Singed Feathers (01)
Title: Singed Feathers
Pairing: Jun/Nino
Rating: R
Summary: A yakuza falls in love.
Warning: violence, abuse, sexual references, idealism
For itsumo_niji as requested. Thank you for always being so awesome. I know it's a little different from what you wanted, but hope this is close even though I went and did as I pleased. It turned out longer than I thought it would be.
01.
Matsumoto Jun is a renowned stoic perfectionist, a tenacious fighter and a strict businessman in his circle. Behind the coolness of his exterior appearance, his impeccable dress and winsomely handsome face, a devil's fire burns. He issues ruthless commands as easily as he breathes.
He oversees several prosperous businesses in the city and one among them is the most prestigious hostess club, Romance Chocolatier. What some of the regular patrons know and a few others guess (or unfortunately finds out) is that Romance Chocolatier is a business Matsumoto presides over for the Purple Phoenix family, one of the largest most infamous underground syndicates in the region.
Challenges on his turf occur infrequently, but does happen and comes from foolish customers and immature members of smaller rival gangs. The threat is always minimal and dealt with smoothly.
The first real challenge Matsumoto actually encounters comes from an unprecedented source during one of his bi-weekly visits to Romance Chocolatier.
In the security room at the back, when checking the live feed from the CCTV cameras, he recognizes one of his own men accompanying another individual in. His man looks beaten, docile, while the stranger carries himself confidently with an aloofness that reflects arrogance. The stranger is an imminent hazard, even if a minor one, to the productivity of the club and Matsumoto sits back to watch his staff react accordingly.
The manager leads both men to their booth and they are waited on by two of the better accomplished hostesses who order the most expensive wine and refreshments. The bill rise extensively with each order, but the newcomer flirts outrageously with the hostesses and does nothing to halt their excesses. He neither throws a fit nor acts up like a petty gangster. Every once in a while, he motions for Matsumoto's man to move out of his way. The man meekly obeys.
Matsumoto analyzes the display objectively. The stranger is too composed, too smart. His people are inept at dealing with such an approach.
Half an hour of tense waiting from the staff passes before the stranger loses interest in his barely finished liquor and untouched refreshments. He lights a cigarette, leans back comfortably against his seat and kicks off his dress shoes. He crosses his legs in front of him on the seat and sits like an unpolished school boy while he smokes.
"When do you think your boss will come out to greet me?" he casually asks the hostess to his left. "I came straight from the main house because I heard he'd be here."
The hostess stammers for the first time that night and the eavesdropping staff hestitate uncertainly. The stranger's resigned companion snivel anxiously.
Headquarters? Matsumoto realizes he'd wasted precious time and grits his teeth. He stalks out to the front followed by half a dozen of his men. The sight of them in their stiff black suits and hard expressions causes a commotion in the immediate area. He motions for his second in command to deal with the situation, but does not stop until he is standing just outside the stranger's booth with only the table between them.
Matsumoto ignores his trembling, repentant henchman crouching down underneath the table to scrutinize the cocky stranger who had barely moved a muscle at their appearance. The man is dressed smartly in black slacks and a matching black vest. His dark hair has been slicked back, baring his pale and flawlessly smooth (surprisingly young) face. Up close, the man is smaller than Matsumoto initially thought and his hunched, cross-legged seated position does him no favor.
The man remains composed under his critical eyes, ignoring the henchmen glaring daggers down at him. He unhurriedly stamps out his cigarette on a nearby ashtray before leaning back against the couch to stare into Matsumoto's face.
"You're very good-looking," he states straightforwardly, throwing the entire entourage off for a second. A small pink tongue darts in and out the side of his mouth and Matsumoto unusually takes note of it. "Matsumoto Jun. Nice to meet you."
"I’m flattered you know my name, but you must be too inconsequential for me to know yours," Matsumoto coolly retorts, his fists in his pockets.
The man gives a careless shrug. "I'm of no great importance. I'm only worth remembering when I'm needed, which unfortunately for you you're currently in need of me."
Instead of outright demanding answers from the stranger, Matsumoto turns to confront his man.
"Why are you groveling?" he snaps.
His man garbles on the verge of puking.
The stranger speaks up in his place. "This piece of shit," he indifferently gestures to the groveling subordinate, "murdered someone today and left the mess for everyone to find. On your orders, apparently. To be honest, I can't believe you're still here. Our police officers can be a little too slow."
Silence permeates the room and Matsumoto's man is so terrified he's weeping on his knees.
Coincidentally, distinct voices filter in from the main lobby and Matsumoto does not even have to check to know that their most hated enemy, the dogs of the city, have just arrived on his doorsteps. He keeps his eyes on the stranger who stares back at him with an unspoken challenge.
The smaller man uncurls his legs and stands. He offers his business card to Matsumoto.
"Ninomiya Kazunari, Purple Phoenix's private legal consultant and lawyer, at your service," he says. "Actually, I'm quite famous in the family. Surely you must know my name."
02.
Even after he has begrudgingly committed to memory the cunning smirks of the Purple Phoenix's private lawyer months after the legal settlement, Matsumoto doesn't know what to make of the man.
He disappears as quickly as he appears, a phantom existence to most in the family, and has consistently aggravated several of those who have come across him. He has a certain naturalness about him, which fused with an innate craftiness, becomes a peculiar charm. It's the reason Matsumoto thinks the Head of the family dotes on such a wily person despite many of the brothers holding complex feelings of dislike and acceptance toward him.
For Matsumoto, Ninomiya is also a bewildering frustration that refuses to unwind, a tiny distraction that proceeds to the forefront of his attention every now and then; the sort of troublesome people he usually dispenses ruthlessly with a few well-placed blows, but then Ninomiya is different and Matsumoto doesn't know what to do with him.
Ninomiya makes bi-weekly appearances at Romance Chocolatier, always on the same day of Matsumoto's visits, and the mysteriousness of it all confounds Matsumoto even further.
The first occasion that the lawyer drops in, not because he has any business being there, Matsumoto warily joins him at a booth trying not to show how much the other man's presence affects him and asks why he's come.
"I'm hungry," the lawyer answers simply. "I want ramen."
For the first time in its existence (a record that continues to build afterwards), a delivery from outside is made to the shop.
Matsumoto eventually learns that he doesn't have to step out to the front to meet the lawyer. All he has to do is order a meal, foot the bill, and authorize one of his hostesses to freely entertain the man for an hour.
Once Matsumoto stops accompanying him for his meals, Ninomiya starts to leave hastily scribbled notes on crumpled napkins for him with the hostesses that he flirts with for the evening. These Matsumoto throws away without as much as a glance at the messages. He isn't a person to appreciate being toyed with by a juvenile man, even if the other is very attractive.
Except that despite his minimal efforts to ignore the other person, for the life of him Matsumoto can't understand why he ends up in the security room anyway in front of the live screens every time Ninomiya stops by. Even more upsetting are the pangs of jealousy that invade his sensibilities whenever Ninomiya sidles up to one of his workers and smiles at her. His hands itch to separate them and snarl at the woman (despite her being commissioned to be there).
Right on the dot of the twenty-first hour, Ninomiya takes his hostess's wrist and lightly brushes his lips across the back of her hand. She blushes and her expression shows surprise. He murmurs something to her and then puts on his shoes and leaves. Matsumoto glowers from behind the monitor as the hostess, now alone, unfurls the fingers of her kissed hand to reveal yet another ball of crumpled napkin.
Spontaneously, an abrupt decision founded from nowhere, Matsumoto leaves the security room and moves to the front.
He confronts his shocked hostess who hastily offers him the napkin and he smooth it out to look at the message, doing so for the first time. In tiny handwriting, he reads one word: Idiot.
Then Ninomiya stops making appearances at Romance Chocolatier completely.
03.
The right-hand of the family Head, a stiff, often expressionless no-nonsense man, is in reality more than just their Leader's shadow; he organizes the family, orchestrates arrangements and is the singular counselor to their Leader. His importance to the family falls in immediately behind the Head. A word from him is almost as good as a word from their Leader. Sakurai Sho, the Purple Phoenix's Head's right-hand, is one of the most powerful and feared men in the family.
Without an explanation, Sakurai calls Matsumoto to the main house on the outskirts of the city. Matsumoto knows the summoning will incite jealousies among the executives, but he's dutiful and pious (and well aware of his subjectivity) and goes to meet Sakurai without delay.
They convene in an antechamber where the both of them are left alone. Sakurai pushes a manila folder towards Matsumoto who opens it to find snapshots of mysterious men inside.
"You've been acquainted with our private lawyer, Ninomiya," Sakurai starts. "He came here last week in a state of agitation. He refused to tell us why until our Leader coerced the reason out of him. The men in these photos have been following him for the past week, relentlessly."
Rage builds in the pit of Matsumoto's stomach. The Ninomiya he is familiar with is vain and confident. He cannot imagine the smaller man in such a sorry state of nervousness, but Sakurai cannot be wrong and the fact of it sickens Matsumoto. Ninomiya is theirs, the Purple Phoenix's, his, and someone dares to mess with him.
"What happened?" he murmurs, his tone a bone chilling degree
"Presently, he has locked himself inside his apartment and refuses to come out," Sakurai answers. "Our Leader's not very happy."
The right-hand leans forward and looks straight into Matsumoto's eyes, checking for a common understanding between them.
"We protect our own, Matsumoto. Leader wants to know who these men are and he wants them gone."
Sakurai moves back again and crosses his arms.
"Your enterprises have been doing exceedingly well and they won't need you. For the next few weeks, this will be your only priority. The Head will expect to hear results from you soon."
Matsumoto bows his head in understanding and takes the photos. It causes him effort to not rip the photos into pieces like he wants to do to the men in them.
04.
He temporarily leaves all his prior responsibilities under the direction of his second in command and collects five of his most capable men for the new assignment.
They unfortunately learn that their family's private lawyer has turned off his phone and closed his small private office within the city. Without other available options to contact the lawyer, it takes a day and a half and a lot of threats to find Ninomiya's apartment building and then his apartment number.
Matsumoto and his two subordinates stand outside of his apartment just as night begins to fall.
They opt for courteously knocking on his door first, for five full minutes, but when he refuses to answer their patience wanes. They know the lawyer is in. He hasn't stepped outside his home for more than a week. Fed up with his silence, Matsumoto kicks the door and leaves a mark on the wood.
"You have five seconds to open, Ninomiya," he bellows, "before I kick your door down."
Four seconds later, Ninomiya shoves back the thick curtains over his front window and scowls at them from behind the glass. His eyes fall on Matsumoto first and then disapprovingly moves over to his two minions.
"Fucking gangsters," he curses. "I'll call the dogs on you."
Matsumoto ignores his threat and nonchalantly fixes a hard stare on the pale, pinched face at the window.
"Your five seconds are up," he drawls.
The lawyer continues to glower at him, but relents.
"You can come in, but not those two," he asserts.
He slides the curtains back into place and almost half a minute later reluctantly opens the door to his apartment. Matsumoto signals for his two men to stay outside. He enters alone and notes the relief that washes over the owner of the home. Matsumoto wonders at the man's paranoia until he sets eye on him and all prior thoughts flee by the distraction. He has not seen the other in a long while and it is the first time the lawyer greets him in casual clothing and soft, un-slick hair.
Ninomiya stands before him in a thin white t-shirt, an ugly cartoon printed on the front, and beige shorts that cut to just above his knees. His unset hair gathers softly around his head, the loose fringe naturally falling across his forehead. He looks younger, scrawny and immensely defenseless. He looks subdued and pathetic, and Matsumoto feels disoriented by the way his gut tugs possessively at the visibility of the smaller man's vulnerable figure.
Ninomiya leaves his uninvited guest by the door and throws himself onto his couch. He grabs an open file and flips through it. Matsumoto realizes from the large pile of documents and heavy law books that he's working.
"Who told you that I live here? Why are you here anyway?" Ninomiya asks, even though he's concentrated on the papers in front of him. "You're a bother."
Matsumoto decides to be straightforward about his objective.
"The Head appointed me to be your babysitter and to resolve your problems with the outside world. Apparently, you don't have the means to do it yourself."
Ninomiya scowls again.
"Satoshi has no right to interfere in my business."
Matsumoto starts at the casual use of their Leader's given name. He moves beside the couch and takes a closer look at the smaller man; at the smoothness of his pale cheeks, the thinness of his upper lip that contrasts against the fullness of his lower lip, at the way his wispy lashes sweeps over his half-lidded eyes.
He wonders and asks out loud, "How old are you?"
Ninomiya issues him an annoyed glance and mumbles, "Older than you. Old enough to be your uncle. You should show me a little respect, at least. I was your Leader's playmate."
Matsumoto knows the Purple Phoenix's Head is only a few years older than himself. Their Leader took over the family at a young age, right after the previous Head's death. He automatically perceives the first half of Ninomiya's reply to be a lie, but he isn't as certain about the second half. It at least explains the peculiar relationship the lawyer has with their Leader.
He says, "Maybe I would if you learn your damn manners first. You forget too often what I am."
"Isn't that why Satoshi sent you here? To protect me from people like you," Ninomiya mutters. "It's my job to use words. It's yours to use fists."
Matsumoto rashly grabs hold of one of Ninomiya's bony shoulders and glares coldly into the shocked face.
"For someone that works for the organization and claims to have grown up with a person of this world, you speak as if we're all stupid animals. You have retained a false sense of fearlessness."
Ninomiya tries to shrug him off and when his efforts prove unsuccessful, he drops his documents and grips Matsumoto's hand, doing his utmost to pry Matsumoto's own off his shoulder.
"Don't touch me, you asshole," he grits out.
Matsumoto notices that the dark patches he'd seen along Ninomiya's wrists and arms are not shadows cast by the dimness of the interior. He releases the smaller man's shoulders just to latch onto his forearms, pulling him around onto his knees on the couch to bring his arms under closer scrutiny. Ninomiya tries to free himself once more, but fails. He unhappily surrenders and silently averts his gaze.
The bruises and paranoia clicks together in Matsumoto's brain. Fury and frustration roars in his chest.
"They did this to you," he states. "When? How long have you been hiding it?"
For a second Ninomiya's ego smart at the implication that he's unable to defend himself, but the fight in him ebbs away and he wearily settles agreeably on his knees. He keeps silent uncharacteristically. The resignation in his slightly hunched form grates on Matsumoto's sensibilities; he cannot unleash his anger on this Ninomiya. With difficulty, he takes hold of his rage and struggles to contain it. The anger burns inside of him and he finds a different outlet.
Without restraint, Matsumoto dips his head and presses his lips to a dark bruise on the inside of Ninomiya's wrist. He feels Ninomiya start, but keeps his grip firm on the smaller man's forearms. He kisses a line up Ninomiya's arms until he reaches the edge of his sleeves. He remembers the lawyer's discomfort when he held onto the latter's shoulder and impulsively reaches for the neckline of his t-shirt.
Matsumoto pulls on the cloth, stretches it, until he's bared a skinny, pale shoulder. He presses his lips to the inviting flesh, to the warmth of his smooth skin, and feels Ninomiya stiffen under him.
Then Ninomiya grips the front of Matsumoto's dress shirt and leans into him. He curses.
"Fucking idiot," he mutters without meaning.
Matsumoto smothers a satisfied grunt. Physically unrestrained, he heightens their touches, unabashedly pushing as far he can, until he has the smaller man whimpering and convulsing underneath him.
05.
Despite locking himself into his apartment, Ninomiya has brought most of his work home and does not stop working. The many books and papers take over the small office in his apartment, arranges itself on his kitchen table, and spills over to his coffee table in the sitting room where he keeps the legal documents of his most current cases.
The first time Matsumoto takes him over the small table in his sitting room and knocks over the stack of files on top of it, the lawyer kicks him out right after they come and Matsumoto has to break in the glass of his window before Ninomiya angrily throws his clothes out after him with a curse and promise that he has to pay for repairs.
After the third time Ninomiya attempts to throw him out yet again and fails because Matsumoto has successfully pinned him down to the floor, Matsumoto demands, "Why the heck are you still so busy?"
"You don't realize how basic and stupid most of you Purple Phoenix men are?" the frustrated lawyer retorts. "Since I'm your only attorney and there's so many of you, my assistants and I can never do enough to cover your stupid asses."
At the mention of it Matsumoto foregoes the conversation and forces the lawyer around on his knees, in minutes his fingers and mouth making the lawyer tremble and compliant underneath him again.
Every time they don't make it to the bedroom or an open space, Ninomiya complains; his back will hurt, it'll make him sore, their positions are difficult, and he doesn't stop until the other temporarily makes him forget. Matsumoto tells himself the only reason he puts up with the whining spoiled brat is because his Leader is too fond of him, but it doesn't explain why his desire for the lawyer only increases.
"I thought you were here to get rid of my stalkers," Ninomiya says on a different night. "Not here to pester me every day."
"My men are digging up dirt while I have to be babysit you. Be grateful," Matsumoto tells him. "I'm the only reason no one has dared to rape you."
The very idea of someone touching the lawyer angers him and he ends up glaring at the skinny, naked man. Ninomiya slides off his side of the bed and grabs his pillow. He throws it at the other and sees it bounce off to the floor.
"Fuck you. Next time, I'll stick it up your ass instead and you're going to thank me," he snaps.
Matsumoto decides they need time and distance between them and leaves Ninomiya alone for twenty-four hours in order to allow the lawyer to unwind.
06.
When after the full day his two men on stake out duty tells him they've not heard a single thing from inside his apartment, Matsumoto barges in during the night in concern. He finds the lawyer slumped over the couch with a few documents in his lap and hand. Matsumoto thinks about waking him until he draws nearer and sees the soft look on the sleeping lawyer's face. He realizes he cannot willfully disturb the smaller man’s sleep.
Matsumoto studies the lawyer’s pretty features and unconsciously reaches out until his fingers runs up Ninomiya's smooth neck, caresses his cheek, and his thumb brushes along Ninomiya's thin upper lip down to his plump lower lip. The lawyer's lips draw apart and a small sigh escapes him, the breathless sound causing a twinge in Matsumoto's heart.
Matsumoto withdraws his hand and releases a breath, wishing relief from the knots in his stomach. He doesn't find it. Unaware of his effect, Ninomiya's head falls sideways at an awkward angle. Matsumoto decides his position must be uncomfortable and gathers the smaller man into his arms; the fragile weight of the man and the way his head leans against Matsumoto's chest becomes endearing in of itself.
Matsumoto is uncharacteristically gentle as he carries Ninomiya to his bed, sets him down and tucks him in. Ninomiya shifts, but does not wake.
Matsumoto towers over the sleeping lawyer, watching him, and he wonders at the strange emotions fluttering inside his stomach.
07.
The subordinates he sent on their mission meets him in his personal office located within the inner city.
In the enclosed space, they solemnly pass along the information gathered in their given time frame, handing over photos and newspaper clippings. Matsumoto's eyes fall on the tattoo of a snake on the hand of one of the men in the photos. Hastily, he reads the headline of the old newspaper clipping and pauses at the mention of the Purple Phoenix's most hated rival, the King Cobra syndicate. A chill penetrates his entire being.
"The men who've been stalking our lawyer belongs to the King Cobra family. We found out that five years ago Ninomiya was instrumental in putting one of their leaders away," one of his men explains. "That leader was issued capital punishment and was consequently executed at the end of last year."
The other man breaks in. "Several of the officers involved in the case have been found dead in the last few months. Tortured and hacked to death. The King Cobras are out for blood. This is revenge. Boss, I think the situation is too serious for us. We have to let the Head know."
"Shut up."
Matsumoto shoots up from his chair and turns away from his men. He glares out the window behind his desk.
His back sear with memories. He forgets about Ninomiya and the current problem, lost in his own pain and engulfed in hate. He forgets about the present and remembers only his pitiful tears and the taste of his own blood. His hoarse screams and his father's furious curses thunder in his ears, drowning out his real surroundings.
Hurts! the child in his mind cries.
Gradually, the child's screams become unintelligible. Pain forces him on the brink of insanity. It threatens to break his mind and he would have welcomed it as a form of escape. His back burns. His entire body is on fire. Yet, his father does not stop.
His nightmare returns to haunt him, overwhelming everything that had been since.
08.
Matsumoto enters Ninomiya's apartment stealthily, his expression an icy well. His steps are soundless, but the lawyer is seated in the sitting room with a newspaper in one hand and a cigarette in the other and sees him. A slight frown is situated on the lawyer's face as he sets aside the newspaper and stubs his cigarette on an ashtray before crossing his arms. He glares at Matsumoto.
"Your man that betrayed you, the one that went to jail for murdering and trying to frame you," he starts, "He died last week. Stabbed to death by an inmate."
The news barely penetrate the haze in Matsumoto's mind.
He answers coldly, "Not by my orders. Everyone hates traitors."
Ninomiya remains unmoved.
"He had a family."
Matsumoto approaches him and takes him by his shoulders. He pushes the lawyer backward until his smaller frame is pinned to the couch.
Matsumoto crouches until their eyes are levelled, until their piercing glares are directly across each other, and retorts in a chilling tone, "In this world, there is no other family than the organization. There is only complete loyalty or death."
Ninomiya stares straight at him, as if to drive the words deep into his soul, and states, "I do what I have to do, but I'm not like you."
The remaining dregs of Matsumoto's conscience snap. Blinded by frustration and burdened by the darkness in his life, he drags the smaller man from the couch and forcibly straddles him on the floor. They struggle for dominance in a flurry of limbs and heaving breaths, but Ninomiya loses easily.
Amidst a frenzy of hungry, drugging kisses and heavy groping Matsumoto has the smaller man naked and submissive underneath him. He thoroughly secures Ninomiya's body against the floor to the point of bruising. In his rage, he drives into the smaller body so brutally with his first thrust that Ninomiya cries out. The sound of his voice cuts into Matsumoto's overwhelming madness like a bolt of lightning.
The nightmare flees. Matsumoto's mind clears.
In the sudden silence, he hears Ninomiya's small whimpers of pain. He sees the tears that gather at the edges of Ninomiya's eyes, that soak the fine tips of his lashes, and feels the quivers that shake the slighter frame underneath him. For the first time in his life, Matsumoto's heart aches to the point where he almost cannot breathe. Self-awareness and guilt, next to Ninomiya's own pain, crush him. He hates himself as much as the smaller man’s sobs hurt him.
He has hurt Ninomiya in his blind fury.
Tentatively, Matsumoto leans down and brush soft kisses against Ninomiya's closed eyelids. The smaller man's tears taste salty on his lips and drives painfully into him. Matsumoto's touches become unusually gentle before he is cradling Ninomiya in his arms and caressing his face, wishing for nothing more in that moment than forgiveness from his sin.
"I'm sorry," he whispers desperately. "Nino, I'm sorry. Please don't cry. It's my fault. I did wrong."
With deliberate slowness, Ninomiya opens his eyes and blinks up at him. When their gazes meet his indecipherable beauty steals Matsumoto's breath away, leaving him winded and speechless.
Ninomiya, too, doesn't speak. He controls his own breathing before reaching up to push aside the wet bangs that have fallen over Matsumoto's face.
Matsumoto reads the clear message of forgiveness in his expression, and his entire body throbs with affection and yearning. He embraces the smaller man and melts him with deep, drunken kisses; simply grateful for his existence. When Matsumoto moves deep inside Ninomiya again, he does slowly until the other is ready. He touches Ninomiya at a similar pace with his hand to ensure that they reach blissful pleasure together.
09.
Matsumoto has known only one way of life since birth. He learned that honor and pride did not exist. The Purple Phoenix family that took him in later taught him that both did exist, but in a complicated code of chivalry and brutality. The underworld he entered was cruel, but the world he had been born into had been crueler, so he embraced the new world with everything.
When Matsumoto removes his shirt and turns his back for the first time, Ninomiya sees the purple phoenix etched on top of his scars. The terrible gashes of past pain thread a severe pattern through the phoenix's detailed feathers. The phoenix's garishly long tail sweeps elegantly across Matsumoto's broad back and around his body along his slim waist.
Ninomiya notices that the tattoo is unfinished. When he raises his hand and waits for permission to touch it, Matsumoto averts his gaze to imply his consent. The lawyer's cool fingers grace across the ugly scars and beautiful drawing.
"Your phoenix have no wings," he murmurs.
Matsumoto crouches over his knees and his hands clench into fists. He glares at the floor of Ninomiya's bedroom.
Between gritted teeth, he grinds out, "My phoenix will have no wings until that man is dead, until I kill him and he drowns in a pool of his own warm blood."
Ninomiya drops his hand. He unhappily plays with his stubby fingers, watching them open and close.
The lawyer mutters almost bitterly under his breath, "A bird that will not fly unless the world reeks of death."
Matsumoto turns and catches Ninomiya's arm. He leans in and nuzzles his nose against the lawyer’s cheek, seeking warmth and hoping to dispel the unhappiness in the smaller man’s voice.
They make love again and for the present the past is forgotten.
Much later, Matsumoto tells Ninomiya that the lawyer will be moved out his home temporarily; he must go into hiding.
10.
Ohno Satoshi, the eighth generation of the Purple Phoenix family, is the first Leader in their history to reach out to the King Cobra syndicate and hope to establish a compromise to cool down years of hatred and rivalry. Two years after the death of the previous Head, his efforts paid off and the pact went into effect. The stalemate between both families is young and unstable, but pride and an unspoken code of honor have kept it in place for an approximate decade.
Matsumoto meets with the family Head and Sakurai at the main house in his private antechamber and is apologetic to declare it broken.
"I do not know if their Head is responsible for any of this, but the implication is strong," Matsumoto concludes. "That is where my research ends."
Ohno looks out the veranda with pursed lips and a heavy sigh while Sakurai and Matsumoto wait for his thoughts.
"I'm sorry I involved you in this, Matsumoto," their Leader says at last. "I did not know the King Cobras were behind this. It was not my intention to throw you into your past. "
Both Matsumoto and Sakurai expresses surprise by the apology and the right-hand man starts to offer excuses, but Ohno cuts him off.
"The only reason your phoenix has remained wingless all these years is because of the existence of this pact," he continues, "but I wish to keep it this way, Matsumoto. I must believe that the break in this peace is unintentional. I have to meet with Aiba to ensure that I am not wrong."
Matsumoto cannot comprehend his Leader's naive trust. Such belief, especially in their rival, is dangerous in their world.
He asks, "Why?"
Ohno looks past him beyond his ear and the Leader's gaze becomes wistful.
"Kazunari joined us after he sent their man away," the Head says. "I offered him protection and invited him into the family even knowing what he did. He no longer held sole accountability for his past. I made sure of that. Aiba made sure of that. There are reasons you cannot know. The King Cobras have no more need to break our compromise than we do."
Sakurai nods. He had been present during the events and had been witness to most of the negotiations.
Matsumoto observes the older man and perceives his Leader's intense affection for the lawyer. He has thought it over many times and reached his own conclusions, but he asks for confirmation.
"Leader, what is Ninomiya to you?" he questions.
Ohno smiles as he reminisces and it is the first time Matsumoto sees the genuine expression on his face.
"Kazunari is my only friend," the Leader answers. "In our youth, he denounced his family's disdain and turned against them for me. Even though I could give him nothing in return at the time. Kazunari is a rare gem. Matsumoto, you should know that."
The last statement surprises Matsumoto and he cautiously stares back at the Head of the family. He recognizes approval on his Leader's face and realizes that his Leader knows something about the nature of his relationship with the lawyer.
11.
"I hate this place," is the first thing Ninomiya tells Matsumoto when they meet again.
The only objects the Lawyer had been granted permission to bring along from his home to his confinement were a heavy book of law and a Nintendo game. He had completed his game within the following days and had requested for Matsumoto's henchmen to bring him more, but they refused. Under their careful watch for the last few days, Ninomiya took to his law book grumpily.
When Matsumoto tells him nothing can be done about it after hearing his complaints, he flings the heavy book across the room. Matsumoto deftly dodges it and gives Ninomiya a warning look, but the smaller man fearlessly glares at him.
Trapped within the bare four-walled room, the lawyer has nowhere to run and curls by himself in a corner, decisively ignoring Matsumoto despite their limited time together.
Matsumoto approaches his corner and Ninomiya sits up to press his back against the wall and snub his nose at him.
"Don't come closer," the lawyer tells him. "I'm not going to have sex with you. I'm not your fuck hole on stand-by. You run a hostess club, for fuck's sake. Go find a woman whose bloody willing to let you stick your rotten, damn thing in."
Matsumoto narrows his eyes, his brows drawing together, as he observes the stubborn set of the smaller man's jaw.
"For a highly educated man, your language is as atrocious as my men," he mutters in part disgust.
Ninomiya shrugs in a careless manner. Matsumoto watches him, not daring to edge closer, and reaches a conclusion.
"A hybrid between an adorable puppy and fierce kitten, that's what you are," he decides as he loosens his tie and pulls off his suit jacket. He unbuttons and rolls up the cuffs of his sleeves while he adds, "An outlandish creature."
Ninomiya graces him with another icy glare.
"What the fuck are you talking about?" he snaps.
Not deeming to answer, Matsumoto surprises him by springing forward and wrestling him to the ground. Matsumoto successfully pins Ninomiya's arms above his head and once the smaller man cannot move, he leans down to devour Ninomiya's inviting lips ravenously. Despite his fury and previous commitment, Ninomiya submits to his ministrations and kisses him back.
Later, wrapped in the only blanket in the room Ninomiya unhappily watches Matsumoto dress.
"I'm not sad to see you go," he says. "I'm envious that you get to leave."
Matsumoto leans down to playfully flick the ends of the lawyer's tousled bed-head before he returns to doing the buttons of his dress shirt. Ninomiya scowls at him and tugs the blanket tighter around his shoulders.
"I have a hearing that I have to prepare for," the lawyer announces. "It was postponed once. It won't be again. I refuse to lose by default."
"I know," Matsumoto concedes. "We will be meeting with the King Cobra family to deal with your circumstances soon. You will be free of this room before your hearing. I promise."
Ninomiya snorts at his promise and angrily turns his head.
Matsumoto finishes adjusting his tie and clothes. He remembers his earlier description of the sulking man before him and knows that he isn't wrong. Warm affection flutters in the pit of his stomach and he crouches down to wrap his arms around the smaller body. Ninomiya doesn't struggle against him, but doesn't return his embrace either. Unaffected, Matsumoto squeezes him before releasing him and steps away to the door.
"I didn't know you do that," Ninomiya mutters loud enough for Matsumoto to catch.
"Do what?" he follows.
"Make promises to people. Hug others like it matters, like I'm important," Ninomiya answers.
Matsumoto starts in shock. Confusion and realization muddles his brain. With the lawyer, he doesn't deliberate. He is impulsive and sincere, and he moves without thinking. He had thought very little about his actions.
Ignoring his pounding heart, he replies almost forcefully, "Don't think too much. It means nothing. You mean nothing to me."
Ninomiya flinches. The lawyer turns his back to the door and silently reaches for a cigarette and lighter. Matsumoto feels relief at his silence. He doesn't understand it himself and he doesn't need the lawyer's prying questions.
"I'll see you soon," he says and hastily leaves, failing to notice the way the lawyer's hands tremble as he works the switch.
Part 2
Pairing: Jun/Nino
Rating: R
Summary: A yakuza falls in love.
Warning: violence, abuse, sexual references, idealism
For itsumo_niji as requested. Thank you for always being so awesome. I know it's a little different from what you wanted, but hope this is close even though I went and did as I pleased. It turned out longer than I thought it would be.
01.
Matsumoto Jun is a renowned stoic perfectionist, a tenacious fighter and a strict businessman in his circle. Behind the coolness of his exterior appearance, his impeccable dress and winsomely handsome face, a devil's fire burns. He issues ruthless commands as easily as he breathes.
He oversees several prosperous businesses in the city and one among them is the most prestigious hostess club, Romance Chocolatier. What some of the regular patrons know and a few others guess (or unfortunately finds out) is that Romance Chocolatier is a business Matsumoto presides over for the Purple Phoenix family, one of the largest most infamous underground syndicates in the region.
Challenges on his turf occur infrequently, but does happen and comes from foolish customers and immature members of smaller rival gangs. The threat is always minimal and dealt with smoothly.
The first real challenge Matsumoto actually encounters comes from an unprecedented source during one of his bi-weekly visits to Romance Chocolatier.
In the security room at the back, when checking the live feed from the CCTV cameras, he recognizes one of his own men accompanying another individual in. His man looks beaten, docile, while the stranger carries himself confidently with an aloofness that reflects arrogance. The stranger is an imminent hazard, even if a minor one, to the productivity of the club and Matsumoto sits back to watch his staff react accordingly.
The manager leads both men to their booth and they are waited on by two of the better accomplished hostesses who order the most expensive wine and refreshments. The bill rise extensively with each order, but the newcomer flirts outrageously with the hostesses and does nothing to halt their excesses. He neither throws a fit nor acts up like a petty gangster. Every once in a while, he motions for Matsumoto's man to move out of his way. The man meekly obeys.
Matsumoto analyzes the display objectively. The stranger is too composed, too smart. His people are inept at dealing with such an approach.
Half an hour of tense waiting from the staff passes before the stranger loses interest in his barely finished liquor and untouched refreshments. He lights a cigarette, leans back comfortably against his seat and kicks off his dress shoes. He crosses his legs in front of him on the seat and sits like an unpolished school boy while he smokes.
"When do you think your boss will come out to greet me?" he casually asks the hostess to his left. "I came straight from the main house because I heard he'd be here."
The hostess stammers for the first time that night and the eavesdropping staff hestitate uncertainly. The stranger's resigned companion snivel anxiously.
Headquarters? Matsumoto realizes he'd wasted precious time and grits his teeth. He stalks out to the front followed by half a dozen of his men. The sight of them in their stiff black suits and hard expressions causes a commotion in the immediate area. He motions for his second in command to deal with the situation, but does not stop until he is standing just outside the stranger's booth with only the table between them.
Matsumoto ignores his trembling, repentant henchman crouching down underneath the table to scrutinize the cocky stranger who had barely moved a muscle at their appearance. The man is dressed smartly in black slacks and a matching black vest. His dark hair has been slicked back, baring his pale and flawlessly smooth (surprisingly young) face. Up close, the man is smaller than Matsumoto initially thought and his hunched, cross-legged seated position does him no favor.
The man remains composed under his critical eyes, ignoring the henchmen glaring daggers down at him. He unhurriedly stamps out his cigarette on a nearby ashtray before leaning back against the couch to stare into Matsumoto's face.
"You're very good-looking," he states straightforwardly, throwing the entire entourage off for a second. A small pink tongue darts in and out the side of his mouth and Matsumoto unusually takes note of it. "Matsumoto Jun. Nice to meet you."
"I’m flattered you know my name, but you must be too inconsequential for me to know yours," Matsumoto coolly retorts, his fists in his pockets.
The man gives a careless shrug. "I'm of no great importance. I'm only worth remembering when I'm needed, which unfortunately for you you're currently in need of me."
Instead of outright demanding answers from the stranger, Matsumoto turns to confront his man.
"Why are you groveling?" he snaps.
His man garbles on the verge of puking.
The stranger speaks up in his place. "This piece of shit," he indifferently gestures to the groveling subordinate, "murdered someone today and left the mess for everyone to find. On your orders, apparently. To be honest, I can't believe you're still here. Our police officers can be a little too slow."
Silence permeates the room and Matsumoto's man is so terrified he's weeping on his knees.
Coincidentally, distinct voices filter in from the main lobby and Matsumoto does not even have to check to know that their most hated enemy, the dogs of the city, have just arrived on his doorsteps. He keeps his eyes on the stranger who stares back at him with an unspoken challenge.
The smaller man uncurls his legs and stands. He offers his business card to Matsumoto.
"Ninomiya Kazunari, Purple Phoenix's private legal consultant and lawyer, at your service," he says. "Actually, I'm quite famous in the family. Surely you must know my name."
02.
Even after he has begrudgingly committed to memory the cunning smirks of the Purple Phoenix's private lawyer months after the legal settlement, Matsumoto doesn't know what to make of the man.
He disappears as quickly as he appears, a phantom existence to most in the family, and has consistently aggravated several of those who have come across him. He has a certain naturalness about him, which fused with an innate craftiness, becomes a peculiar charm. It's the reason Matsumoto thinks the Head of the family dotes on such a wily person despite many of the brothers holding complex feelings of dislike and acceptance toward him.
For Matsumoto, Ninomiya is also a bewildering frustration that refuses to unwind, a tiny distraction that proceeds to the forefront of his attention every now and then; the sort of troublesome people he usually dispenses ruthlessly with a few well-placed blows, but then Ninomiya is different and Matsumoto doesn't know what to do with him.
Ninomiya makes bi-weekly appearances at Romance Chocolatier, always on the same day of Matsumoto's visits, and the mysteriousness of it all confounds Matsumoto even further.
The first occasion that the lawyer drops in, not because he has any business being there, Matsumoto warily joins him at a booth trying not to show how much the other man's presence affects him and asks why he's come.
"I'm hungry," the lawyer answers simply. "I want ramen."
For the first time in its existence (a record that continues to build afterwards), a delivery from outside is made to the shop.
Matsumoto eventually learns that he doesn't have to step out to the front to meet the lawyer. All he has to do is order a meal, foot the bill, and authorize one of his hostesses to freely entertain the man for an hour.
Once Matsumoto stops accompanying him for his meals, Ninomiya starts to leave hastily scribbled notes on crumpled napkins for him with the hostesses that he flirts with for the evening. These Matsumoto throws away without as much as a glance at the messages. He isn't a person to appreciate being toyed with by a juvenile man, even if the other is very attractive.
Except that despite his minimal efforts to ignore the other person, for the life of him Matsumoto can't understand why he ends up in the security room anyway in front of the live screens every time Ninomiya stops by. Even more upsetting are the pangs of jealousy that invade his sensibilities whenever Ninomiya sidles up to one of his workers and smiles at her. His hands itch to separate them and snarl at the woman (despite her being commissioned to be there).
Right on the dot of the twenty-first hour, Ninomiya takes his hostess's wrist and lightly brushes his lips across the back of her hand. She blushes and her expression shows surprise. He murmurs something to her and then puts on his shoes and leaves. Matsumoto glowers from behind the monitor as the hostess, now alone, unfurls the fingers of her kissed hand to reveal yet another ball of crumpled napkin.
Spontaneously, an abrupt decision founded from nowhere, Matsumoto leaves the security room and moves to the front.
He confronts his shocked hostess who hastily offers him the napkin and he smooth it out to look at the message, doing so for the first time. In tiny handwriting, he reads one word: Idiot.
Then Ninomiya stops making appearances at Romance Chocolatier completely.
03.
The right-hand of the family Head, a stiff, often expressionless no-nonsense man, is in reality more than just their Leader's shadow; he organizes the family, orchestrates arrangements and is the singular counselor to their Leader. His importance to the family falls in immediately behind the Head. A word from him is almost as good as a word from their Leader. Sakurai Sho, the Purple Phoenix's Head's right-hand, is one of the most powerful and feared men in the family.
Without an explanation, Sakurai calls Matsumoto to the main house on the outskirts of the city. Matsumoto knows the summoning will incite jealousies among the executives, but he's dutiful and pious (and well aware of his subjectivity) and goes to meet Sakurai without delay.
They convene in an antechamber where the both of them are left alone. Sakurai pushes a manila folder towards Matsumoto who opens it to find snapshots of mysterious men inside.
"You've been acquainted with our private lawyer, Ninomiya," Sakurai starts. "He came here last week in a state of agitation. He refused to tell us why until our Leader coerced the reason out of him. The men in these photos have been following him for the past week, relentlessly."
Rage builds in the pit of Matsumoto's stomach. The Ninomiya he is familiar with is vain and confident. He cannot imagine the smaller man in such a sorry state of nervousness, but Sakurai cannot be wrong and the fact of it sickens Matsumoto. Ninomiya is theirs, the Purple Phoenix's, his, and someone dares to mess with him.
"What happened?" he murmurs, his tone a bone chilling degree
"Presently, he has locked himself inside his apartment and refuses to come out," Sakurai answers. "Our Leader's not very happy."
The right-hand leans forward and looks straight into Matsumoto's eyes, checking for a common understanding between them.
"We protect our own, Matsumoto. Leader wants to know who these men are and he wants them gone."
Sakurai moves back again and crosses his arms.
"Your enterprises have been doing exceedingly well and they won't need you. For the next few weeks, this will be your only priority. The Head will expect to hear results from you soon."
Matsumoto bows his head in understanding and takes the photos. It causes him effort to not rip the photos into pieces like he wants to do to the men in them.
04.
He temporarily leaves all his prior responsibilities under the direction of his second in command and collects five of his most capable men for the new assignment.
They unfortunately learn that their family's private lawyer has turned off his phone and closed his small private office within the city. Without other available options to contact the lawyer, it takes a day and a half and a lot of threats to find Ninomiya's apartment building and then his apartment number.
Matsumoto and his two subordinates stand outside of his apartment just as night begins to fall.
They opt for courteously knocking on his door first, for five full minutes, but when he refuses to answer their patience wanes. They know the lawyer is in. He hasn't stepped outside his home for more than a week. Fed up with his silence, Matsumoto kicks the door and leaves a mark on the wood.
"You have five seconds to open, Ninomiya," he bellows, "before I kick your door down."
Four seconds later, Ninomiya shoves back the thick curtains over his front window and scowls at them from behind the glass. His eyes fall on Matsumoto first and then disapprovingly moves over to his two minions.
"Fucking gangsters," he curses. "I'll call the dogs on you."
Matsumoto ignores his threat and nonchalantly fixes a hard stare on the pale, pinched face at the window.
"Your five seconds are up," he drawls.
The lawyer continues to glower at him, but relents.
"You can come in, but not those two," he asserts.
He slides the curtains back into place and almost half a minute later reluctantly opens the door to his apartment. Matsumoto signals for his two men to stay outside. He enters alone and notes the relief that washes over the owner of the home. Matsumoto wonders at the man's paranoia until he sets eye on him and all prior thoughts flee by the distraction. He has not seen the other in a long while and it is the first time the lawyer greets him in casual clothing and soft, un-slick hair.
Ninomiya stands before him in a thin white t-shirt, an ugly cartoon printed on the front, and beige shorts that cut to just above his knees. His unset hair gathers softly around his head, the loose fringe naturally falling across his forehead. He looks younger, scrawny and immensely defenseless. He looks subdued and pathetic, and Matsumoto feels disoriented by the way his gut tugs possessively at the visibility of the smaller man's vulnerable figure.
Ninomiya leaves his uninvited guest by the door and throws himself onto his couch. He grabs an open file and flips through it. Matsumoto realizes from the large pile of documents and heavy law books that he's working.
"Who told you that I live here? Why are you here anyway?" Ninomiya asks, even though he's concentrated on the papers in front of him. "You're a bother."
Matsumoto decides to be straightforward about his objective.
"The Head appointed me to be your babysitter and to resolve your problems with the outside world. Apparently, you don't have the means to do it yourself."
Ninomiya scowls again.
"Satoshi has no right to interfere in my business."
Matsumoto starts at the casual use of their Leader's given name. He moves beside the couch and takes a closer look at the smaller man; at the smoothness of his pale cheeks, the thinness of his upper lip that contrasts against the fullness of his lower lip, at the way his wispy lashes sweeps over his half-lidded eyes.
He wonders and asks out loud, "How old are you?"
Ninomiya issues him an annoyed glance and mumbles, "Older than you. Old enough to be your uncle. You should show me a little respect, at least. I was your Leader's playmate."
Matsumoto knows the Purple Phoenix's Head is only a few years older than himself. Their Leader took over the family at a young age, right after the previous Head's death. He automatically perceives the first half of Ninomiya's reply to be a lie, but he isn't as certain about the second half. It at least explains the peculiar relationship the lawyer has with their Leader.
He says, "Maybe I would if you learn your damn manners first. You forget too often what I am."
"Isn't that why Satoshi sent you here? To protect me from people like you," Ninomiya mutters. "It's my job to use words. It's yours to use fists."
Matsumoto rashly grabs hold of one of Ninomiya's bony shoulders and glares coldly into the shocked face.
"For someone that works for the organization and claims to have grown up with a person of this world, you speak as if we're all stupid animals. You have retained a false sense of fearlessness."
Ninomiya tries to shrug him off and when his efforts prove unsuccessful, he drops his documents and grips Matsumoto's hand, doing his utmost to pry Matsumoto's own off his shoulder.
"Don't touch me, you asshole," he grits out.
Matsumoto notices that the dark patches he'd seen along Ninomiya's wrists and arms are not shadows cast by the dimness of the interior. He releases the smaller man's shoulders just to latch onto his forearms, pulling him around onto his knees on the couch to bring his arms under closer scrutiny. Ninomiya tries to free himself once more, but fails. He unhappily surrenders and silently averts his gaze.
The bruises and paranoia clicks together in Matsumoto's brain. Fury and frustration roars in his chest.
"They did this to you," he states. "When? How long have you been hiding it?"
For a second Ninomiya's ego smart at the implication that he's unable to defend himself, but the fight in him ebbs away and he wearily settles agreeably on his knees. He keeps silent uncharacteristically. The resignation in his slightly hunched form grates on Matsumoto's sensibilities; he cannot unleash his anger on this Ninomiya. With difficulty, he takes hold of his rage and struggles to contain it. The anger burns inside of him and he finds a different outlet.
Without restraint, Matsumoto dips his head and presses his lips to a dark bruise on the inside of Ninomiya's wrist. He feels Ninomiya start, but keeps his grip firm on the smaller man's forearms. He kisses a line up Ninomiya's arms until he reaches the edge of his sleeves. He remembers the lawyer's discomfort when he held onto the latter's shoulder and impulsively reaches for the neckline of his t-shirt.
Matsumoto pulls on the cloth, stretches it, until he's bared a skinny, pale shoulder. He presses his lips to the inviting flesh, to the warmth of his smooth skin, and feels Ninomiya stiffen under him.
Then Ninomiya grips the front of Matsumoto's dress shirt and leans into him. He curses.
"Fucking idiot," he mutters without meaning.
Matsumoto smothers a satisfied grunt. Physically unrestrained, he heightens their touches, unabashedly pushing as far he can, until he has the smaller man whimpering and convulsing underneath him.
05.
Despite locking himself into his apartment, Ninomiya has brought most of his work home and does not stop working. The many books and papers take over the small office in his apartment, arranges itself on his kitchen table, and spills over to his coffee table in the sitting room where he keeps the legal documents of his most current cases.
The first time Matsumoto takes him over the small table in his sitting room and knocks over the stack of files on top of it, the lawyer kicks him out right after they come and Matsumoto has to break in the glass of his window before Ninomiya angrily throws his clothes out after him with a curse and promise that he has to pay for repairs.
After the third time Ninomiya attempts to throw him out yet again and fails because Matsumoto has successfully pinned him down to the floor, Matsumoto demands, "Why the heck are you still so busy?"
"You don't realize how basic and stupid most of you Purple Phoenix men are?" the frustrated lawyer retorts. "Since I'm your only attorney and there's so many of you, my assistants and I can never do enough to cover your stupid asses."
At the mention of it Matsumoto foregoes the conversation and forces the lawyer around on his knees, in minutes his fingers and mouth making the lawyer tremble and compliant underneath him again.
Every time they don't make it to the bedroom or an open space, Ninomiya complains; his back will hurt, it'll make him sore, their positions are difficult, and he doesn't stop until the other temporarily makes him forget. Matsumoto tells himself the only reason he puts up with the whining spoiled brat is because his Leader is too fond of him, but it doesn't explain why his desire for the lawyer only increases.
"I thought you were here to get rid of my stalkers," Ninomiya says on a different night. "Not here to pester me every day."
"My men are digging up dirt while I have to be babysit you. Be grateful," Matsumoto tells him. "I'm the only reason no one has dared to rape you."
The very idea of someone touching the lawyer angers him and he ends up glaring at the skinny, naked man. Ninomiya slides off his side of the bed and grabs his pillow. He throws it at the other and sees it bounce off to the floor.
"Fuck you. Next time, I'll stick it up your ass instead and you're going to thank me," he snaps.
Matsumoto decides they need time and distance between them and leaves Ninomiya alone for twenty-four hours in order to allow the lawyer to unwind.
06.
When after the full day his two men on stake out duty tells him they've not heard a single thing from inside his apartment, Matsumoto barges in during the night in concern. He finds the lawyer slumped over the couch with a few documents in his lap and hand. Matsumoto thinks about waking him until he draws nearer and sees the soft look on the sleeping lawyer's face. He realizes he cannot willfully disturb the smaller man’s sleep.
Matsumoto studies the lawyer’s pretty features and unconsciously reaches out until his fingers runs up Ninomiya's smooth neck, caresses his cheek, and his thumb brushes along Ninomiya's thin upper lip down to his plump lower lip. The lawyer's lips draw apart and a small sigh escapes him, the breathless sound causing a twinge in Matsumoto's heart.
Matsumoto withdraws his hand and releases a breath, wishing relief from the knots in his stomach. He doesn't find it. Unaware of his effect, Ninomiya's head falls sideways at an awkward angle. Matsumoto decides his position must be uncomfortable and gathers the smaller man into his arms; the fragile weight of the man and the way his head leans against Matsumoto's chest becomes endearing in of itself.
Matsumoto is uncharacteristically gentle as he carries Ninomiya to his bed, sets him down and tucks him in. Ninomiya shifts, but does not wake.
Matsumoto towers over the sleeping lawyer, watching him, and he wonders at the strange emotions fluttering inside his stomach.
07.
The subordinates he sent on their mission meets him in his personal office located within the inner city.
In the enclosed space, they solemnly pass along the information gathered in their given time frame, handing over photos and newspaper clippings. Matsumoto's eyes fall on the tattoo of a snake on the hand of one of the men in the photos. Hastily, he reads the headline of the old newspaper clipping and pauses at the mention of the Purple Phoenix's most hated rival, the King Cobra syndicate. A chill penetrates his entire being.
"The men who've been stalking our lawyer belongs to the King Cobra family. We found out that five years ago Ninomiya was instrumental in putting one of their leaders away," one of his men explains. "That leader was issued capital punishment and was consequently executed at the end of last year."
The other man breaks in. "Several of the officers involved in the case have been found dead in the last few months. Tortured and hacked to death. The King Cobras are out for blood. This is revenge. Boss, I think the situation is too serious for us. We have to let the Head know."
"Shut up."
Matsumoto shoots up from his chair and turns away from his men. He glares out the window behind his desk.
His back sear with memories. He forgets about Ninomiya and the current problem, lost in his own pain and engulfed in hate. He forgets about the present and remembers only his pitiful tears and the taste of his own blood. His hoarse screams and his father's furious curses thunder in his ears, drowning out his real surroundings.
Hurts! the child in his mind cries.
Gradually, the child's screams become unintelligible. Pain forces him on the brink of insanity. It threatens to break his mind and he would have welcomed it as a form of escape. His back burns. His entire body is on fire. Yet, his father does not stop.
His nightmare returns to haunt him, overwhelming everything that had been since.
08.
Matsumoto enters Ninomiya's apartment stealthily, his expression an icy well. His steps are soundless, but the lawyer is seated in the sitting room with a newspaper in one hand and a cigarette in the other and sees him. A slight frown is situated on the lawyer's face as he sets aside the newspaper and stubs his cigarette on an ashtray before crossing his arms. He glares at Matsumoto.
"Your man that betrayed you, the one that went to jail for murdering and trying to frame you," he starts, "He died last week. Stabbed to death by an inmate."
The news barely penetrate the haze in Matsumoto's mind.
He answers coldly, "Not by my orders. Everyone hates traitors."
Ninomiya remains unmoved.
"He had a family."
Matsumoto approaches him and takes him by his shoulders. He pushes the lawyer backward until his smaller frame is pinned to the couch.
Matsumoto crouches until their eyes are levelled, until their piercing glares are directly across each other, and retorts in a chilling tone, "In this world, there is no other family than the organization. There is only complete loyalty or death."
Ninomiya stares straight at him, as if to drive the words deep into his soul, and states, "I do what I have to do, but I'm not like you."
The remaining dregs of Matsumoto's conscience snap. Blinded by frustration and burdened by the darkness in his life, he drags the smaller man from the couch and forcibly straddles him on the floor. They struggle for dominance in a flurry of limbs and heaving breaths, but Ninomiya loses easily.
Amidst a frenzy of hungry, drugging kisses and heavy groping Matsumoto has the smaller man naked and submissive underneath him. He thoroughly secures Ninomiya's body against the floor to the point of bruising. In his rage, he drives into the smaller body so brutally with his first thrust that Ninomiya cries out. The sound of his voice cuts into Matsumoto's overwhelming madness like a bolt of lightning.
The nightmare flees. Matsumoto's mind clears.
In the sudden silence, he hears Ninomiya's small whimpers of pain. He sees the tears that gather at the edges of Ninomiya's eyes, that soak the fine tips of his lashes, and feels the quivers that shake the slighter frame underneath him. For the first time in his life, Matsumoto's heart aches to the point where he almost cannot breathe. Self-awareness and guilt, next to Ninomiya's own pain, crush him. He hates himself as much as the smaller man’s sobs hurt him.
He has hurt Ninomiya in his blind fury.
Tentatively, Matsumoto leans down and brush soft kisses against Ninomiya's closed eyelids. The smaller man's tears taste salty on his lips and drives painfully into him. Matsumoto's touches become unusually gentle before he is cradling Ninomiya in his arms and caressing his face, wishing for nothing more in that moment than forgiveness from his sin.
"I'm sorry," he whispers desperately. "Nino, I'm sorry. Please don't cry. It's my fault. I did wrong."
With deliberate slowness, Ninomiya opens his eyes and blinks up at him. When their gazes meet his indecipherable beauty steals Matsumoto's breath away, leaving him winded and speechless.
Ninomiya, too, doesn't speak. He controls his own breathing before reaching up to push aside the wet bangs that have fallen over Matsumoto's face.
Matsumoto reads the clear message of forgiveness in his expression, and his entire body throbs with affection and yearning. He embraces the smaller man and melts him with deep, drunken kisses; simply grateful for his existence. When Matsumoto moves deep inside Ninomiya again, he does slowly until the other is ready. He touches Ninomiya at a similar pace with his hand to ensure that they reach blissful pleasure together.
09.
Matsumoto has known only one way of life since birth. He learned that honor and pride did not exist. The Purple Phoenix family that took him in later taught him that both did exist, but in a complicated code of chivalry and brutality. The underworld he entered was cruel, but the world he had been born into had been crueler, so he embraced the new world with everything.
When Matsumoto removes his shirt and turns his back for the first time, Ninomiya sees the purple phoenix etched on top of his scars. The terrible gashes of past pain thread a severe pattern through the phoenix's detailed feathers. The phoenix's garishly long tail sweeps elegantly across Matsumoto's broad back and around his body along his slim waist.
Ninomiya notices that the tattoo is unfinished. When he raises his hand and waits for permission to touch it, Matsumoto averts his gaze to imply his consent. The lawyer's cool fingers grace across the ugly scars and beautiful drawing.
"Your phoenix have no wings," he murmurs.
Matsumoto crouches over his knees and his hands clench into fists. He glares at the floor of Ninomiya's bedroom.
Between gritted teeth, he grinds out, "My phoenix will have no wings until that man is dead, until I kill him and he drowns in a pool of his own warm blood."
Ninomiya drops his hand. He unhappily plays with his stubby fingers, watching them open and close.
The lawyer mutters almost bitterly under his breath, "A bird that will not fly unless the world reeks of death."
Matsumoto turns and catches Ninomiya's arm. He leans in and nuzzles his nose against the lawyer’s cheek, seeking warmth and hoping to dispel the unhappiness in the smaller man’s voice.
They make love again and for the present the past is forgotten.
Much later, Matsumoto tells Ninomiya that the lawyer will be moved out his home temporarily; he must go into hiding.
10.
Ohno Satoshi, the eighth generation of the Purple Phoenix family, is the first Leader in their history to reach out to the King Cobra syndicate and hope to establish a compromise to cool down years of hatred and rivalry. Two years after the death of the previous Head, his efforts paid off and the pact went into effect. The stalemate between both families is young and unstable, but pride and an unspoken code of honor have kept it in place for an approximate decade.
Matsumoto meets with the family Head and Sakurai at the main house in his private antechamber and is apologetic to declare it broken.
"I do not know if their Head is responsible for any of this, but the implication is strong," Matsumoto concludes. "That is where my research ends."
Ohno looks out the veranda with pursed lips and a heavy sigh while Sakurai and Matsumoto wait for his thoughts.
"I'm sorry I involved you in this, Matsumoto," their Leader says at last. "I did not know the King Cobras were behind this. It was not my intention to throw you into your past. "
Both Matsumoto and Sakurai expresses surprise by the apology and the right-hand man starts to offer excuses, but Ohno cuts him off.
"The only reason your phoenix has remained wingless all these years is because of the existence of this pact," he continues, "but I wish to keep it this way, Matsumoto. I must believe that the break in this peace is unintentional. I have to meet with Aiba to ensure that I am not wrong."
Matsumoto cannot comprehend his Leader's naive trust. Such belief, especially in their rival, is dangerous in their world.
He asks, "Why?"
Ohno looks past him beyond his ear and the Leader's gaze becomes wistful.
"Kazunari joined us after he sent their man away," the Head says. "I offered him protection and invited him into the family even knowing what he did. He no longer held sole accountability for his past. I made sure of that. Aiba made sure of that. There are reasons you cannot know. The King Cobras have no more need to break our compromise than we do."
Sakurai nods. He had been present during the events and had been witness to most of the negotiations.
Matsumoto observes the older man and perceives his Leader's intense affection for the lawyer. He has thought it over many times and reached his own conclusions, but he asks for confirmation.
"Leader, what is Ninomiya to you?" he questions.
Ohno smiles as he reminisces and it is the first time Matsumoto sees the genuine expression on his face.
"Kazunari is my only friend," the Leader answers. "In our youth, he denounced his family's disdain and turned against them for me. Even though I could give him nothing in return at the time. Kazunari is a rare gem. Matsumoto, you should know that."
The last statement surprises Matsumoto and he cautiously stares back at the Head of the family. He recognizes approval on his Leader's face and realizes that his Leader knows something about the nature of his relationship with the lawyer.
11.
"I hate this place," is the first thing Ninomiya tells Matsumoto when they meet again.
The only objects the Lawyer had been granted permission to bring along from his home to his confinement were a heavy book of law and a Nintendo game. He had completed his game within the following days and had requested for Matsumoto's henchmen to bring him more, but they refused. Under their careful watch for the last few days, Ninomiya took to his law book grumpily.
When Matsumoto tells him nothing can be done about it after hearing his complaints, he flings the heavy book across the room. Matsumoto deftly dodges it and gives Ninomiya a warning look, but the smaller man fearlessly glares at him.
Trapped within the bare four-walled room, the lawyer has nowhere to run and curls by himself in a corner, decisively ignoring Matsumoto despite their limited time together.
Matsumoto approaches his corner and Ninomiya sits up to press his back against the wall and snub his nose at him.
"Don't come closer," the lawyer tells him. "I'm not going to have sex with you. I'm not your fuck hole on stand-by. You run a hostess club, for fuck's sake. Go find a woman whose bloody willing to let you stick your rotten, damn thing in."
Matsumoto narrows his eyes, his brows drawing together, as he observes the stubborn set of the smaller man's jaw.
"For a highly educated man, your language is as atrocious as my men," he mutters in part disgust.
Ninomiya shrugs in a careless manner. Matsumoto watches him, not daring to edge closer, and reaches a conclusion.
"A hybrid between an adorable puppy and fierce kitten, that's what you are," he decides as he loosens his tie and pulls off his suit jacket. He unbuttons and rolls up the cuffs of his sleeves while he adds, "An outlandish creature."
Ninomiya graces him with another icy glare.
"What the fuck are you talking about?" he snaps.
Not deeming to answer, Matsumoto surprises him by springing forward and wrestling him to the ground. Matsumoto successfully pins Ninomiya's arms above his head and once the smaller man cannot move, he leans down to devour Ninomiya's inviting lips ravenously. Despite his fury and previous commitment, Ninomiya submits to his ministrations and kisses him back.
Later, wrapped in the only blanket in the room Ninomiya unhappily watches Matsumoto dress.
"I'm not sad to see you go," he says. "I'm envious that you get to leave."
Matsumoto leans down to playfully flick the ends of the lawyer's tousled bed-head before he returns to doing the buttons of his dress shirt. Ninomiya scowls at him and tugs the blanket tighter around his shoulders.
"I have a hearing that I have to prepare for," the lawyer announces. "It was postponed once. It won't be again. I refuse to lose by default."
"I know," Matsumoto concedes. "We will be meeting with the King Cobra family to deal with your circumstances soon. You will be free of this room before your hearing. I promise."
Ninomiya snorts at his promise and angrily turns his head.
Matsumoto finishes adjusting his tie and clothes. He remembers his earlier description of the sulking man before him and knows that he isn't wrong. Warm affection flutters in the pit of his stomach and he crouches down to wrap his arms around the smaller body. Ninomiya doesn't struggle against him, but doesn't return his embrace either. Unaffected, Matsumoto squeezes him before releasing him and steps away to the door.
"I didn't know you do that," Ninomiya mutters loud enough for Matsumoto to catch.
"Do what?" he follows.
"Make promises to people. Hug others like it matters, like I'm important," Ninomiya answers.
Matsumoto starts in shock. Confusion and realization muddles his brain. With the lawyer, he doesn't deliberate. He is impulsive and sincere, and he moves without thinking. He had thought very little about his actions.
Ignoring his pounding heart, he replies almost forcefully, "Don't think too much. It means nothing. You mean nothing to me."
Ninomiya flinches. The lawyer turns his back to the door and silently reaches for a cigarette and lighter. Matsumoto feels relief at his silence. He doesn't understand it himself and he doesn't need the lawyer's prying questions.
"I'll see you soon," he says and hastily leaves, failing to notice the way the lawyer's hands tremble as he works the switch.
Part 2