She passed closed door after closed door, keeping her ears and eyes peeled for any sign of Kyoya.
And she got it.
" You know, I'm getting tired of this. He's not going to give us anything, Suoh's got his claws in him. And that kid is his friend. He won't sell him out if he hasn't done it yet. "
" What do you suggest? " Jin inched closer to the door and listened. She was only a few doors away from the one that lead to the cellar, so this was probably one of the rooms designed to be a torture chamber. Which meant...
" Make an example for the little traitor. Drown 'im. "
She kicked the door open and registered that there were three men in the room. Two of them she didn't recognize. The third had his head forced inside of the rather large bucket of water in the middle of the room. His knees were on the floor, arms tied behind his back, and head completely submerged as he writhed and struggled. Ice cubes floated along the top of the water line, mixing with the occasional bubble.
And then she started shooting.
The men barely got out their cries of alarm before they were lying on the floor, bloodied messes. Kyoya's head burst out of the water, the boy gasping before promptly coughing up a mouthful of water. With a sob Jin shut the door behind her and ran to him, yanking off her mask and dropping to her knees she pulled Kyoya away from the bucket of ice water. He continued to cough, throwing up some more water on the floor as she cut his binds off. Immediately he was leaning forward on his elbows, shaking like mad from the cold and the exertion.
Jin gasped a few times, trying to blink the tears out of her vision, " Glasses… your glasses… " Not spotting the familiar silver frames anywhere, the girl frantically pushed the ice bucket over, spilling its contents all over the floor. She shivered as her sleeves and pants immediately began soaking the frigid water up, but ignored her discomfort at the sound of tinkling metal.
" Jin? "
Grabbing the frames from where they'd come to rest on the floor, she hurried back to Kyoya. He was still coughing, but it looked like he was finished with getting all the water out, which was a relief. She knew with the cold water they'd have to get him out of those wet clothes as soon as possible… but she wasn't instructed to leave until Tamaki gave the all-clear.
Slowly pulling the boy closer, she hugged him tightly. Kyoya let out a sigh of relief as he felt her body warmth, shutting his eyes and letting himself catch his breath. Jin was still crying, combing her fingers through his hair in an attempt to squeeze the water out while the boy rested.
"Jin? Where… where are my-"
"Right here."
Hastily placing the glasses back on the boy's nose, she pulls away enough to cup his face. The ravenet manages to offer a small smile as she came into focus, "You look like shit."
"So do you," Jin laughs, "You… you fucker! " She punched his shoulder, "Don't you ever fucking threaten to die on me again! I'm getting Suoh-sama to put you on house-arrest for a week, you utter bastard! Where'd you get the idea it would be okay to do this?"
Throughout the girl's continued rant Kyoya was smiling still. His eyelids fluttered at how good her warm hands felt on his face, "I'm sorry for worrying you, then."
"You'd better be! You'd better never do something this reckless ever again!"
"Yes, Ma'am."
Jin finally sighed, rubbing her thumb across the boy's cheekbone before pressing forward and laying a gentle kiss on his lips.
Just as she pulled away a new voice sounded in her ear, " Jin? You can stop beating Kyoya up. This is the all-clear. The boys and I will clean things up here, you take him home and take care of him. "
"Thanks, Tamaki." The brunette stood up, hauling Kyoya's rather pliant body with her, "Come on, Glasses-boy. Let's get you home and out of those wet clothes." The ravenet nodded and allowed himself to be led out of the house. He didn't speak all the way back to the compound. Not even then, really.
Jin's stomach was twisted with concerned as she lead him up to his room. Worry gnawed at her mind, questioning as to whether the little kiss they'd shared had something to do with Kyoya suddenly being mute. It had been a spur of the moment thing, kissing Kyoya. She had just been so happy to find him alive and… perhaps not entirely well , but he was still fixable. Nothing had been cut off, though there might be a bit of trauma regarding bodies of water from then on and a threat of pneumonia in the next few minutes, but Kyoya had still been smiling because she had come to save him…
She couldn't help herself.
Kyoya unlocked his bedroom door and Jin took a step back, "You should probably get out of those wet clothes and into something dry. Do you need anything before I go? Hot tea or..." He didn't say anything, just turned around to stare at her. Jin scuffed her shoe against the floor. Sometimes she wished he would just tell her what he was thinking.
The ravenet leaned his head a little closer, turning left and right to look down the hallway. Jin swallowed. What was he going to say?
She was allowed to worry for another two seconds before the boy threw an arm around her waist and kissed her, pulling her into the room. Jin made a small squeaking sound against his lips before she became lost in the feeling. Her back collided with the dark wood of his door, effectively shutting it at the same time while his wet body crowded her against it.
She faintly heard the lock click in place before Kyoya's hands began roaming up and down her back. Clutching at the boy's shirt, in the back of her mind Jin registered that Kyoya was still wearing his wet clothes.
She smirked into the kiss.
Not for long.
Kyoya didn't move as Jin frantically unbuttoned the shirt, only groaning heatedly when she pressed her warm hands against his chest before biting at her bottom lip. The cold fabric dropped to the floor just behind his ankles, which they stepped over as the ravenet pulled the girl further into his bedroom. Various articles of clothing were thrown this way and that, neither of them even considering stopping. Jin gasped as Kyoya tossed her onto his dark blue bedspread, the softness of the fabric caressing her bare skin. He stepped out of his underwear as he joined her, kissing her lips once more before moving down her jawbone.
Jin couldn't help the little whine that escaped when he nibbled at her neck, but somehow her voice remained soft and teasing, " So eager… "
" It's been awhile. " Even if he didn't laugh, Jin could feel the amusement in his voice as he left various marks above her collarbone. She rolled her eyes and gently tugged at his damp hair.
" You gonna remember where everything goes? "
She replied to her own question with a moan as the boy moved further down, back arching a little to allow Kyoya to slip a hand behind her back. Despite the callouses on his hands and his cold nature and skin, his grip was soft as he handled her.
Jin was gasping softly, but not done teasing just yet, " Now… don't go thinking this will become a regular thing, Mr. Ootori. I've got a reputation… "
Another amused sound was hummed against her skin before the boy pulled away by an inch or two. Kyoya gradually adjusted himself until he was completely hovering over her body, a mere breath away from her lips and with a dangerous glint in his eyes.
" Of course not, Ms. Fujioka. Never. "
They were both lying, of course, but there wasn't a need to say it.
It took Tamaki roughly an hour to find out about Kyoya and Jin. He hadn't even bothered to knock on his best friend's bedroom door once he heard the noises coming from within. About a week later he revealed to Jin that he knew, and wasn't surprised by the development either. A full month passed before he brought it up with Kyoya, along with an 'innocent' question about the girl's skill in the bedroom, considering the ravenet had yet to find release with anyone other than her since they started.
After taking another month after that to let Kyoya cool down and finally agree to be his work-out partner once again, Tamaki stopped asking the ravenet questions about it and settled for teasing. So long as he didn't touch on the sheer number of 'one-night-stands' the two had or their lack of other partners, Tamaki's words often drew a hidden smile from the ravenet and a blush from the brunette… even now, an entire year later after that first night.
Internally, Tamaki wasn't surprised whatsoever. He had expected it ever since the two overcame their differences and started treating each other like valued partners. Of course, he had also expected this not-so-open relationship even if he thought it was pointless for them to pretend they weren't exclusive. But they had to figure it out themselves.
But even so…
The blond dropped his head back and sighed, closing his eyes in a suffering way. Lifting a hand to his right ear, his finger found the well-worn button and pressed it, "I swear to God, you two. If you flirt over the comm during the mission again, I'm going to physically walk in front of the next firing squad I find. Wait until the sun sets at least, Jesus fuck! "
Jin's soft laughter echoed in his ear, as well as Kyoya's whispered reminder that if Tamaki died because of them the blond's father would have them joined in the afterlife before long.
But he didn't deny the flirting.
In the left wing, Jin found herself grinning to herself as she also noted the lack of a denial from her nightly bedmate. Shaking her head, she continued to move through the 'house'. Somewhere in this sprawling array of rooms was the money they were owed. And it would've been collected without a problem if the Komatsuzawa family wasn't so stupid or didn't have such a death wish. Who the fuck would think it was a good idea to steal the money meant for the Suoh family and take it for themselves?
A gentle buzzing in her ear alerted the brunette that Tamaki had made it to the office. It always was a nice power play whenever Tamaki snuck to the Boss's office only to knock on the door and be invited inside.
Jin carefully eased another door open, after hearing nothing from the other side. She was both grateful and concerned that Kyoya had ended up with the wing that consisted mostly of living quarters. That was always the more nerve-wracking straw to draw…
The door swung open into a dark stairwell. If she had to judge based on the musty smell and it's overwhelming dark ness… definitely a cellar. Probably had a few cells or torture rooms down there, but it didn't sound like-
Jin stared into the dark. A decent half of her brain tried to remind her that she had a job to do, but she still decided to make her way down the stairwell, shutting the door behind her and flicking on the lights as she did so. The moment the lights flickered to life above her head and further along her path, Jin heard it again.
The sound of clothes shuffling against cement.
Someone was down here.
Keeping her feet close to the wall to minimize creaking, Jin eventually inched her way into the cellar. There were five little jail cells along each wall, and the first four of each of them were empty.
The two at the end that faced each other were not.
Twin boys with fiery red hair blinked out at her from the furthest corners of their cells. The one on her left was curled in on himself, and the other had sneakily grabbed the leg of his chair, looking like he was ready to throw it. Briefly, she wondered why the boy would think throwing a chair at someone with a gun would be a good idea, considering both boys were chained to the floor with thick shackles and the second boy in particular was covered in bruises and cuts, but she wasn't allowed to think on it for long.
"Who are you?"
For a shackled boy, she had to admit he didn't sound all that afraid. Jin glanced at his twin and lowered her gun experimentally. He relaxed a little.
She offered a small smile, "I'm Jin. Who are you?"
"Hikaru. And that's Kaoru."
Jin looked at the shyer boy and back again, noticing how Hikaru's grip on the chair leg had tightened. She filed that information away for later before asking, "Why are you in here?"
His knuckles went white, "I knew it… you're here to punish us!"
"No."
"Don't lie! I know how those fuckers work! This is your initiation! Punish the prisoners! Well do your worst! I'm not afraid to fuck you up, cock-sucking Bitch!"
Jin just blinked. She might've believed that this Hikaru was actually really angry if it weren't for the terrified squeak in his voice. But when she turned back to Kaoru, the poor boy had already curled back in on himself, staring at her in fear. Jin suddenly understood.
"You're riling me up so I leave Kaoru alone." Hikaru faltered, his face going as white as his grip, "And if I make any motion I'd hurt your brother, you'd throw that chair of yours to reclaim my attention. Which is why you're so beat up."
"S-shut the hell up you motherfucking slut! I-I bet you've let all the boys upstairs have a go already! Whore!" And there went the chair, slamming into the bars and making them rattle with an echoing boom.
Jin held her breath and stared at the ceiling. Waiting… waiting…
A full minute passed before she could breathe easy again. There were no sounds of footsteps and Kyoya hadn't asked what the noise was. Hoping she hadn't gotten any grey hairs from that moment, she turned back to Hikaru. The boy was shaking, his eyes wide and pupils tiny.
She walked closer to his cell, not missing how the boy was tensing up. No doubt preparing for her to walk in and start beating him with her gun and adding another bullet hole in his leg. Judging by his pants and the many scars she could see, it wouldn't be the first time he'd been patched up after a 'session'. Though… the blood stains that decorated almost every inch of his clothes and sheets from his bed had been left alone.
The Komatsuzawa Family's employees seemed to enjoy having their toys around for a long time.
The two stared at each other, multiple scenarios flying through their heads in the space of an instant before Jin bent down and reached through the bars. She easily flipped the chair back onto its legs, which had somehow remained intact.
"You're the eldest, aren't you?"
Hikaru's lower lip shook, but eventually he nodded.
"You've done well protecting your younger brother, Hikaru. And I would know. I would've done the same for my little sister." Her eyes caught how his shabby trousers had been ripped almost completely down the middle. Very stained with blood. When their eyes finally met again, there was a small sheen of tears along his lower lids. "I'm getting you both out of here."
"Please!" Behind her, Kaoru had all but thrown himself at the bars, staring at her with pleading, golden eyes. Hikaru made a small noise that might've been a rebuttal, but he was too choked from keeping his tears back to really speak. Jin decided to let him think for a second while she pulled a ring of tools from her back pocket -just for emergencies, of course- and quickly popped Kaoru's cell door.
By the time his shackle was off and she had helped him into the hallway, Hikaru had made his way over to the door as well, "You're serious?"
"The Suoh family never goes back on their word."
Less than a minute later and the second boy was free. The twins hugged each other for a long moment, Kaoru's tears falling without a second thought. Jin felts tears threaten as well. When was the last time those two had touched each other? How many beatings and rapes had Kaoru been forced to witness? How many had Hikaru taken upon himself so that Kaoru would be left alone?
" Jin? Kyoya? Turns out Komatsuzawa's eldest son stole the money to get back in his mother's good books. I have it- "
"Give it back."
There was a pause.
" Jin? Is something the matter? "
"Tamaki, give the money back and say it's payment for the two 'toys' I just found in the cellar. I don't care what your father says, do it. "
" ... If you say so. Kyoya? Help Jin and get whatever she found into the car. I've still got Hotta in case things go South. "
Jin used the following six minutes waiting for Kyoya to assess the boy's health and any pressing issues. They were horrifically malnourished, which wasn't surprising, and were probably also dehydrated. She made a mental note to give them each a small bottle of water when they got into the car. It didn't look like they had been beaten in a while, which was good, and none of their wounds looked life-threatening at the moment. It looked like the biggest damage would be psychological.
Even still, the moment Kyoya was down in the cellar with her, Jin eased Kaoru onto his feet with her arms around him, "We need to take them to your brothers. Now." Without question, Kyoya was helping Hikaru to his feet and they began moving the red heads up the stairs.
Tamaki's exchange must've gone over better and faster than Jin had expected, because the blond was waiting for the four of them by the car when they arrived. Just as when Kyoya had showed up, the twins regressed a little. Kaoru went mute and curled himself into Jin's arms while Hikaru spit insults as an answer to every question or statement the blond had to make.
But, like Jin knew he would, Tamaki saw past their actions and offered to talk to his father about bringing the twins into their family as soon as Kyoya's brother's released them from the hospital. Hikaru went quiet and Kaoru managed a smile before they were eased into the car.
Jin went to climb after the twins into the back when Hikaru held out a hand to stop her. For once the fire in his eyes had completely died, leaving the scared little boy she knew had been hiding there the whole time. With a shaky voice that was a higher pitch than she had heard before now, he asked, "How can you even trust us? How do you know we won't just turn on you?"
Spotting the questions for what they were, Jin managed a smile, "Because I don't think you feel anything for the people you have hurt you so badly and care nothing for others. Because the people we're taking you from have never felt just as scared and terrified as you do now." She let the sentence hang in the air before tacking on, "But we do."
And, finally, Hikaru smiled.
It was weak, and he collapsed into tears against his brother a second later. But it was a smile nonetheless.
*That Night*
Kyoya didn't really bother with 'reasons' when it came to sex.
If he wanted it, he could easily find a willing woman almost anywhere to entertain him for a night, especially with his looks. And if he wasn't feeling like putting in that much effort or no pretty dame caught his fancy, his hand worked just as well.
But there was something… different about sex with Jin Fujioka. A certain realness to it. This wasn't a random girl plucked up at a bar whose name he wouldn't even remember once they finished. This was Jin. A name he couldn't forget, even it he lost everything else. It spoke of soft brown hair he could lose himself in stroking late into the night even after it's owner fell asleep. It brought up memories of golden-brown eyes that twinkled at jokes and teasing alike, harbored flames when angered, and looked as soft as satin when they stared back at him in the early morning light. He could almost perfectly recall how soft her skin felt against his hand, pressed to his cheek… his lips.
Jin was fire and snow and sharp and soft and fair and tough and emotion and logic and a billion other things that fought against each other in nature but somehow managed to produce this single, extraordinary being.
So when it came to 'reasons'...
"That was incredibly brave of you to bet Suoh-sama's money against those twin boys."
"Their names are Hikaru and Kaoru."
… well, he never really ran out of them.
They had progressed as they normally did these days, with a little more foreplay than their first time, teasing kisses and wandering hands as the clothes gradually disappeared. But soon enough Jin was on her back and Kyoya was crawling after her.
He couldn't help but smile as he lightly traced a finger along the chain of the girl's necklace. She returned the smile, content with watching his face as he took his time with her. Almost lazily, Kyoya flipped over the metal bar that rested in the hollow of her neck to stare at the cursive writing on the other side. It was upside down from his view point, but there was no mistaking his own name. A pleasant warmth filled his chest whenever he saw Jin wear it. And considering she only took it off to sleep, Kyoya was getting pretty damn used to how nice that feeling actually was.
The ravenet ducked his head to kiss the necklace before continuing on with what they were doing.
A few minutes later and his ears were filled with the usual moans and soft calls of his name. Kyoya had his head tucked, keeping his eyes closed as to let the sounds wash over him. Normally this would be around the time he'd start whispering those dirty words he could come up with so well into her ear, but he wanted this to go for a little longer tonight. So instead of words he gave a particularly rough thrust, which was met with short fingernails scratching themselves down his back. He moaned against his will. She knew he loved the pain. No doubt he'd have red lines crisscrossed all over his back come morning.
That was one of the things Kyoya liked so much about Jin as a sexual partner. She knew what he liked, sure, but still managed to surprise him when she used the knowledge to her advantage. It was the same thing vice versa, too, but Kyoya didn't think on that too often. At least he tried not to.
Just like how neither of them had even looked at another person for sexual pleasure since their first time together. Or how Jin actually hadn't ever been with someone before Kyoya at all as far as he was aware. No… Kyoya didn't think about that when he could avoid it.
Opening his eyes, he had to fight hard against the orgasm he was working towards. The sight below him was definitely one to behold. Jin's head was thrown back into his pillow, her hair spread out in a big mess across the emerald green pillowcase with a few crimps in it here and there from the ponytail she'd had in earlier. Her eyes were squeezed shut and her cheeks were flushed as Kyoya's name fell from her lips over and over again.
Not wanting to ignore his calling, Kyoya bent his head and carefully sucked at the skin beneath her ear. The salty taste of her skin washed across his tongue as her neck vibrated with her moans. Instead of scratching him again, Jin wove her fingers into the boy's black locks, making a moderately loose fist before tugging ever so gently.
Kyoya's hips jumped, causing a full body roll from the girl beneath him and yet another tug. Jin let out a gasp and relaxed the fist, letting her fingers run carefully through his hair. Her nails, which had previously been scratching near-bloody rows down Kyoya's pale back, were now pleasantly itching his scalp.
He damn near purred…
But he definitely whispered, " I love you. "
He didn't stop moving, but internally Kyoya's brain short circuited. He wanted to freeze after such a big declaration and start denying what he'd said, but kept going because of three reasons. One, because since they were in the throes of pleasure Jin might not think much of it. Two, she might not have even heard him at all. And three… he had meant it. And perhaps she would think the same...
Still, he had to hope for the second one. That would be much easier. It was safer. It was-
" I love you, too. "
This time he did stop. Jin began sobbing as soon as he did, and Kyoya pulled out before falling to his side. Collecting the brunette into his arms, he held her against his chest as she began lightly hitting her fists against his chest. It wasn't like he could do anything else, either. He was busy staring above her head towards the nightstand that was encased in darkness. While Jin was already suffering, he was having a little trouble… accepting the situation.
"You moron… " her hits were getting weaker, "You… god… damn... damn you to Hell, Kyoya Ootori. I fucking love you, what have you done to me?"
A kiss to the top of her head stopped the words and the hits, but she continues to sob. And it was no secret as to why.
Fuck buddies was one thing. It implied there were no feelings. No strings, no attachment, no complications. Now with that arrangement completely debunked, they had both become bigger targets, not just for themselves but to lure or hurt the other. And their feelings were a danger to not just themselves, but their jobs. If Suoh-sama knew that two of his employees felt a stronger tie to each other than to him… how would he react? Would he just kill them on sight?
In a small area of their minds, they knew that last bit wasn't the case, but it definitely emphasized the point. They were screwing up royally, but neither could they fight it.
Fuck.
It takes a moment before they're calm enough to face each other again. Kyoya hadn't considered what he was going to say. He should've told her that they should've tried to stop. To distance themselves in this part of their lives. Or even flat out cut her out. It would've been easier.
Instead, he gently caressed Jin's cheek with the palm of his hand, his thumb swiping at the tears still escaping from her lower lids. She didn't pull away. In fact, she lightly grabbed his hand with her own, shutting her eyes against the familiar feeling.
Kyoya cautiously pressed a kiss to her lips, a gentle smack noise echoing in the quiet space between them when they parted. Jin let out a deep sigh against his lips, letting her forehead come to rest against his as well.
" I love you, Jin Fujioka. "
" And I love you, too, Kyoya Ootori. "
It took Jin less than fifteen minutes to drift off to sleep in the ravenet's arms, exhausted from the crying. Kyoya took a little longer, pressing kisses around the girl's face until she drifted off, then just watching her peaceful dreaming.
It was the twins who had originally suggested it.
The month of April had just started up, making it a little less than a year since they had been absorbed into the Suoh family. Kaoru wanted to celebrate it, but Hikaru didn't want it to be obvious what they were celebrating.
So knowing that Tamaki's 18th birthday was coming up, they settled on that. The rest of their little group of seven agreed, even if they all knew what they were really celebrating. Honey, still enough of a child at heart to be considered 'cute', had offered the idea of getting ice cream. Just like normal teenagers.
He didn't say that last part out loud, but it was heard pretty clear all the same.
When the night of April 8th finally arrived, the teenagers were actually pretty excited. They walked to the little shop, rather than take one of the many cars available. After all, they were seven of the most heavily loaded teenagers in the city. No one would bother them.
It took several minutes, but as the compound began to fade in the distance behind them, the unspoken tension began to dissolve around them. Jin felt the smoothness of Kyoya's new silver ring as he grabbed her hand and laced their fingers together. She tucked herself a little closer to the boy and delicately stroked the metal band. It was only her imagination, but she swore she could tell exactly where on the inside was the engraving of her name.
The tension only dissipated further the longer they stayed out. Mori and Kyoya watched in amusement while the other five sang along to any song they knew from the shop's radio, and even some songs they didn't know. Honey did his best to dodge Mori and his emergency wet-wipes, claiming he was saving the ice cream on his nose for later. From there, Tamaki stuck his own nose into his ice cream and got everyone laughing. The laughter only grew from there when the blond winked at a couple passing girls and they still blushed and giggled.
They stayed at the little picnic table for hours. Near the end, Hikaru and Kaoru were standing up at either end of the table, each mockingly pretending to be the other before they bent in half from their laughter. Everyone else joined in with it before, eventually, Kyoya stood up and pulled Jin with him. The others groaned and complained, but followed the couple from the table. Honey took extra care in folding up the little drawing of a bunny Jin had made for him and tucked the napkin into his back pocket for safekeeping.
On the way back, no one mentioned how they were going slower than usual. They were all too busy swapping ideas for more outings. Tamaki wanted weekly movie nights from then on. Hikaru and Kaoru tried to convince him to talk to his father about letting them use the casino. Honey was skipping along ahead of them all, "casually" wondering if there was a petting zoo nearby.
Jin and Kyoya… just hung back. They were no longer holding hands, but instead Kyoya had an arm wrapped around the girl's waist, her head on his shoulder. It was another thing the group had noticed, but didn't speak about… they were acting very much like the couple they both mentally knew they were. Instead of worrying what someone else would say or imply should they even look at each other, Jin and Kyoya were free to touch. To exchange short, cute little kisses every now and again. To share a few licks of each other's ice cream and snuggle together on the picnic bench. To hold each other and smile and stare into each other's eyes until a wadded up napkin hit Kyoya in the face (which neither twin had owned up to).
That evening had been the most fun, laid back couple of hours most of them had ever experienced before in their life. And they had loved it.
But the laughter and smiles died the moment they rounded the corner.
Their complex stood at the end of the street.
The door had been kicked in.
And there was the sound of gunfire and screams.
Without a word, everyone drew their guns and retreated back. Jin took the lead without much preamble and began running down multiple alleyways until they ended up behind the building with the sounds of a war zone. She hastily pried open a small doorway that the boys would've completely missed if she hadn't done so. No one asked, because they knew this must be the door she had used to sneak into the complex for her training.
It lead into a dark hallway with only one other door at the far end. Honey, being the smallest and quietest, slipped out and found himself behind all of the extra punching bags, the doorway blending in perfectly with the brickwork. He was in the training room.
The room was quiet, so when he peeked inside and sobbed, the sound was as jarring as the gunshots coming from the rest of the building.
While everyone else quickly piled out into the room after him, Honey had already run out from the hiding place to kneel by his father's body. The man was laid across two smaller bodies of trainees. Honey didn't know whether he was crying because of his father and the dead children, or the fact that neither of them were his little brother or cousin.
Tamaki looked between the crying blond and his best friend briefly before tapping his foot against the tile floor for attention, "Honey-senpai and Mori-senpai stay down here. Keep an eye on the front door. Don't let anyone escape. And search around to see if some of the trainees managed to hide."
He received two deft nods before running out the door, quickly followed by the remaining party.
They don't find anything other than bodies at first, which is a little odd. Especially when they make it up to their own bedrooms. Carefully slipping into each room, the five look for survivors or stake-outs, but find zilch.
Kaoru nibbled his lower lip as he peered around Jin's room. If they were planning on taking the compound, then they must know about us. So if we weren't here when they arrived, wouldn't they assume we'd come back sooner or-
Bang!
"Aaaah!" Kaoru dropped to his knees instantly, the following bullets sailing harmlessly over his head and into the wall. Frantic footsteps follow the sudden sound, both from inside the room and out in the hallway. Adrenaline helping to numb the sharp pain in the red head's shoulder, he rolled sideways underneath the bed just as his assailant ran around the furniture to finish the job.
But Jin was faster.
Kaoru whimpered as the body fell to the floor beside him, allowing himself to think of the pain in his arm. There was the sound of shuffling before two pairs of hands hauled him out into the light. He gasped as his shoulder caught the edge of the bed.
"Kaoru!" Hikaru was knelt by his twin's head immediately, tentatively pulling his shirt sleeve away to check the wound. Bullet hole in the shoulder. There was a decent amount of blood, too.
The older of the two boys stared at Jin in desperation, silent as she pulled out a knife and sliced off a strip of her shirt, pressing it into his hands. Hikaru immediately started bandaging his brother while Tamaki and Kyoya kept sentry at the door.
Tamaki risked a glance over his shoulder at the trio, "We need to keep moving. Jin and Kyoya, you're with me. Hikaru, get Kaoru into the bathroom then stay at this doorway. No one gets down those stairs except us, got it?"
His response was a deft checking of remaining bullets and a firm nod.
No one bothered to mention how the complex had gone unnaturally quiet as they continued up floor by floor. It was painfully obvious. Thankfully they found a few more survivors who had holed up in their bedrooms and were passed by. This wasn't a surprise either.
The further they went, it was obvious that whoever did this had a very specific destination in mind.
The hallway that lead to Suoh-sama's office reeked of blood and fresh corpses. They were everywhere. The walls had been redecorated by multiple bullets, and where there weren't huge holes, there was blood. Two of the lights had been hit in the firing, so the entire hallway was bathed in an eerie dim light.
Cautiously, the three eighteen year olds made their way over the bodies. Perhaps it was the lighting, or the extensive wounds, or perhaps even their own subconsciouses, but they couldn't name most of the people they stepped over. A few they could, however.
One was Akira Komatsuzawa, the eldest son of Komatsuzawa-sama. His ugly sneer still on his face despite the fact his eyes had glazed over. Jin swallowed when she spotted the boy's two bodyguards just behind him. Tomochika Sakyo was slumped against the wall, head tucked to his chest. Chikage Ukyo looked like he could've been sleeping, the shorter boy sprawled over the other's long legs, eyes shut and head on a bent arm.
A quick check proved that was not the case.
It was a shame. According to the twins, those two had always been the kindest of their guards. Never beating the boys and trying to tell Akira to relax on their punishments. Jin was glad the red heads weren't with them.
A few steps over and Tamaki made a small noise. A quick look at the long scar running down the dead man's face was an easy identifier, even if his nose was missing. He was the Head of Security for the Grantaine family. Someone Tamaki knew very well. They didn't bother to check for a pulse.
Finally getting up to the door, all three teenagers had to stop and stare. Because there was a single body sitting in the corner with multiple wounds embedded in his chest.
Ando-san.
There was a slight ring of space around him, rimmed by a low wall of bodies. The black-haired man had two guns in hand, fingers still on the triggers. Kyoya stepped over the bodies and knelt before the man. He reached out towards his neck... hesitated… then gently closed the man's eyes.
Jin laid a hand on Kyoya's shoulder, which was immediately clutched in silent desperation.
Tamaki probably would've copied the move, but just then heard a noise coming from his father's office. Stepping over the body of his father's personal guard as quickly as he could, the blond peeked through the ajar doorway.
The office looked even worse than the hallway. Complete and total carnage. The desk was kindling and the bookshelf had been toppled over. Glass was scattered all over the floor and some of the bodies. Only one person was still standing, his left temple was completely covered in blood from a head wound and Tamaki spotted more than a couple bullet wounds in his left leg, but the stranger was still moving as he pointed a gun at someone on the floor.
Tamaki fired from the doorway and the man collapsed.
Pushing inside took longer than Tamaki wished it had, but by the time he was able to squeeze in, he had identified the last living person in the room. His father was lying on his back, head leaning against a part of what used to be the cushion from his chair. His clothes were soaked in blood, a majority of it escaping from the gaping wound on his belly. Each breath is a raspy gasp that sounded less painful than it probably was.
It wasn't until Tamaki knelt by his father's side and took his hand that the brunet opened his eyes.
"Ta-maki?"
"Father, hush. Save your strength. We need to get you-"
"There is no taking me anywhere, my boy. I am dying."
"Father-"
"No, Tamaki." The blond shook, tightening his grip as his father took in a steadying breath, "I need you… to promise… Take over the family. It is… what you were born… to do."
The blond was sobbing now, shaking his head but agreeing to his father's wish at the same time. Yuzuru managed to smile around the pain, stroking his thumb across his son's fingers.
" You look so much like her… your mother… would be proud of you. " Another shakier inhale, " I'll give her… your love. Promise… to keep her soft heart… Tamaki. It's what… I loved… in her… and… you… "
"I will, Father." The blond stared at the face of his father with a small smile through his tears. The expression faltered when the older man was silent. "Father?" He shook the limp hand in his grasp, "Father! Father, come back!"
The tears wouldn't stop coming. Tamaki bowed his head and cried into his father's bloody shirt, never once letting go of his hand. His throat closed up around his pleading, his begging for his father's chest to once again rise and fall.
He had no idea how long he had stayed there, but his father's hand had gone cold when he finally let go of it. Taking in a few more deep breaths, the blond turned around.
Kyoya and Jin were watching him from the doorway. Kyoya's eyes were rimmed red, but it was Jin who had wet cheeks of her own. Somehow, Tamaki felt a little better. He still had them. There were still people who he loved and loved him in return.
Realizing the shift in his friend, Kyoya tightened his grip on Jin's waist and straightened his back, putting on his 'business' face.
"What do you need us to do… Boss?"
Tamaki almost smiled, the new title would take some getting used too.
"We've got work to do."
Tamaki stared at the desktop before him. There were a few papers before him that needed to be read, and then signed. The phone on his right was expected to ring within the following hour from the police station in regards to the last Grantaine member's upcoming court case. And then there was a list of construction and renovations that he needed to call in about and set a schedule for completion within the next month.
Considering it had been a month and a half since a majority of the Suoh family had been wiped out, Tamaki knew they couldn't do much serious recruiting until Honey had a training center up to par with the schedule he and Jin had come up with. Thankfully, Hikaru and Kaoru had taken to their new jobs as mission coordinators well. They were keeping up with the money collections just fine, not letting a single person miss a payment without their knowledge.
The knock at his office door pulled Tamaki's thoughts back to the present. A word from him and it opened, Jin and Kyoya walking inside. The blond spotted Mori standing on the other side, taking his new role as Tamaki's personal guard very seriously it seemed.
The three friends exchanged smiles as Tamaki leaned back in his chair, "Ahh, have my friends come to relieve me of my boredom?" At the raised eyebrows, he slumped forward, "Or has my Chief Strategist and my Head of Security come to give me more work?"
Jin rolled her eyes, "A mixture of the two, actually. We have a request."
That caught Tamaki's attention. Kyoya and Jin, as his most trusted advisers, had done a lot to help Tamaki get the family out of the dirt. They had helped a lot with reining in the last of their members from immediately launching a counterattack on the Grantaine and Komatsuzawa families after Tamaki made the decision to let the police handle it. Most of the Komatsuzawa family, including their Boss, hadn't had a clue as to the plan of it's heir, and Tamaki knew the last thing they needed was an all out war between the families. So if they were coming to him for a request, then they must be further out of the dark than Tamaki had realized.
That certainly relaxed the teen a little more and he leaned back in his chair, "Is that so? Well, what can I do for you two?"
"We'd like a door to be placed between our rooms." Now it was Tamaki's turn to raise an eyebrow. He had a feeling Mori had a similar expression from his place outside the door. While the bluntness of the request was to be expected of Kyoya and the request itself was similarly expected, Tamaki didn't think it would've come to him so soon after their promotions.
"Is this your way of asking if you can get married to each other without actually getting married?" The blushes and small smiles were answer enough, even though the couple both mumbled agreement regardless. With a laugh, Tamaki gave his friends a wide grin, "Oh, please, don't be embarrassed. You've been pretty much married for a year now- don't give me that look, Kyoya Ootori, I know all about your engraved ring and Jin's necklace. I'll add it to the renovations list. But now I should probably tell you that you should not forge a marriage license between you two, despite the fact I know I'm definitely putting the idea in your head and I would love to be your only witness, it's a part of my job to at least say I'm not supposed to endorse something so binding between two of my employees. But… I suppose you're more family than employees…"
Jin's smile hadn't faltered the whole time Tamaki spoke, and while Kyoya's emotions were hidden a little better, the sparkle in his eyes was so clear and obvious he might as well have been singing.
From the other side of the door, they heard Mori's muffled voice, " Mitsukuni and I will be there. So will Hikaru and Kaoru. "
Jin ran around Tamaki's desk and hugged her friend in his seat. Kyoya just shook his hand before allowing Jin to pull him out of the office. Probably for victory sex or to just go out and get the marriage certificate immediately.
Tamaki stood up and shouted down the hallway after then, "But don't make this 'request' thing a habit! I can't always give you special treatment."
"Yes, you can," Mori added before shutting the door for him.
*Downtown*
If you were to compare Haruhi Fujioka as she was now, at the age of 17, to when she was 8… you wouldn't even be able to recognize that they were the same person.
At the moment, Haruhi was roaming the bookstore just down the street from her family's apartment. She was short, as the average person's height went, but it didn't bother her all that much, and she liked that it matched her short brown hair. Said hair was, yes, still short, but instead of looking ragged and dirty, it was regularly washed and cut at the barber shop a few streets down to give it a more stylish appearance. Similarly, her dirty and ripped clothes had been happily replaced with nicer ones with more color and definitely stayed in repair more often than not. Not to mention her grateful exchange of those cracked glasses for contacts. She really liked how her peripheral vision was more enhanced when her vision wasn't confined to two square frames.
That peripheral vision is what saved her that day.
At the time, she was innocently reading the back of a new book after plucking it off the shelf. There was quite a lot of talk about dragons, which is probably why she didn't take notice of the front door opening and shutting. The welcoming from the shop's owner also fell on Haruhi's deaf ears, but the following sound did not. She hadn't heard it for a few years… so she was almost too late in reacting to it.
A safety clicking off.
Haruhi dropped to her knees and the books above her exploded into scraps of paper. She opened her mouth but couldn't actually hear the resulting scream she made. Thank god for Kichibei-san and his paranoid self. The owner had his own gun out and firing the moment the stranger had opened fire on Haruhi, only his shots actually met their mark.
The man crumpled to the floor with a shout of pain, a hand clasped on his thigh in an attempt to stem the bleeding. Haruhi remained in a crouched position, huffing and puffing as her heart rate attempted to slow back down. It wasn't until Kichibei-san beckoned her closer that she willed herself to move.
By the time she got close enough to hear the strange man's whimpering, the bookshop owner was on the phone. Something about getting an ambulance for some idiot who's gun had gone off in his own pocket because he left the safety off.
The man's face was ashen, his body probably going into shock from the unexpected attack. He looked… young. Barely older than Haruhi was, probably. But the bags under his eyes spoke of age and sleepless nights as he stared the brunette down, even from his position flat on his back.
" Watch your back, little girl. Your onēchan has made… a lot… of enemies. You're as good as dead… "
He spit at her, and Kichibei slammed the side of his head with the butt of his own gun. After a few seconds, he returned his attention to the phone call, "Oh, no. He's refusing to believe it was his fault. He tried to attack me because apparently I shot him. I had to knock him out, sorry." At the insistent look in the man's eyes, Haruhi got back to her feet and headed towards the door, dropping the book in her hands to the floor as she did so.
It was probably dangerous of her to do so, but Haruhi wasn't very watchful as she made her way back home. She was too wrapped up in her thoughts.
So this is mafia business. There's no other reason for that man to have mentioned nēchan if it was anything else. They know where I am, and where I frequent, and they want to kill me. And they probably know about Dad, too. So we're in danger so long as we're on our own, out of protection from another family.
By the time Haruhi was climbing the stairs to her family's apartment, she had an idea in place.
Looks like it was time to take a leaf out of her sister's book.
The advertisement hasn't even been up for a full day before she sets up an interview.
On that day Haruhi dresses herself up in her only crop top, which was an accidental purchase, really, and a pair of short shorts. She even allows her father to apply a small amount of eyeliner and mascara to her face. The only thing she forwent were a pair of heels, hoping her small size would help her odds.
An extremely tall black haired boy answered her knocks. For a moment Haruhi's voice is lost, mostly because he looked oddly familiar… but she found it again soon enough.
"I'm here for an interview with Suoh-san."
The man nodded and held the door further open for her, not saying a word as he shut the door before leading Haruhi further into the complex. They went up a few stairs and down a rather long hallway before coming to a stop outside of a freshly polished oak door. Haruhi straightened her back as the man knocked for her. From the other side came a faint ' come in '.
There was a tense silence as Haruhi quietly padded over to the single chair left in front of the desk. She tried not to stare, but she hadn't expected her future employer to look so… young. He looked to be about Jin's age, which was close to Haruhi's age. It certainly made her feel a little better about her plan.
Settling herself down into the chair, she met Suoh's gaze evenly. The blond was eyeing her up and down, but it was more of an assessment rather than undressing her with his eyes. The nervousness loosened even further.
"You don't seem afraid."
"Why would I be? I'm the one who applied, didn't I?"
The boy seemed to appreciate her reply as he shifted in his seat, "Then I suppose you know exactly what you're signing up to be?"
"Yes. Sex doesn't bother me. My father prostituted himself when I was younger, so-"
"Wait, wait, slow down there!" The blond laughed lightly, waving a hand, "It's not just sex , you know? If you take this job, you are to be my pet. You'll be my constant companion, you'll live in this building, you'll be surrounded by this family's… work , day in and day out."
"Fine," Haruhi shrugged, not revealing how she actually hadn't been aware of those extra parts of the job. The boy narrowed his eyes at her.
He tilted his head, "Why do you even want this job? Clearly you are very intelligent and, if I may, very independent. Your safety might be a little on the line and there are more… respectable jobs out there for a woman such as yourself."
Haruhi shrugged again, blunt as ever with her following comment, "Well, Dad and I are already in the firing line because of you. The Suoh family and it's employees have no shortage of enemies, it see- What are you doing?"
The blond was now halfway bent over his desk, eyes thin slits as he attempted to burn her face off with his eyes. When he spoke again, it was in carefully measured words.
"You're… Jin Fujioka's… sister. Aren't you?"
Haruhi's mouth fell open, but couldn't think of a proper response. How had he figured it out?
"She's told me a lot about you, Haruhi. We've been friends for years, after all, and she's saved my life more than once." He grabbed the phone off of its receiver and punched a number. After a few seconds, someone on the other line picked up, "Kyoya I need to talk to Jin. Don't play coy, I know she's in there with you. Honestly, why did I give you your own office- Jin? Get down to my office. Now." And he hung up.
For about four minutes, the two didn't say anything, just staring at each other. Haruhi was twitching a little under such an intense gaze, but refused to be the first to look away. After growing up in the streets, she knew such an act was enough permission for the other person to do whatever they wanted with you.
Then the door opened, and the spell was broken. Haruhi turned around and almost cried at the sight of her older sister, whom she had missed dearly. The only thing she hadn't expected was the slightly-too-large green button-down shirt Jin was wearing. Tamaki merely rolled his eyes at the clothing.
"What's up, Tamaki?" Jin's brown eyes landed on her little sister and instantly her entire demeanor changed, "Ah, fuck! "
"Hi, Nēcha-"
"She's not taking the job."
"Jin-"
She slammed her hand against the open door, "She's not taking the fucking job, Tamaki!"
"Yes I am, Nēchan!" Haruhi stood up, raising a defiant chin, "I'm not afraid to be in the Suoh family! I have no choice if you want Dad and I to stay safe! We've become targets to get at you! "
Jin went a little pale, "No… you could just stay here-"
"We're not going to mooch off of you. This works , Nēchan." She finally turned back to Tamaki, who had been watching the scene with odd fascination, "That's my part of the bargain. Don't pay me anything. Just give my father room and board in this complex.
" No… Haru… " Jin stared at her baby sister with an abnormal amount of emotion, like the floorboards were being pulled out from beneath her, "I… I never wanted this life for you."
"Tough. You're not the only Fujioka who can hack it in this life."
Despite the situation, Jin managed a smile, "Hell hath no fury like a raging Fujioka."
"Damn right."
Tamaki finally broke his silence, laughing out loud, "Well, I certainly like you enough to give you the job, Ms. Fujioka. But I suppose…" his purple eyes bounced between the sisters, "I suppose you'll need quite a bit of extra protection, considering not only will you be my pet, but you're also the only sibling of my Head of Security."
Haruhi couldn't help but glance out of the corner of her eye, "Seriously?"
"Heh… Your onēchan has got a pretty good thing going on here."
"So I hear. When do I get to meet the owner of that shirt?"
"You can meet your future brother-in-law later, you little shit."
Tamaki cleared his throat before Haruhi could respond, "Anyways, Jin, can I entrust you with such an important side job?"
"Sir," she crossed her arms with an excited gleam in her eyes, "It would be my genuine pleasure."
"Then it's settled." He eyed both girls again before waving them towards the door, "Oh, go on. Move Haruhi and your father into the complex and catch up. Haruhi, I expect you in this office at 7 am tomorrow morning to finish going over your contract and officially give you the job. Agreed?"
"Sure thing."
"Got it."
Tamaki watched in amusement as the sisters left the office, Haruhi managing to give Mori a little wave even as she started grilling Jin over what her big sister had gotten into over the past few years.
"So, exactly how messy is your criminal record?"
"My criminal record? The only illegal thing I've done is absolutely kill it in heels on a Saturday night!" There's total silence for a few beats before she continued, "Just kidding. I've killed several people."
He could still hear the girl's laughter even after the door shut.