Wuxian's P.O.V. (aka: Wei Ying)
"Mn. This is him," my husband said to me.
Min Suga tilted his head a little, a confused look appearing on his face upon hearing my husbands comment. I laughed nervously, wondering how much to say about knowing this person was coming, though at least now we knew he was male and it should be easier to handle him. I decided to be very honest with him, figuring if he was an assassin we wouold have our cards on the table. I let go of my husbands waist reluctantly.
Linking our hands I intertwined our fingers together causing a pink tinge to appear on his earlobes, loving that my Lan Zhan could still blush for me after so many years together. Grabbing Min Suga's wrist I urged (dragged) them to the booth Eijirou was still sitting at and snuggled into my husbands side, it was like Lan Zhan and I were two pieces of a puzzle that fitted perfectly together.
I motioned for the waitress to bring us drinks. For my husband I ordered bamboo, hibiscus and lavender tea and a pot of our special single origin coffee. As we waited for our drinks to arrive Lan Zhan put two white jars on the table in front of me. I squeezed his hand tightly and placed a kiss in his palm causing a pretty blush to tint his ears again.
"Ah, Lan Zhan, you brought me more Emperors Smile?" I murmured, he nodded. Min Suga's eyes brightened at the name, surely he had good taste if he liked Emperors Smile!
"Mn. Yours are empty," he replied just as quietly. To hide my eyes were watering at my husbands thoughtfulness I hugged him to me tightly.
"My husband, my love, my Lan Zhan! I love you, I love you, thank you!" I kissed him firmly on the mouth, giggling as I watched his ears become tinged with a deeper pink and felt his heart racing under my hand on his chest. The man, Min Suga, was carefully watching our public display of affection with a slight blush to his cheeks also. Looking at the male opposite us, I felt a little bashful at my outburst and cleared my throat. Eijirou just rolled his eyes and poured himself another glass, sipping this one slower.
"Whoops. I'm sorry I get carried away when I am with my Lan Zhan. Apologies for dragging you here Mr Min-"
"Suga. Just call me Suga," the mint haired male corrected.
"Suga, sorry for dragging you here but, to be perfectly honest, we've been expecting someone and, well, here you are! We'd like to talk to you about the person you're looking for. We know him, he is here but you can't have him. We won't let you take our son from us."
Suga frowned as he tried to connect what he was hearing with what he knew, I saw the moment he registered everything because his cat shaped eyes fractionally widened and he raised an eyebrow at us.
"You say you knew I was coming? Who could have told you since nobody except me and the Boss and Trancy knew. And what makes you think I'm looking for someone, a male specifically? Even if I was, why would you tell me you know who he is and that I can't have him?"
Min Suga fired the questions at us, skeptical of what I'd said and it was my turn to raise an eyebrow. Pushing one of my jars or Emperors Smile towards him I smiled, gesturing for him to drink up. Lan Zhan's lips turned down slightly, unhappy that I was giving away the liquor he brought for me. Taking his hand in mine I kissed his palm again, his golden eyes softened as he looked at me. I knew he would have more for me in the room.
"We knew you were coming because my Lan Zhan received word. You are looking for Kim Mitzuki, are you not? And you are here on behalf of Izuka Yang."
His facial expression didn't change much to the normal observer but with my years of experience loving and living with my Lan Zhan it didn't take much to tell the mint haired male was quite surprised we had this knowledge. I sighed, reluctant to share the next things I would say without the person being a close friend.
"My husband is born and raised in the GusuLan Sect. He is the Hanguang Jun but before that we met after I was fifteen years old when all Clans went to his Sect in Gusu to study. We have loved each other for many years since then, even though we didn't get together for many years aft-"
"Nineteen years." I looked up at my Love with compassion and understanding, knowing the pain he had gone through in the sixteen years where I was, for all intensive purposes, dead and lost.
"Yes my love, nineteen long years. You tried to help me but I wouldn't listen, I made wrong assumptions and when you couldn't help me, you waited for me to come back to you. Suga, I myself am from Yunmeng's Lotus Pier where I was raised by the Jiang Clan then I... relocated, you might say, to Yiling near Qinghe where both Nie Clan and Wen Clan were bordered. So we both have plenty of experience in this kind of thing; seeing, seeking and erasing troubles that affect our family. You have been sent to assassinate Kim Mitzuki if you find him, yes?"
*******
Min Suga's P.O.V.
'Wow. Just, wow.' I thought. I'd heard of the Lan family but I didn't realize that this inn was owned by members of THE Lan Clan of Gusu, or that the Hanguang Jun was the male in white sitting in front if me. I drank deeply of the liquor in front of me, smilong as the bold and flavourful liquor spilled into my mouth and teased my tongue with the flavours I'd dreamed about. 'Emperors Smile, delicious as I remember,' admiring the rich, bold flavour of the drink.
So. Mitzuki was alive, after all. Trancy Alois wasn't seeing things. I bowed as respectfully as I could while remaining sitting to the two Lan's in front of me. Honesty was the best policy with all Lan's as lying was forbidden.
"Hanguang Jun, Yiling Laozu, forgive my ignorance. To answer your questions, I wasn't sent to assassinate Kim Mitzuki. I was sent on an information gathering trip. My boyfr... My ex-boyfriend was the one who found the opportunity to allow him to escape. He was a good kid. How... How is he doing? I admire him for being able to escape Izuka Yang, there have been many who didn't get out alive. I didn't know he was alive or that he is under your protection. Those of us who gave a shit about him assumed he was dead after he vanished, we'd hoped he was finally out of his misery that Izuka put him through all those years. It's not like Izuka hasn't killed and gotten rid of the bodies before, it's his kind of thing. Kim was a good kid that made a stupid mistake in getting involved with the Boss, Kim's innocence is what attracted him in the first place but fear is what kept Kim from leaving. Izuka threatened to kill Kim's entire family? BamBam was especially worried about the kids family but it makes sense though, after Kim disappeared Izuka had his family eliminated. BB said he'd pretended to not see Mitzuki the night he escaped. I guess he killed the family because they wouldn't tell Izuka where Kim was,"
I explained my reasoning as I worked through it in my mind at the same time. Both the Lan's were exchanging a look I couldn't decipher while I was talking, which part surprised them the most? I couldn't say. I respected the GusuLan Family and treated both the Lan's in front of me with the respect they deserved. I continued to think aloud,
"It makes sense now. When one of Izuka's lackeys, Trancy Alois reported last week that he thought he'd seen Kim I got the call to check it out, I've been called on to sort out his 'problem' for him. He killed BB for Kim and now he's making sure I'll be a loyal damned dog for him. Lan Wuxian, Lan Yibo, you are right to think I'm an assassin, I'm called a mechanik. If someone has unfinished business with another person then I am sent to 'fix' the problem. In other words, I silence people."
I looked at them apologetically, deciding to also be honest with my feelings on the situation, I added,
"Kim's a good kid. I don't want to hurt him and if you send him away they'll only send me or someone else after him and he won't be safe. Keep him here, keep him hidden. I haven't seen him so as far and I can report that I haven't found him here. I would protect him rgardless because if not for his sake then for BamBam's."
I saw the Lan in black and crimson exhale a breath of relief.
"Mitzuki is... a little better... He will never recover fully but he's healing slowly. He still has panic attacks and flashbacks that cripple him, his night terrors would wake everyone if we didn't soundproof his room too." Lan Wuxian rubbed one hand over his eyes as if to wipe tears while Lan Yibo rubbed comforting circles over his back.
"Why don't you try the coffee? It's a single origin we've had roasted by Supreme Roasters in Yatala. It's a medium roast Tanzanian coffee, Blackburn Estate, Clouds of August." Lan Wuxian commented, changing the topic. 'There's more to this. No matter, I'll find out later,' I thought, sipping the coffee they'd provided. I was surprised at the bold but not overwhelming flavour; a smooth and creamy mouth-feel, it was rich and bold with a slightly tart and fruity aftertaste.
"Wait. BamBam? As in Kaard BamBam? You said BamBam let Mitzuki out that night...? But... He's... What happened to him?" The dark brunette sitting at the table who hadn't yet spoken asked. I frowned, hearing but not understanding the question he'd asked me. Was he a Lan too? He didn't project the aura of a Lan.
"Yes. Kaard BamBam. We were dating at the time but it wasn't a serious relationship, given the nature of our work. He was killed thirteen days, seven hours and sixteen minutes after he let Kim Mitzuki out the door. After the kid escaped the Boss put two bullets in his brain because he found out BamBam didn't stop him from leaving when he clearly knew Kim was leaving."
The three looked at each other in shock and horror beginning to show on their faces. The brunette grabbed my arm as he began to panic.
"Do you have a photo of him? Your Kaard BamBam?" He demanded, his voice cracked on the name and was full of concern and denial. I didn't know him or owe this person anything but the panic was real, as was the shaking of his hands. I nodded, reaching for my mobile phone and unlocking it I searched the encrypted files for the image I was looking for. It didn't take me long to find it since the photo was marked as a favourite.
A handsome male looking over his shoulder into the camera with his cerulean blue eyes smiling back at me. A man whose long midnight blue hair was tied into a bun at the base of his neck, looking gorgeous in his fitted black dress pants and baby blue shirt with the jade green tie I'd picked that morning flicked over his shoulder. It was the last time I'd seen him alive. I had to clear my throat of the lump I could feel gathering, the burn at the back of my own dark orbs as I looked at the image on the screen.
"Ah-hm, here. This is.. was Kaard BamBam. He loved Kim like a little brother to him, his twin went missing I think, five years ago."
"Mother fucker." The brunette swore before burst into tears.
"I'm sorry Wei Ying, Lan Yibo, I'm so sorry! I sent our BamBam up to Mitzuki's room with him - alone! And this guy says he's not BamBam, that the real BamBam is dead..." He cried harder. 'What the hell is going on here?' I wondered, a feeling of dread creeping up while watching Lan Wuxian trying to comfort the crying male. My mind working a million miles an hour, putting the pieces together. An ominous feeling crawled over my skin.
"You said 'our BamBam'. Show me a picture of the person Kim's with. Now. Tell me, what does he look like?"
I demanded. The brunette fumbled with his mobile phone and as soon as he'd unlocked it I swiped the device, searching his photo gallery. One photo jumped out at me. The man in the photo looked eerily like my BamBam... but I knew better.
This man carried the same face as BamBam. Except his eyes were a pale icy blue, his hair short and spiked, a pastel pink just the same shade as half of Kim's hair was before he vanished. This male wore faded blue jeans, a polo shirt in the same apricot that had been the other half of the kids hair when he vanished...
No. No, this was not BamBam.
The man in the photo was BamBam's half-brother, Trancy Alois.
Spewing curse words like a broken dam in different languages, I stood abruptly getting their immediate attention.
"Shit! Where are they? Take me to the kid NOW, I am not and never was a threat to Kim Mitzuki but I can promise you the person alone with him is not BamBam. Kim will be worse than dead if we don't get to him now."
I'm pretty sure they heard my voice quiver, with anger or fear, even I wasn't one hundred percent sure. Aware I would probably shock them, I pulled the gun from my shoulder holster and loaded bullets into the chamber and clicked one into the barrel.
"Take me to him NOW."
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Chinese/English courtesy of google translate
Zhèngshì xièxiè = thank you (formal)
Wàng Jī = free of worldly concerns, above the fray, at peace with the world
Lǚdiàn = inn, hostel