#★. p: akiiyamashun

[dojimakaichou]

SENT FROM @akiiyamashun​​​ ―   ( unprompted / always accepting )

“Her fever finally broke during your last meeting - she’s sleeping now,” Akiyama murmured while sitting down by the bed where Kiriko now rested, her face now indicating she was experiencing no discomfort. Although her hair was knotted and the pajamas surely could be changed when she was awake next, the child looked fine now - it eased the loan shark’s heart to see their daughter without the furrowed eyebrows and whimpering softly as she struggled to sleep the day before. But then, Akiyama's verbal confirmation were more of an assurance to Daigo than a novelty; the co-ruler would have felt if anything was amiss and his mate got concerned or worried for Kiriko. Luckily, the younger male could interact with her more freely given the warmth of his hands and the less sharp edges of his digits. As far as he could tell, their daughter had not even realized that he was no longer human. His deceptive looks were now helpful, even more so than for hunting - it was truly a blessing, and he exchanged a soft, grateful look with Daigo. “I was telling her a few stories to help her sleep, but her favorite one is still about the big, fluffy bat who looks after the homeless people of the city,” Akiyama grinned then, having adapted some of their own stories into children’s tale to slowly ease Kiriko into their world, but in a suitable way for a six year old, “I still don’t think she realizes that the bat is her dad and one of the most feared vampires in the city, but I promised her we would dress him up like I did when he showed up next. Do you want to at least pick up the costume?”

★. ―

Daigo stopped long enough inside the door of their home to shed his dress shoes and overcoat. He undid the buttons of the latter hastily and simply threw the garment over the back of the nearest chair. Perhaps sensing that his mate was eager to call out, Akiyama leaned through the doorway of Kiriko’s bedroom with a finger pressed to his lips. As the younger creature ducked back inside, Daigo felt some of the tension wound up in his gut start to loosen. He took a moment to close his eyes, exhale slowly, and calm.

           He knew that if Kiriko’s illness worsened while he was away, he would have felt Akiyama’s alarm. It was a better signifier than a call or a text : a mental bridge that were permanently joined to that freely shared the emotional ups and downs of raising their adopted daughter between them. The monarch had been hopeful leaving his office for the day ; Akiyama’s emotions were even, calm, and even free of the bit of anxiety they shared in the early evening after finding Kiriko feverish for a second night.

          Daigo entered Kiriko’s room quietly. At Akiyama’s good news, the ex – yakuza nodded. He bent down to kiss his mate, relief flooding their bond. After, he moved to the side of the bed. Daigo hovered over their daughter, a hand pressed lightly to the blankets on either side of her small body as she laid there, and observed her. Glittering eyes watched the fluttering of her lashes and rising of her chest closely. Sensitive ears picked out her heartbeat. Daigo longed to touch her, but he was afraid his cold skin would startle her out of her much – needed rest. Instead, he pulled Kiriko’s blankets up and gingerly sat on the mattress near her feet. The bed shifted slightly with his weight. Thankfully, Kiriko didn’t seem to notice.

          The former Chairman canted his head at her, clearly drawn into her vitals and content to remain fixed on them, until Akiyama’s next words drew his attention back to the room at large. Daigo shifted his attention to his mate, brow raised. “The big, fluffy bat,” he repeated first. An airy chuckle left his thin lips. “I suppose that is a good description,” Daigo conceded. “She did used to think I was a stuffed animal. Do you remember the day she locked me in her toy chest?” 

          The monarch’s jagged grin contrasted with the playful irritation of his voice. Kiriko had loved to tote her father around in his bat shape when she was little. On one night, she placed him in the box they used to hold her plush toys. It was only after she shut the lid and toddled away giggling that Daigo realized the small plastic clasp on the item was mistakenly sealed ( likely having fallen into place when she closed the container ). Akiyama was forced to rely on Kiriko’s guidance to find Daigo, whose distress lit up their bond like wildfire. Unfortunately, their three – year – old’s directions were not particularly clear, and it took Akiyama twenty minutes to sleuth out where Daigo’s frantic squeaking was coming from. Daigo removed that lock personally from the toy chest one hour later to prevent further incidents.

          Akiyama stifled a laugh and rested his chin against his hand. “Mmhm. She wasn’t allowed to play with the fluffy bat unsupervised for a while,” he reflected.

          Daigo laid a palm on the bed and sighed fondly. Kiriko was a handful, but they both loved her exactly as she was. She would certainly enjoy dressing up his bat shape, and it was difficult to deny her that prospective happiness  —  especially following the ordeal of these past few days. 

          “There was that black cat costume you bought,” Daigo mused softly. “The Halloween outfit for a small dog with the big ears and tail?” The vampire searched his mind for more information to help share what he referred to.

          “Dragon-cat?” Akiyama clarified, unable to help his broad smile. Those impressive bat wings protruding from the cloth costume and how Daigo moved in it was what inspired the name. 

          Daigo grimaced. “That would be it,” he replied. “We have time to find it before she wakes up. I have a feeling the fluffy bat will need to make its appearance right about then.”

[dojimakaichou]

SENT FROM @akiiyamashun​ ―   ( unprompted / always accepting )

For the past few days, Akiyama had been more absent than usual from Daigo's apartment; he had told his boyfriend that he had some urgent matters to attend to at Sky Finance, and that with Hana soon to be married and moving away from Tokyo, he had been swamped with work and other administrative matters. The fact that the loan shark had never been the most organized person in terms of office affairs also justified the extra time away. When he finally got everything in order, it was very late in the afternoon - with the sun still on the sky, Daigo was looking no better than a corpse, immovable on his bed and in the room submerged into darkness. Akiyama knew the pathway to the vampire by heart - even as his eyes adjusted to the lack of light, his feet was already impressively trained to arrive at the intended destination. The younger male climbed onto the mattress, and then claimed his place - he leaned on his side and embraced the creature's form, an arm keeping him close even if the chances of Daigo moving were minimal. With such proximity, he could hear the faint heartbeat that lingered within the immortal's chest - the residual effect of the last feeding, a reminder that he was a living man despite all arguments to the contrary. Akiyama wouldn't dispute the biological certainty of death - but he refused to acknowledge a vampire as some sort of hollow shell. Particularly when he had made his mind to become one himself. It was only when Daigo stirred and regained consciousness that the loan shark followed suit, giving him room to stretch his limbs; an old habit preserved up to that moment, and one that made Akiyama smile. Although he could see the room now with much more clarity, it was the pair of red, shining orbs that he focused on - his lover was awake, and pleased to find him there; he knew Sky Finance had been demanding more time than usual. ...But only because he was organizing all his affairs, using the last days following Hana's departure to structure and plan what would be his post-mortem empire; he was going to leave his own humanity behind, but he wouldn't abandon mankind at all. His mission, perhaps, was just beginning. "Hey," the moneylender said softly, lips curving when the other moved to envelop him in a hug, face hiding in the curve of the loan shark's neck. It was not even that Daigo necessarily needed to feed - it was just that it had become one of their favorite ways to show affection and to translate their bond. Akiyama had once clung to Daigo for dear life - he was happy to be a literal lifeline to the other now, although that was about to be cut short. "I wanted to tell you something," Akiyama said, a hand going up to move through the older one's hair, fingers carding through raven-like tresses with tenderness; the fact that his breathing and heartbeat did not go out of control demonstrated just how certain he was, and the fact that the loan shark had finally come to a decision that left his mind at peace, "I decided to join you - in eternity, I mean," he pressed his lips against the top of Daigo's head then, almost as if that soft kiss sealed some sort of promise. "I want to be turned, Daigo - I've made preparations, I've seen that Hana is well-looked after, I've settled everything over at Sky Finance, Elise and the other places... I'm ready for this," a pause, and Akiyama closed his eyes, "I want this, if you'll have me."

★. ―

Daigo missed him. It was a fact as true as his inability to face sunlight or swallow water. The vampire had grown used to having Akiyama close  ―  as a lover, as a source of food, as an impromptu protector when other supernatural entities chose to appear. However, when Sky Finance demanded his boyfriend’s attention, Daigo didn’t argue. Akiyama’s work was important to him and his impact in Kamurocho was impossible to ignore. Daigo needed his lifeline, yes, but their beloved home depended on him even more. 

          ―  and, having mated  .    .    .  Daigo knew that Akiyama was alright. A little stressed, perhaps, or tired given what his company asked of him ( and being none the wiser, the creature assumed it was merely several requests for loans at once or more elaborate tests that needed planning ). Now that Daigo had a word, a definition for the thoughts in the back of his mind that weren’t his own, the entire affair was much clearer. He couldn’t help the pang of guilt he felt whenever he reflected on what Melissa and Azumi told them ; in many ways, Daigo’s unconscious decision to take Akiyama as his lifelong partner read to the ex - yakuza like him fastening a ball and chain to Akiyama’s ankle. Daigo believed what the mysterious figures that served as his instructors said : without the loan shark, he would have no desire to find other sources of blood and would likely perish out of grief. It was impossible to give words to the depth of his emotions in a way that Akiyama or any mortal would understand, but they mirrored what Melissa and Azumi described. 

          There were nights that he wanted that : to have Akiyama understand what his fumbling description ( or their teachers’ eloquent explanations ) attempted to share. Daigo knew it was selfish of him, though, and he would never ask Akiyama to experience it merely for his sake. To do so would mean becoming the same monster as Daigo, to give up a life that would one day end in peace. The creature had promised Akiyama that the decision would remain firmly in his hands and that he would do nothing to persuade it. Daigo was determined to hold to his word.

          The vampire knew his mate entered his inner sanctum long before Akiyama’s arm slipped over his cold frame. It was because of that bond, half - formed as it may have been then ; Daigo recognized in the midst of his sleep that his lover was returned to him through the emotions stirring in his being. His dreams softened and grew more peaceful at Akiyama’s arrival. A small smile, hidden by hair and darkness, came to his countenance despite his body’s obstinate desire to remain at rest. Daigo was FULL AND HAPPY. There was no reason for him to will his corpse up or his eyes open yet. The sun lingered in the sky, and he was naturally inclined to stay exactly as he was. The resting corpse of a monster being cuddled by a living man would read as blasphemous on the surface for the greater population, but to Daigo these precious moments were pure bliss. 

          Once night began to creep into the edges of the world, Daigo stirred. A sort of life returned to him, a mimicry of what he used to be. His stretch and light groan were not needed ( he hadn’t felt the ache of an aging body or uncomfortable scars in years ) but gave Daigo satisfaction nonetheless. The instincts that brought his features against Akiyama’s neck, however, were entirely vampiric  ―  to seek comfort in the pulse and warmth of a living creature and hide away in the paradise formed by their scent and skin were wholly inhuman desires. Daigo nuzzled into his favorite place, strong arms folding around Akiyama, and issued a deep, pleased noise from his throat.

          He listened to Akiyama in a haze. Thusly, the weight and meaning of his statements didn’t register to the vampire until a minute after. Akiyama continued to stroke his locks, awaiting the realization to come to his lover. A stiffening of Daigo’s limbs announced when the loan shark’s request finally sank in, as did the pausing of the quiet intonations passed from his thin lips. The moneylender opened his eyes as Daigo slid away from him. Akiyama moved with Daigo, following his unspoken requests.

          The creature rolled Akiyama onto his back gently and rose over him. He swung a leg across Akiyama effortlessly, hands pressed flat to either side of him, and gazed down at him with brilliant red eyes. Daigo’s mouth hovered open. His brow was furrowed. Akiyama’s fingers reached up to cup the vampire’s cheek reassuringly. The heel of his palm landed at the edge of Daigo’s lips. 

          There was no question in Daigo’s mind of Akiyama’s conviction ; he could sense only peace in the connection he shared with the human beneath him. That the younger man’s heartbeat and breathing remained so steady, as well, reinforced his surety. 

           “Of course I would have you,” Daigo murmured, nestling into Akiyama’s touch. “  ―  you’re  .    .    .  everything to me. I want nothing more.” His stare narrowed, and the creature’s expression took on an amused quality. “Your ‘ preparations ’  ―  that’s what you were doing recently.” As Daigo spoke through the information, the pieces fell together. To understand that Akiyama had evidently planned for this gave him comfort, too. 

           Daigo turned his face slightly and nipped affectionately at the base of Akiyama’s hand. The loan shark chuckled. He was accustomed to the fleeting feeling of his skin splitting. Daigo didn’t draw blood all of the time ; when he was inclined to behaving lovingly or playfully, he would merely scrape his fang(s) against the uppermost layer of Akiyama’s flesh and tear it lightly.

            “Mm - hm. I had to get everything ready,” Akiyama confirmed.

           Daigo moved his mate’s hand from his cheek to join its fellow on the bed. It did not go unoccupied for long : the vampire curled his frigid fingers into Akiyama’s hands and held them tight. He lowered himself down in order to kiss the loan shark deeply. He smiled at the sound of Akiyama’s breath catching.

          “I love you, Shun,” the creature said quietly. 

[dojimakaichou]

SENT FROM @akiiyamashun​​​​​​​  ―   ( soft & sweet / accepting )

❛ your heart is beating so fast right now. ❜

★. ―

Daigo shouldered off his shirt. His fangs gleamed between scarcely - parted lips. He folded the garment over his arm and tossed it onto the nearby chair. Akiyama stood near, head tiled to the side ; the newly - turned vampire’s sharp hearing picked up the pounding of his mate’s heart from across the room. The gold in Daigo’s eyes had flared up considerably. That his blood was flowing was entirely due to a strong sense of panic, which Akiyama could sense in the newly - made mutual bond they shared.

          The power gifted to Daigo by the ancient blood coursing through his veins was linked to the brilliant tattoo on his back, which shone in the dimmed light of the room. Since the first fangs sank into his neck, Daigo’s ink had protected him from the very thing he inevitably became. Vampires were often uncomfortable being near him, even when he was not agitated or feeling any negative emotion that would cause the tattoo to attack  ―  the very air around Daigo as a result of its presence was charged and warned of supernatural danger to his fellow vampires. Only ancient vampires like himself seemed able to stomach its passive aura for long amounts of time. Direct interaction with it seemed to harm all vampires, however, regardless of their lineage.

          It was that fact that had Daigo so anxious. He and Akiyama touched often since the young man awoke to his new un - life, but this was the first time that Akiyama would be next to Daigo’s tattoo without any barrier. It was a concern that had prompted them to sleep separately the last two occasions they rested.

          Akiyama removed his hands from his trousers pocket and approached his mate slowly. “Your heart is beating so fast right now,” he observed, laying a hand on Daigo’s breast. His touch was warm. The younger creature kept his voice soft and soothing.

          “That it hasn’t tried to spook you off when I’m this  ―  upset is a good start,” Daigo acknowledged quietly. He would never used the word ‘ scared, ’ even if it was more accurate. “No vampire has ever been able to touch it, though. I don’t want to see you get hurt.” The ex - yakuza was well aware that he was stalling, spouting out information they already knew, but the memory of Katsura screaming and clawing at his face was also playing in his mind’s eye. He had invited Melissa to attempt it once, unsure if a friend would be different than an enemy, but she had pulled away when her hand merely hovered over his bare flesh. The tattoo warned her, she said, and that was enough.

           “I know,” Akiyama replied. His steps carried him around Daigo’s side, taking great care to make sure the other saw each one. “  ―  but I’ve never felt it react badly to me. Being around you feels the same as it always has. Vampiric flamethrower bit aside, of course.” Akiyama chuckled as he spoke. He hoped that his voice would help calm Daigo down.

          The brilliant tattoo in question was emanating a fierce light. All of its colors glowed, shining out with purpose. Webs of gold light followed the former Chairman’s veins away from the ink until it faded. There was a clue there as to what Daigo may have looked like the night of Katsura’s attack ;  Akiyama grimly imagined Daigo was uniquely beautiful when he was truly terrified. The ferocity of the tattoo stung Akiyama’s eyes, but it didn’t hurt. Encouraged by that, the red - clad vampire squeezed Daigo’s shoulder in warning and pressed his other palm to the edge of the art.

          Daigo growled, arching his back, and the beat of his heart reached a new frenzy. Akiyama braced himself as the ink roared to further life, gold flowing away from it at a rapid pace. After a moment, he realized that the tattoo was unbothered by his presence. Akiyama searched their bond. Amidst Daigo’s anxieties, there was a thread of something else. Was it  ―  comfort? With a working theory in mind, Akiyama slid his hand over. His mate’s ink suddenly dimmed, and Akiyama’s musings were confirmed. 

          “I’m fine, Daigo,” the younger assured. “I promise it isn’t harmful at all.”

          Akiyama started to rub small circles over the piece. Gradually, the light that outlined Daigo’s veins worked back into the tattoo. The harsh glow faded little by little. He remained quiet as he worked, eager to put his conclusion to the test. Akiyama smiled at the proud god his mate wore. They had nothing to fear. The tattoo knew Akiyama personally, had recognized he was Daigo’s lover perhaps, and would even respond to him in the same way it would as if he were still mortal. Contentment seemed to overwhelm the fear in Daigo, who inevitably relaxed under Akiyama’s hand. A tender kiss to the flames over Acala’s head caused the elder of the two to shudder, and the last of the defensive brilliance in the ink settled. 

          “I think it likes me,” Akiyama declared.

          His simplistic statement, albeit slightly absurd given the former grave nature of the situation, had the effect he intended. Daigo laughed, relief giving the abrupt peal of a noise a happy quality. The negative storm in their bond was finally dissipated. 

[dojimakaichou]

Convincing Daigo that going to a Wyverns game was something he was free to do had been... Complicated. He was no longer yakuza, his public presence shouldn't draw too much attention - but he only relented due to the fact that Akiyama had bought the tickets for a prime spot before asking for permission; and because he felt he could remain relative undetected if he disguised himself.

The loan shark said nothing of it - the former chairman assured him that he had managed to disappear before when he wished, so he should be able to do it again. Akiyama was content to wait for him to get ready, occupying himself with a magazine on the living room - and only lowering the thing to glance at his-not-boyfriend when Daigo resurfaced after changing.

The magazine fell to the floor then - almost as fast as the moneylender's jaw, and not in a flattering way.

"Daigo," he said, brows furrowing at the other man's choice of attire: he was wearing sunglasses, a disposable mask and a hat with a black trench coat. That was it. That was his disguise. "What the fuck? Is this what you call a disguise?"

unprompted asks ★ always accepting

★. ―

The gift of a chance to see the Wyverns in person would have been difficult for Daigo to pass up normally  ―  but with those seats? There was only one answer. The ex-yakuza stopped protesting quickly, though he did outline a single condition with his acceptance. He wasn’t comfortable showing his face without some disguise. Threats to his life were still a regular occurrence, given how many people had faced great losses with the Clan’s dissolution, and there were too many unknowns at an event this large.

          At least, remaining hidden was a skill that Daigo had honed. It was most important to cover the identifying features : the well - groomed scruff on his face ( which he refused to shave off ) ; the uniquely dark hue of his eyes ; and the practiced shape of his graying locks.

          In the back of his mind, he vaguely recalled the voices of his pseudo - uncles encouraging him to try a different look during their time spent hidden away together. Majima had all but scruffed him and led him back inside their borrowed home when Daigo once appeared in the garb he intended to wear now. He did still have a small number of those items buried in a box at the bottom of his closet, but  .    .    .  was it really worth digging for them when this had serviced him perfectly well before? With a shake of his head, Daigo returned to his present project with renewed confidence. 

          ―  confidence that was perhaps misplaced. Akiyama’s magazine dropping to the floor was the ex - yakuza’s first sign that his choice was not going to survive the moneylender’s critique. Daigo bristled instinctively, drawn up to his full height, and narrowed his eyes behind the glasses at Akiyama’s agape mouth. He gripped the edges of his lengthy coat with conviction.

          “This served me fine in the past,” Daigo argued, tone firm. “I don’t see why it wouldn’t work today.”

          Akiyama inhaled deeply, resisting the urge not to immediately burst into laughter. A curious mix of outrage and amusement filled him. After a moment of consideration ( emphasized by crossed arms and a familiar lean to one side ), he found his ability to speak. “Let me get this straight. You’re telling me that THIS KEPT YOU HIDDEN FOR TWO AND A HALF, ALMOST THREE YEARS ? This was how you dressed while you were with Ogata?”

          “No. I wore this in Nagoya when I approached Tatsuo.”

          The loan shark’s eyebrows were just short of leaving his face. “Shinada-san said you scared Nagoya to death wandering around like you did ; I finally see why. Daigo  ―  you look like a two - bit detective out of a fictional mob world. Go change or I’m selling the seats.”

          Daigo clearly intended to fight back, as his sharp inhale and half - turned stance indicated, but he was stopped by Akiyama raising his phone. A long nonverbal fight between the pair followed, drawn - out by the former Chairman’s seemingly ridiculous wealth of obstinance. The ex - yakuza inevitably budged when Akiyama’s thumb moved over the screen, hovering near the image of the mobile passes on it. Daigo stalked back to his bedroom with his teeth clenched. Once there, he flung his previous garments to the side and sighed. Fingers combed back through his hair as he considered his options. They were realistically few, especially since he couldn’t back down from wearing a disguise. It had become a point of pride with Akiyama’s rejection of his go - to favorite. Grumbling under his breath, the former Chairman yielded to the phantom whispers from his memories. 

          This took a little more time to prepare. Daigo found the container he needed with fortunate ease. The items inside still smelled faintly of the beach as a result of being sealed all of these years. He hadn’t kept much of his wardrobe from that time, but there was enough to put something together for the rest of one day. First came the blue jeans : a purposefully faded color with cuffed ends and a knee torn out aesthetically. They left his ankles bare, which showed off his all - white boat shoes. Second was his choice of tops. A black t - shirt was layered beneath a dark - gray, lightly patterned zip - up hoodie. Daigo left it open and rolled the sleeves to his elbows. The final touches included a barrage of accessories. He kept his watch on his wrist and decorated the opposite with an array of leather cords and strings of puka shells. Around his neck hung a tiered necklace of wire - wrapped fragments of colored sea glass. The most startling of them was a rare scarlet piece at the bottom that had been painstakingly shaped into a bird by the artist who sold it to him. Daigo’s sunglasses hung from his pocket. A clip - on earring with two stacked puka shells was affixed to his left ear.

          Satisfied with his wardrobe, the ex - yakuza entered the bathroom with a sense of determination. He used his trusty comb to divide his hair into layers. Half of it was tied back into a small ponytail while the rest slid across his shoulders. A few strands hung free of his tie entirely and framed his face. 

          Daigo returned to his apartment’s living space. He unfolded his sunglasses and tucked them into his gray locks. In this outfit, his posture was kept purposefully leisurely  ―  a call - back to old habits. 

          “There,” he declared to his lover, brow raised. One of his hands settled into his jeans pocket while the other gestured down his front. “Can we go, Shun? If you keep denying all of my options, we’ll miss the game. I do not want to waste those seats.”

[dojimakaichou]

SENT FROM @akiiyamashun​​  ―   ( from here / accepting )

“Report it to who? They wouldn’t care.”

★. ―

“ Yeah. That’s not the fucking point, Akiyama - san.” Daigo looked over his shoulder blearily. He sighed and leaned over the open door of the refrigerator, ignoring that it creaked. Whatever he was rooting around for would remain a mystery, as his attention was pulled toward the homeless individual on his sofa. “I didn’t say they would give it a damn, it’s  ―  ”

         The brawler stood straight then, slammed the door shut ( not so much from agitation as it was his normal harsh and sharp movements ), and walked closer to Akiyama. He picked up the bottle of pills in front of the other and frowned. Daigo didn’t know a thing about medicines, but he could tell this one was making Akiyama sick. He hadn’t been this nauseous when Daigo first brought him home, and it did concern the older man. The last thing they needed was for Akiyama to strain his stitches throwing up or not get well due to lack of nourishment. 

          When the brawler suggested calling the hospital and reporting it in the hopes of getting a change, however, Akiyama had been quick to argue. Daigo appreciated his sentiment : he knew how quickly the staff worked to get him out every time he went in. The looks that they gave Akiyama had to have been similar ( or worse )  ―  especially with the King of Kamurocho signing off for him despite no clear familial or legal connection between the two. That Daigo had left with Akiyama and his paperwork with next to no fuss highlighted how little the system thought of either. 

          Daigo set the bottle down. “Listen : this shit is about to put you back on your ass, and I’m going to let that happen,” the brawler scowled. “ I’LL CALL. I’m going out, anyway ; if they’ve got better stuff that won’t make you hurl, I’ll get it.” There was no evidence in his voice that the older man was lying. He hadn’t planned to leave his apartment today, but this was significant enough to warrant venturing past the door.

           Daigo caught sight of something in Akiyama’s expression then. Was that  .    .    .  shame? It was an emotion the King of Kamurocho had glimpsed a few times now in the younger man’s features since bringing him here. Perhaps for taking Daigo out of his way for Akiyama’s sake or some belief on Akiyama’s part that he shouldn’t be helped  ―  whatever the damn reason for it, Daigo hated to see that crop up in Akiyama’s face. 

          Daigo whistled between his teeth. The piercing sound made Akiyama flinch, but it prompted him to look at the brawler. “You said you would yell if you needed help,” Daigo said in reference to the ex - banker’s near fall to the floor the other morning. “This counts, you know.” 

          With a grin, the street gang leader left the room. The sounds of him moving around his bedroom to change out of sweatpants and a t - shirt were obvious. Daigo was many things, but quiet was not one of them. His voice echoed out into the living area not long after the last rustle. Daigo was indeed making good on his word to contact the hospital. The conversation was fairly quick, all elements considered, and Daigo was pleased to hear there was an alternative painkiller that Akiyama could try. He ended the call with the promise to come fetched the filled medicine soon. It would cost him some yen for the transportation ( he hated the thought of wasting time walking at the expense of Akiyama’s discomfort, so the train would do ), but that didn’t matter to Daigo. There would be a ring he could bet on in the next few nights or even a match to jump into himself, he was sure.

          Daigo walked out of his room as he shouldered on the infamous puffer coat that so often marked him in the streets. “I’ll be back,” he said simply. 

          The brawler’s palm barely brushed the door to open it when he heard his name. ‘ Dojima - san ’ was voiced in between the King of Kamurocho’s booted footsteps. Daigo froze and half - turned toward the sofa, eyebrow raised. His gaze met Akiyama’s.

          “Thank you,” the homeless man said, voice low. 

[dojimakaichou]

SENT FROM @akiiyamashun​​​  ―   ( from here / accepting )

[ shudder ]  –  for the sender to shudder a little at some gentle touch from the receiver.

★. ―

Daigo looked up from where he sat on the sofa. He smiled as Akiyama sauntered in. The moneylender smelled sharply of the street. Daigo could sense that his mate was tired  ―  not that he was surprised by that. It was almost morning, and the younger man had been out all night. Akiyama shrugged off his jacket and draped it over the closest chair. A finger was lifted toward Daigo.

          “Don’t tell me ! You’re  .    .    .  ” Akiyama thought for a moment. He was still getting used to that little part of his mind that seemed to have woken up since properly mating with Daigo. The elder vampire felt a note of amusement across their bond. It was one they both shared. His tablet was switched off and set to the side while Daigo waited for his lover’s answer. 

          “  ―  curious ?? ” Akiyama ventured.

          Daigo nodded. “It was your first time by yourself. I was wondering how humans reacted to you without me.” He knew that his presence tended to be off - putting. Between the two of them, the former Chairman stuck out significantly more.

          Akiyama grinned and walked over to his mate. His slender figure dropped heavily next to Daigo and sprawled out leisurely over the remainder of the cushions. Daigo laughed softly and lifted a broad arm to let the moneylender lay against his thigh. Akiyama’s head landed in Daigo’s lap. Glimmering gold caught the ex - yakuza’s attention. Cool fingers snaked around the loan shark’s front and toyed with the delicate chain his lover’s familiar phoenix pendant hung on.

          At the gentle touch, Akiyama shuddered. His body was hotter than the average human’s by two or three degrees now ( the measurements tended to fluctuate when they took them, but that seemed to be the range ) ; Daigo’s icy skin, thusly, had a tendency to send a shiver down Akiyama’s spine when it surprised him.

          “That was my fault,” the older creature whispered, looking at Akiyama from half - closed eyes. Glittering scarlet met a similar shade of red. “I should have warned you.”

          Before Daigo could pull away, Akiyama reached up and grabbed his hand to keep it in place. He liked the cool feeling, and moments like these reminded him of their lives prior to this. The former Chairman had always played with Akiyama’s pendant while they rested together. Daigo smiled appreciatively and carried on. His gaze followed Akiyama’s small movements to find the just right spot with what could only be described as adoration. A strange emotion in eyes that belonged to a predator, but the sentiment was there. The supernatural ring in each of his irises glowed. Daigo was at peace  ―  a feeling he hadn’t felt since Akiyama left right after dark fell.

          “Good,” Akiyama said suddenly. At his mate’s raised eyebrow, the loan shark chuckled. “That I did notice all day   ―  night. You were worrying your head off, Dojima, and you can’t deny it. I’m in there.” Akiyama tapped the side of his own head for emphasis. Daigo swatted the gesture away playfully, mouth pressed into a thin line. 

          “You still haven’t told me, Shun,” the ex - yakuza remarked in a feeble effort to change the subject. Fortunately, his blood was sat still ; otherwise, he would have blushed. 

          “Eh ? Right. The humans.” Akiyama folded his free arm behind his head. “They were fine. No one noticed the teeth or nails. I did have a question about the eyes, but I suppose that comes with the territory. Beyond that  .    .    .  ”

            Daigo allowed himself a light sigh in gratitude to the strange forces at work in his cursed blood that had gifted his beloved phoenix with such remarkable camouflage. The former Chairman had a much harder time blending in with their prey. His irises were too abnormal to be excused for an unusual color or medical condition. When individuals bumped into him, they often noticed how cold he was to interact with and glanced over. Crowds were a nightmare. Previously, Daigo favored slipping away and changing into another shape to follow Akiyama when the latter was human and entered a heavily populated area. It was easier than fielding strange looks or concerned murmurs asking if he was alright. That Akiyama didn’t face the same challenges when alone was comforting to hear.

          “You may as well have been one of them,” Daigo finished. His fingertips brushed over Akiyama’s flesh, stroking absentmindedly at the patch of exposed skin bared by his mate’s refusal to button any garment. There was no envious edge in Daigo’s voice, as one might predict  ―  he had accepted his strange physiology long ago. The vampire was relieved at the news of Akiyama’s successful outing, and it showed in how his shoulders loosened.

          Akiyama turned his head and nestled into Daigo’s forearm as his lashes fluttered shut. “ Yeah, ” he breathed. “Exactly like that. Like nothing changed.” 

[dojimakaichou]

SENT FROM @akiiyamashun​  ―   ( from here / accepting )

[ MELT ] for the taller muse to lean down so they can bury their face into the shorter one’s shoulder.

A new eatery had opened in Kamurocho. Like many in the district, it promised to be open well past twilight. Daigo’s transformed diet wouldn’t take kindly to the fare, but his lover seemed interested in the menu. Akiyama leaned toward the laminated papers plastered in the window to take a look. The couple remained paused in front of the place while he browsed ; the amount of seafood paired with pasta eventually earned an agreeable grade from the loan shark. Daigo stepped in after him. 

          As they entered, a sprig of willow fell between them. Its long green leaves fluttered harmlessly with the motion. With a frown ( more so at the chuckle Akiyama did little to hide seeing the shock on Daigo’s face ), the creature peeled off one of his thick gloves and grasped the branch gently. He was wary of the fragile plant snagging on the material that usually kept his impressive claws hidden. Shaped, long nails weren’t out of the ordinary, but he hated leaving any inhuman hints uncovered.

          One of the employees darted over quickly to apologize. Her mortification was soothed by the pair waving it away. The owner of the establishment was Chinese, the girl explained, and putting willow above a door was supposed to help ward away evil. Given the recent storm brewing under Kamurocho’s skin, they had placed it up there this morning.

          Daigo smiled as he tucked the branch into its appointed nook. He put his glove back on and followed the employee to a small table in the corner. Throughout Akiyama’s meal, Daigo accepted only a glass of water, and that was strategically shifted closer to the moneylender as time wore on. Human food tasted foul to the creature. He was always happy to accompany Akiyama when he wanted to go out, however ; though Daigo couldn’t enjoy the dishes that were being served, he was still fond of the company. Akiyama often described the flavors as he ate, too  ―  letting Daigo savor in his imagination what it would be like if he were still human. 

          This practice also gave hints as to what the vampire might taste from the loan shark if he fed soon. Tonight was a scheduled instance for Daigo to feed. Enough time had passed since the last, and Akiyama’s body was therefore replenished. It was important to both of them to keep track of that interval : the last thing Daigo wanted was to take too frequently and risk Akiyama’s health.  ―  especially with the supposedly random attacks from Triad thugs getting more frequent. The younger man needed his full strength when his supernatural lover couldn’t be there to protect him. Absently, Daigo fussed with a mark on the table - top. He still felt strong, perhaps a little hungry but nothing painful ; as much as he would be interested in tasting this new eatery’s menu in Akiyama’s blood later, he recognized that he could wait another night. Every extra hour he could give the moneylender’s body would help.  

          Some time later, Daigo was pulled from his thoughts abruptly by Akiyama wrapping his hand around his. The vampire didn’t know how long he had sat there in a daze, staring out the window. He looked at Akiyama, startled, and then registered the itch. There was a burning sensation on his palm and wrist that he couldn’t shake.

          “Hey  .    .    .  are you okay?” Akiyama asked quietly, half - risen from his chair to study the creature closer. “I can see your eyes through the sunglasses.” The brilliant rings of gold in Daigo’s scarlet irises were abnormally bright. He had seen them flare up before when the ex - yakuza was truly spooked, but they never stayed that way. Akiyama glanced at his watch. This stretch was going on ten minutes.

          Daigo furrowed his brow and freed his fingers from the younger man’s grasp. Hidden by the table, he removed his glove. Where he previously interacted with the sprig of willow was clearly defined. Red, swollen welts in the shape of the leaves decorated his pale flesh. There were additional lines running from the marks across his veins that disappeared into the former Chairman’s sleeve.

          “Fuck,” Akiyama whispered, “that can’t be good.”

          Daigo winced as the moneylender’s fingertips brushed over the damage. He shook his head, covered them again, and got to his feet. “I’ll be outside,” the vampire declared. Akiyama picked out the trembling in his voice in spite of the older man’s efforts to cover it. As Daigo crossed under the willow, the branch fell again, hanging ominously behind his departed back. Akiyama watched it with widened eyes. The same employee came to fix it, grumbling that it shouldn’t be there if it was going to cause so much trouble. 

          Luckily, Akiyama had his tab paid. He stood once the offending branch was fixed, handed the girl a generous tip for her time, and left. It didn’t take long for him to find Daigo ; the dark corners of alleys were settings that the vampire favored.

          Daigo was leaning against the cool stone wall. His long coat, gloves, and sunglasses were piled unceremoniously at his feet whilst shaking fingers rolled up his shirt sleeve. Akiyama could see the light of Daigo’s tattoo shining through his clothing the moment he spied the vampire, which was highly concerning. The sacred ink was clearly agitated by whatever was happening to the creature. In the flickering light above, the willow’s effects were ghastly. When Akiyama rounded the front of Daigo, he was struck by the intensity of his eyes and the grim realization of how far the willow’s influence was spread. His lover’s shirt was half - open, and that telling crimson outline webbed over his veins was running rampant on his chest.

          “Does it hurt?” Akiyama asked.

          Daigo nodded after a minute. “When I was young, I was allergic to a common pain medication,” he answered. He pressed a hand to the worst of the welts and winced. “My mother only found out because I had a bad reaction to it. I broke out in hives  ―  like this, but  .    .    .  this fucking burns. It’s inside of me.” The vampire hissed between his teeth. 

         Before he could reach for his clothing, Akiyama swooped in and grabbed it. He then offered his arm to the creature. Fortunately, they weren’t far from the basement apartment that Daigo rented. The pair stuck to the labyrinth - like paths off of the street that connected Kamurocho together. Daigo was reluctant to travel as a cloud of smoke, which would have gotten them there significantly faster, in light of how he felt. By the time Akiyama was opening the door to the hall to ensure there was no one around, Daigo was leaning into him. This was different from the instance that the loan shark had drank alcohol and fed Daigo the same evening ; the vampire’s sickness manifested then in the form of vomiting and stomach pains. It hadn’t been hard to pinpoint what caused that illness in Daigo. What he faced now was  .    .    .  an allergy ? a mystical reaction ? the divine wrath of a  ―  tree ? The helplessness of Daigo’s isolation was once again impressed on the moneylender. There was no one to ask or form of physician to summon ( if such a profession even existed in the vampiric world ). Daigo was alone.

          Akiyama gripped Daigo’s arm.  ―  well, a little less alone than he used to be, at least.

          Inside, the creature paused. Inevitably, he opted for a shower. The cool water helped soothe his agitated flesh and reduced the swelling lightly. Daigo left the curtain open while he stood in the spray. Akiyama hovered just outside of it, hands removed from his pockets in case he needed to catch his lover. He couldn’t possibly hold Daigo on his own if the vampire collapsed, but his arms could help lower him to safety. Once Daigo was finished, the loan shark grabbed a towel and placed it around the ex - yakuza. His motions were gentle on the welts themselves. That the former Chairman’s irises were dull in spite of their gold accent’s ferocity worried him. Hopefully, he was only tired.

          As if to accent that thought, Daigo lowered his head. He leaned down and nestled into the moneylender’s shoulder. Large hands gripped his shirt, twisting the fabric. Damp hair settled against Akiyama’s throat.

          “You should eat, Daigo - kun,” the younger man encouraged. It was such an easy suggestion these days : the act of offering up his own neck ( or limb ) to Daigo’s teeth was perfectly natural. “It might help you  ―  ”

          Daigo shook his head, breaking Akiyama’s thought. “I just want to sleep,” he murmured, muffled by Akiyama’s jacket. His claws curled into the fabric. 

          With the loan shark’s help, he left the bathroom and made his way to bed. The vampire collapsed into it with a groan and clenched teeth. He rolled over onto his back immediately, forearm draped across his eyes. Daigo’s veins were almost entirely mapped out, and significant patches of skin were turning bright red. Akiyama went to quickly fetch their latest notebook of vampire miscellany and brought it back into the room. A chair was pulled up to the side of the mattress. Akiyama lounged into the plush backing and spread the pages open in his lap. His palm landed on Daigo’s closest arm and stroked at a small area of unmarred flesh. The ex - yakuza fell asleep at once, jaw locked and features clearly showing his distress.

          Akiyama recorded a few bullet points regarding the incident as he studied the vampire. There wasn’t anything else he could do but watch over him and write, and the moneylender had no intention of leaving the creature’s side until Daigo was on his feet.

          Willow branch : wards off evil and gives vampires painful hives.           [ . . . ]  what else in hiding in plain sight that could hurt him ?           [ . . . ]  does this mean the universe calls vampires ‘ evil ’ ?

[dojimakaichou]

SENT FROM @akiiyamashun​​  ―   ( from here / accepting )

[ JACKET ]: sender notices the receiver beginning to shake after an immensely distressing incident, and removes their own jacket to wrap it around the receiver’s shoulders.

★. ―

The news was boring, but Daigo was glad for that. Flickering programs broken by bits of footage were nostalgic, and the regular broadcasts helped him keep track of the days when little else in his world did. He was sat on his couch, legs crossed and stiff back to the cushions, as he watched the screen. It was only when Akiyama  ―  fresh in from the streets of Kamurocho  ―  sat next to him that the vampire’s attention was pulled away.

          Daigo’s red eyes glowed harshly in the gloom that the ( once ) older creature preferred. His head turned toward Akiyama, and he smiled. Tips of pointed teeth and lengthy fangs were revealed with the slight parting of his lips. These alien aspects of the ex - yakuza’s appearance were unsettling at the beginning of their relationship, but now Akiyama met Daigo’s stare with an easy confidence. The vampire still startled him occasionally, though that had more to do with the lack of sound he made when he moved. Seeing that scarlet light and the gleam of Daigo’s mouth around the corner without warning was enough to make a man jump out of his skin.

          Daigo leaned in to press a light kiss to the edge of Akiyama’s jaw in greeting. An ice - cold hand settled on the loan shark’s thigh. He hovered there for a moment, seeming to gather some information that interested him. Inevitably, the vampire moved back to his previous position on the sofa. “You had ramen,” Daigo said flatly. His fingers stroked the top of the moneylender’s leg affectionately.

          Akiyama didn’t ask how his lover knew. Daigo’s sense of smell was incredible, and he often gleaned information about Akiyama’s day through the scents that clung to his breath and clothes. “I stopped at Kyushu No. 1 Star on the way here,” the loan shark affirmed. “Did you ever have their Black Tonkotsu?”

         Daigo frowned thoughtfully. “Isn’t that  .    .    .  they used the blackened garlic oil in that ramen, right? I think I liked it.”

          A warm palm settled atop Daigo’s hand and curled around it. Akiyama nodded. His next task was one that the couple had developed for the vampire’s sake. Daigo missed food. It all tasted rotten to him. Even a mouthful of water was the same as swallowing sewage. To help keep his memories pleasant, Akiyama made mental notes regarding his meals to share later. His efforts seemed to make Daigo happy, and that was enough for Akiyama to continue doing it.

        “Mhm. Think tonkotsu ramen but with thicker noodles. The garlic oil is really pungent, but it’s delicious.” The moneylender squeezed Daigo’s fingers. He ignored the pricks of sharp claws against his soft skin. “I even asked them to add extra oil to ward off any vampires that might be lurking around Kamurocho.” His teasing was answered with a fond sigh from Daigo. Akiyama chuckled when the creature’s touch slipped free and shoved into his upper arm playfully.

         Daigo erased the rest of the room that existed between them. He shifted closer to Akiyama and kissed him properly this time. The vampire’s teeth scraped Akiyama’s lips, but they didn’t draw blood. They were easier to navigate around than one might think. Daigo’s enthusiasm was met with equal gusto, and he felt his body sink in to Akiyama’s side. Their difference in height was erased with how Daigo draped over the loan shark. When they parted, Akiyama struggled to catch his breath  ―  something that Daigo took as a personal victory. The loan shark grinned at the way Daigo looked ; if he was capable of it, the vampire would have had a flushed face.

          “You’ll have to stop in tomorrow and tell them it didn’t work,” the ex - yakuza whispered. Clawed fingertips curled into the front of Akiyama’s shirt.

          Any further teasing was stopped by the sound of Daigo’s name. The vampire blinked at the realization it hadn’t come from Akiyama. He had forgotten the television was on. Another mention of ‘ Daigo Dojima ’ ( who else but him ? ) prompted the creature to look sharply at the newscast being shown. His torso pushed gently away from the loan shark.

          ‘ FIVE YEARS SINCE THE DEATH OF THE TOJO CLAN’S SIXTH CHAIRMAN ’ was emblazoned across a banner at the bottom. Daigo felt a stab to his gut at the intensity of the lettering, and his breath caught. The snippets of video interlaced with the figures discussing the events of years prior were segments from Daigo’s funeral. Portions of it had been shared for public viewing at the time. It was one of the largest events in yakuza history ; civilians were curious at the flood of individuals that came to Kamurocho for it. The reason for it being dredged back up was to announce on this broadcast tonight that the Tojo Clan would be holding a brief second memorial to mark five years since Dojima’s passing. An unusual but not wholly unexpected gesture by the Clan’s Seventh Chairman, who was surrounded by the legends Daigo left behind to lead him. 

           Aching guilt and an old, long - festering pain arose in Daigo’s center. His gaze widened as he took in the program. A flash of a photograph  ―  the face of the Clan’s Lieutenant Advisor, the Mad Dog himself  ―  made Daigo flinch. His great frame started to tremble.

          Akiyama grabbed for the remote and killed the television without a second thought. It wouldn’t do much good. The damage was done, but there was no point in adding more as far as the moneylender was concerned. Daigo wasn’t here anymore. The vampire was back at THE HARBOR. Akiyama quickly shouldered out of his famous blazer. He fanned it out around Daigo’s shoulders and scooched to the edge of the furniture to get a better look at him. 

          It was the smell. Daigo inhaled deeply in an effort to steady his spinning mind. Akiyama’s unique scent filled his senses. The striped maroon piece was rich with it. Faint cologne from the morning, sweat, the mark of Sky Finance’s couch, a hint of garlic. All that was missing was a cigarette, but Daigo knew he wouldn’t find it on the fabric. Not anymore. Akiyama had quit for his sake. The ex - yakuza felt a hand at his cheek, and he nuzzled into it. Akiyama’s voice, so layered and musical in nature, filled his sensitive ears.

          Comforting murmurs were issued. Tender reminders that it was 2017 ; that the vampire was safe ; that Akiyama was here. Daigo was drawn into the loan shark’s chest. Strong arms wound around the moneylender as the creature found the perfect way to hold onto the other. His features were buried into the curve of Akiyama’s neck. The motions were answered by Akiyama holding him in turn. He continued to talk softly in the gathered darkness as Daigo gradually calmed. Little by little, his shuddering figure relaxed into Akiyama.

          There was a wet spot on the front of the loan shark’s shirt. Daigo didn’t cry in the way that humans did. His tears were sluggish and almost black in color. They had taken to calling it blood, though neither of them were sure exactly what the substance was. It stained horribly, however, and this cloth was likely a goner. No matter : it would join the graveyard of clothing that their experimentation and sharp fangs had ruined previously.

          Once Daigo was stable, he pulled away. The coloration of his tears on pale cheeks accented his ghastly appearance. Such contrasting trails highlighted the hollowness of his face. Daigo looked gaunt. Akiyama understood what that meant. Daigo would never admit to it without being prompted, but he was HUNGRY. 

          ―  at least he was on schedule ( and that was part of the reason for Akiyama’s visit ).

          “Shun  .    .    .  ” Daigo whispered. He swallowed thickly and wiped at the ‘ blood ’ that leaked out of his eyes with his rough - textured hands. The vampire didn’t return the moneylender’s blazer quite yet. His smell was too sweet to give up.

          “Why don’t we get you something to eat?” Akiyama asked. He smiled and closed the distance in order to kiss Daigo’s lips briefly. Another distraction in a line of small things that kept the creature’s focus away from what he had seen. Daigo’s eagerness at the mention of food was reflected in the intensity that he replied to the loan shark with. Good, Akiyama thought.

          Daigo’s fingers tangled into his lover’s dark hair. He refused to let Akiyama go far at their separation. Scarlet irises glittered with excitement. The pain he registered at the newscast sat heavily in his center, but he was able to move past it. His instincts demanded the nourishment that Akiyama so generously offered.

          The vampire grinned, slanted, and that shape emphasized his fearsome hardware. “Bedroom,” he hissed. Daigo’s nails scraped at the back of Akiyama’s head. “  ―  please.”

[dojimakaichou]

SENT FROM @akiiyamashun​​  ―   ( from here / accepting )

❛  just face it , you’re stuck with me now - whether you want to or not.  ❜

★. ―

Daigo’s torso rested on his thick tail. He was curled up, a mix of deep black and vivid purple scales, near the entrance of the pod’s cave. It was the most comfortable way for him to lay when his massive dorsal fin was taken into consideration. Though it could lay flat, it was far more relaxing to keep it partially - raised and waving gently in the water. Long, glossy hair pooled over his coils. Daigo’s face ( patterned by the same delicate and pale scales of his underside ) gazed forward  ―  out into the unending blue of their world.

          Akiyama swam close. He gave Daigo a wide berth purposefully, wary of the other creature’s impressive, scarred tail ; the merman spooked easily ( though no one could blame him given his history ) and it was best to approach carefully. After a moment, Daigo caught sight of Akiyama : a glimmering shape the hue of the sunset hovering at the corner of his eye.  ―  or fire, as his mate said. Daigo still preferred to compare his fellow merman to the disappearing sun and the way it colored the water ; fire was not an element he understood well. A gleam of flame from a shoreline or a burning boat, maybe. 

          Daigo rumbled out a brief greeting. The deep noise was issued from his chest. He left the conversation there at first, content to return to his post. However, Akiyama had other plans. Satisfied with Daigo’s ‘ hello, ’ he came closer. 

          “When are we going out?” Akiyama asked. His slender body rested next to Daigo. When they were together, the differences between them were apparent. Their colors were in direct contrast, as was how they were built. Akiyama was intended for speed and agility, whereas Daigo favored brute strength and used his immense size to his advantage.

          A rattling noise, similar to a laugh, left Daigo. “ ‘ We ? ’ ” he stressed. “You want to come again?”

          Akiyama nodded. A week or so ago  ―  time was difficult down here  ―  he had asked Daigo to start teaching him more. Where the boundaries of his territory laid ; how best to fight other marine life ; the best tactics to disguise and defend the pod’s home from various threats. He was determined to learn all that he could. His promise to Azumi sat heavily on his mind. Akiyama was determined to keep his family safe, as he had sworn, and taking instruction from the menacing merfolk at his side seemed like the most obvious choice of action.

          “Just face it : you’re stuck with me,” Akiyama joked. Were Daigo human - born, he would have bumped into his shoulder to add to his humorous remark. The merman, he knew, wouldn’t understand the gesture. “Whether you want to or not, I’ll be with you.” 

          There came another guttural but friendly sound from Daigo. He uncurled slowly then. Akiyama ducked in time to avoid that tail as it swept over him. It shifted an incredible amount of water, and the simple motion caused a current that shook the younger merman’s fins. Daigo grinned at Akiyama. Strong arms shoved away from his perch and into the abyss. His body half - turned. The change extended a silent invitation to Akiyama, who took it gratefully. He swam out to meet Daigo.

          A thunderous warning poured out from Daigo’s chest : keep up. As he started to swim away, Akiyama fell into place. A softer, high - pitched vocalization came from the former human. It was a sort of ‘ thank you, ’ a note of gratitude. Daigo responded to it with a flick of his tail, though his expression held a degree of pride at Akiyama’s fluency.

[dojimakaichou]

SENT FROM @akiiyamashun​​​ ( hand in hand / accepting ) ―

∆ COMFORT ∆  -  sender places their hand atop the receiver’s to comfort them.

★. ―

He should be home. He should have been home hours ago, really  ―  it was 9 p.m. Daigo had yet to make his commute or cook food, and the first of his alarms would be sounding out in seven hours. Unfortunately, the ex - yakuza wasn’t likely to leave soon.

          There were few people left in Osamu’s office complex. The halls, void of the usual crowd, glowed with the harsh lighting from overhead. Daigo didn’t mind the emptiness of the place, however ; it let him think without wondering after the muttering that had started to follow him. To sit in Osamu without the rest of its employees afforded a sense of safety that lately his work environment felt lacking in. 

          Everyone knew now. In the last few months, Daigo had opted to become public with his romantic partner ( to officially call him his ‘ boyfriend ’ ) and that seemed to have finally trickled down to be common knowledge. The former Chairman had anticipated the problems that would accompany this : the society he lived in was infamously unfriendly toward any couples that weren’t THE STANDARD  ―  particularly in business. His pseudo - uncles, trusted advisors then and now, were the ones he told first. Their laughter and fond ‘ it’s about time ’ mentality only reminded Daigo of how marvelously unique they were. It was his close friend and business partner, Watase, that paused during their call after being made aware. His lengthy silence had marked the start of it. When acceptance came, it was often grudging and felt as though it was built on the back of respect for him. At the points in which Daigo received disapproval, it came in the form of whispers, pointed fingers, and raised eyebrows. No one was bold enough to challenge him directly ( much to Daigo’s displeasure ), but it was obvious that the world around him responded differently than it had before. It didn’t help that Osamu had lost two major partners recently  ―  the first three weeks ago and the second today. Both cited ‘ differences in values ’ ( or some wording thereof ), but Daigo knew what they were looking at specifically. 

          If ex - Tojo were murmuring about him in the walls of his own company, there was no doubt in his mind that the business elite of Tokyo spoke about him much the same. For so long, Daigo had served as the link between that world and Kamurocho. He liked to think that he mingled well enough, and the romanticized stories swirling about regarding his dangerous past carried a startling charm that helped him in those circles. Daigo could only imagine what they sounded like at the moment : a chattering flock in pressed suits complaining that he was DANGEROUS. The irony of that was not lost on Daigo. They loved to speculate about his exploits as the king of the underworld, but they drew the line at the thought of him kissing another man.

          The former Chairman sat at his desk, polished dress shoes crossed beneath it and back slanted into his chair. His hand rested over his face. Daigo’s gray hair, which had long ago worked itself free of the gel he used in the mornings, was mussed from the amount of times he had raked his fingers through it.

          A soft knock at the open door of his office prompted Daigo to look up in alarm. His countenance was smoothed over at the sight of Akiyama standing there with a hand in his trousers pocket. In the other was a take - out bag, which he lifted to bring Daigo’s attention to and then set to the side. The delicious smell of pork tonkatsu, cabbage, and rice soon filled the space. 

          “I was getting ready to leave,” Daigo said tiredly. He sat up, wincing at how stiff his back had become, and allowed a small sigh to pass his lips. The ex - yakuza rose gingerly.

          “Is that why your jacket’s still off?” Akiyama teased, nodding toward the garment slung over the arm of nearby chair. 

          With a wave of his hand, the older man crossed the room to his beloved coffee maker. It was hardly a usual office fixture, but Daigo depended on the little machine too much to have it any farther. His doctor liked to complain about the former Chairman’s rampant caffeine consumption  ―  but she also wasn’t too fond of his love for all things sweet or incessant smoking, neither of which he had stopped yet. Daigo used the pot to refill his discarded mug and gave the dark liquid a taste. It was still warm, and he appreciated the way it coated his throat.

          “I lost,” Daigo eventually said. The omission was soft and given up grudgingly, but he knew it was important information. “I worked the entire fucking day trying to appease them, too ; they’re still insisting that they would like to negotiate out of our current contracts.” 

          Akiyama sat quietly on the small sofa in the little sitting area Daigo had established to the side of his office. He leaned back into the furniture, though he didn’t fully lounge in an effort to maintain his ability to stand quickly. To anyone else, the behavior may have seemed odd. Daigo was clearly experiencing some kind of distress, and the popular assumption would have been to attempt comforting him then. Akiyama, however, knew better. The agitated fidgeting, the tight grip on the mug handle, the way Daigo’s mouth was turned, the gleam in his eye  ―  trying to soothe the ex - yakuza now would be futile. He was ANGRY and needed space to blow himself out. Responding to the trembling of Daigo’s body and the balling of his free hand into a fist with gentleness would do nothing but infuriate him further. Akiyama’s keen stare studied Daigo, taking note of the subtle changes in his lover, as he listened. There was a sense of relief that came at seeing Daigo deposit his coffee on his desk. That was a crisis waiting to happen. 

          “A ‘ difference in values ’ is what they said. It’s what they all say.” Daigo turned from his desk and began to pace through the room, long strides stalking along an invisible but oft - traveled path. “  ―  and there’s not a damn thing I can do about it. Do you know what I hate? Out of all of this? They won’t just fucking say it. It’s obvious that their issue isn’t with the company  ―  it’s with me  ―  but they will never come out and tell me that. I don’t understand why they don’t. There’s legally not a thing I can do ; they could at least be honest.”

          Daigo’s voice grew louder as he walked, and the refinement was gradually stripped out of it. He sounded more and more like HIMSELF, like the street - running and wild - eyed soul with a vicious temper that existed beneath the layers of careful neutrality and proper behavior forced onto him. The ex - yakuza ignored the figure of his partner and the offered meal while he ranted. His frustrations with the way he saw his business being treated poured out of him in a mix of scathing statements and continuous expletives. Daigo finally roared, long and loud. He wound an arm back and whirled toward the wall. At the last second, his fist opened and came back to him. His hands raked back through his hair and wound into his coarse gray locks.

          “ DAIGO. ” Akiyama approached him. The moneylender saw the former Chairman’s arms fall and took his opportunity. He placed his fingers on Daigo’s back to illustrate where he was and stepped around his front. Fingertips gripped his boyfriend’s shirt collar and pulled his head down. Akiyama kissed him, slow and sure. The tension in Daigo’s body persisted for several minutes yet, but he gradually relaxed. 

          Akiyama’s smile persisted when he released his partner. His limb snuck around Daigo’s waist to keep him close. In reply, the ex - yakuza pressed a hand to Akiyama’s chest. “Take a breath,” the moneylender encouraged softly. “Just for a minute. I promise the wall won’t get you ; I’ve got my eye on it.” He knew his voice had an unusual power over the older man. Daigo was drawn to it ( as his boyfriend was to his ), and Akiyama used that to his advantage to ensnare Daigo’s focus. His free hand came up to rest on top of the ex - yakuza’s.

          “It won’t be easy, but Osamu will find the right partners for it,” Akiyama said with confidence. “As for the rest of the world  .    .    .  we’ll show them. It might take time, but we’ll find a way to. They’ll learn how wrong they are to judge so quickly.  ―  besides, you’ve come back from how many attempts on your life? A bunch of cowards in suits is nothing. They’re not even worth Osamu having connections with.”

          Daigo grinned in response, and the peculiar slant of that smile told Akiyama that he was feeling more at ease. “  .    .    .  if you’re referring only to lethal ones : three gunshots, two stabbings, and four  .    .    .  ” Daigo bit off the last topic. He inhaled deeply. The former Chairman leaned in for another kiss ( a short, sweet, and grateful embrace ). His expression was tired and troubled, but it appeared that Akiyama had helped with the weight of the day enormously. 

          The ex - yakuza stepped back and straightened his vest. Daigo smoothed the front of his attire and pulled at his sleeves as he stepped toward the food. “Thank you for this,” he added.

          “You know, since you were about to leave, Daigo,” Akiyama teased, hands finding their way into his pockets as he canted his head. “Why don’t you put that in the refrigerator for lunch tomorrow? I’ll take you out tonight instead.”

[dojimakaichou]

SENT FROM @akiiyamashun​  ―   ( from here / accepting )

“I don’t remember the last time I slept.”

★. ―

Daigo yawned and shook his head. He stretched leisurely, leaned against the counter, and glanced over his shoulder. The sight of his mate coming into the kitchen prompted Daigo to smile. 

          Wrapped in his beloved phoenix’s arms was a bright - eyed infant that was only two weeks old. She fussed, fist pushing into her mouth. Akiyama gently removed her hand and bounced her until she calmed. Daigo chuckled as he watched the loan shark attempt to stifle a yawn of his own.

          “I don’t remember the last time I slept,” Akiyama said softly, grinning in spite of his statement. 

          Daigo murmured in agreement. He pushed away from the granite and nuzzled into Akiyama’s neck. A hand laced under the baby, who cooed in response to the shift in motion, while his other wound around Akiyama’s back. The moneylender settled into the embrace gratefully. Akiyama could sense his lover’s contentment  ―  being around Kiriko, as she was affectionately called by the pair, seemed to soothe something in the older creature that Akiyama had never been able to reach. No amount of sleepless nights ( days ) could change that.

           It was also the reason Akiyama doubted they would ever give her up after this. 

           Daigo untangled from his mate and plucked the bottle from the warm water on the counter. He tested the temperature first to make sure Kiriko’s meal wasn’t too hot for her. She was curiously picky. Room temperature formula was all but refused ; if it wasn’t lukewarm, she would eat slowly and without any gusto. Daigo offered the baby bottle to Akiyama first, allowing him to be the final test of its heat, and then followed his lover to the couch. 

           “Why don’t you feed her?” Akiyama asked. “Here  ―  ”

          The loan shark sat next to Daigo and deposited Kiriko into the crook of his arm. Akiyama folded the blanket she was laying in over his mate’s fingers to help cover his claws and quietly positioned the bottle against his palm. A pang of fear bloomed up in their bond. Daigo was deeply afraid of accidentally hurting her. After a moment, he carefully offered the meal. Kiriko accepted it enthusiastically, which removed some of the tension in Daigo’s broad shoulders. Akiyama curled into Daigo’s side as they watched her.

          “We should find a home for her,” Daigo said quietly. “No one has come to retrieve that box  .    .    .  or answered the tips we planted.”

          Akiyama recognized the sadness his lover felt at the suggestion and resisted the urge to laugh fondly at how Daigo tried to muffle it. They had yet to discuss the matter openly, but it was clear to the moneylender that it was already decided emotionally. The details would come with time. 

          “We can talk about it tomorrow,” Akiyama replied.

          Daigo’s gratitude was evident. He relaxed further into the furniture and his mate. ‘ The next day ’ was the creature’s temporary shield. It wouldn’t hold forever  ―  he knew that. Melissa’s inquiries about the baby’s placement were growing more frequent, and there was no way to hide her from his co - leader. The queen knew the newborn’s smell ( plus, Daigo’s exhaustion, the king’s distracted mind, and Akiyama’s greater absence were obvious ). 

         “She’s growing well,” Daigo commented. “I can’t believe she’s two weeks already.” 

          A local physician with a ( fortunate ) love of money was paid a handsome sum of money to examine Kiriko once a week. They had confirmed following Daigo’s initial discovery of the baby that she was indeed new to the world the night the monarch found her. As sad as that was to hear, Daigo was glad for how easy it was to track her milestones. Though, no amount of charts or frantically - researched advice online could prepare him for the reality of raising their fragile charge.

          Akiyama reached over and gently clasped his fingers over Daigo’s, which were starting to slip along the plastic outside of the bottle. He knew to be wary of his lover’s claws. Kiriko, now pleased with a half - full stomach, was eager to reach for things. Her fist knocked harmlessly against the back of Akiyama’s hand, and Daigo smiled.

[dojimakaichou]

SENT FROM @akiiyamashun​ ―   ( unprompted / always accepting )

It was both the strangest and the best thing - knowing how Daigo felt without needing to speak up; to merely glance at his direction and feel the echo of his own needs, desires and concerns sharing the same space of his own thoughts. Akiyama knew the importance of the bond prior to turning - but nothing really compared to experiencing it fully. The younger one gazed at the former chairman with wonder - to think that he had endured so much, so alone and terribly lost. Daigo had been turned against his will and given nothing but the worst of his un-life at the beginning. A lesser person would have gone mad, perhaps even attempted to end his new existence - but now, with this feeling of being a soul occupying two bodies at the same time, the mere idea that the other could disappear was unthinkable. There would be no meaning to anything without Daigo. The loan shark moved closer to his lover and maker - they had been sharing the same couch already, but the way that Akiyama came to be so near to the other clearly meant that he had different plans. A pair of red orbs found another, and he traced the older vampire's visage with calid fingertips - even the contrast relating to the color of their skin looked magical, and the trails created by his digits lingered like superficial sunburns, almost as if he hoped to map Daigo's features now he too had been embraced by the night. Akiyama then slid a hand towards the side of the ex-chairman's neck - and a tingling feeling from the back of their link confirmed his suspicions. That was the place where Katsura once attacked Daigo, unaware of how badly it would turn out to be for both of them. The former ruler of the local coven died as a result, and the moneylender could feel the reason why - although he wasn't looking directly at the deity protecting his lover, to approach it now created some sort of reaction. Something similar to a low, almost imperceptible hum - as if there was a special energy linked to it that kept Daigo free of harm and only allowed Akiyama to be this close given his role. That pleased the younger one immensely - to know that Acala recognized his sacrifice and boundless adoration for Daigo to let him be this close to the other, free of any nasty collateral effects. Akiyama looked up at his mate then, needing to move so very little given how comfortably nestled he was on the ex-yakuza's lap - he no longer needed to say the words, but he wanted to. "I want to take it away - these horrible memories that you still have from that night," he murmured quietly, the echo of Daigo's fear and desperation sometimes reaching him through the bond when his dreams were too vivid during the day, "I promise I'll be gentle," he added, resting his forehead against his lover's, pressing a soft kiss to his lips before going to the same place where his hand was - and all the while, the soft breathing of a body that so smartly emulated a human one announced its final destination, preparing the former Tojo chairman for the main act. Another caress over the area followed - Akiyama had an inkling of the precise location thanks to the feelings and memories shared to an extent now, and then hid his face against the curve of Daigo's neck like he had done to him a thousand times before. This time, with the roles reversed - the fangs of the young vampire were put to use, and he made contact with the colder, paler skin with the utmost care before finally breaking it, effectively biting his lover while embracing him and allowing the older one to feel everything. From the emotions reverberating through their bond to the evident care and affection with the bite, Akiyama truly hoped that this night would serve to give his mate a lovely, pleasing memory to replace the old one.

★. ―

Daigo was drawn out of his book by the curious emotion resonating across the bond with his mate. The former Chairman threw the reading material onto the floor lightly, out of the way, and sat back into the furniture. Daigo’s eyes narrowed thoughtfully at Akiyama, thin lips parted to ask the questions brewing on his tongue. He gazed at his beloved phoenix, parceling through the subtle hints offered in the back of his thoughts. Daigo’s contemplation was stopped at the feeling of the moneylender’s fingertips at his face. 

          To think  ―  as if to directly counter all of the time they had spent preparing for Akiyama to be cold and dead ( like himself )  ―  the loan shark now ran warmer than he had in his mortal life. It was a difference most humans wouldn’t notice, but the creature who had changed him recognized the extra two or three degrees. Daigo shuddered under Akiyama’s tender display, comforted by the soothing touch and temperature. He accepted his mate moving onto his lap without complaint, an arm wound securely around the younger creature’s back.

          At the first movement over his neck, the vampire’s hand tightened against Akiyama’s side. The particular location was not physically sensitive, but even gentle interaction with it prompted a wash of memories to claw up from the depths of Daigo’s memory. An inkling of his lover’s desire cut through the elder’s recollection. Daigo rested his unoccupied hand on the moneylender’s thigh.

          “Shun,” he murmured. His usually firm expression had a touch of vulnerability to it that was reserved for the newly - turned vampire alone. Daigo willed his blood to move instinctively before Akiyama even spoke. He was  .    .    .  unsure about revisiting that part of his body with sharp fangs, but Daigo trusted his companion more than anyone else in the world. To be bitten there and have that gesture be reclaimed from the gaunt, horrific image of Katsura festering in his head would be welcome.

          The ex - yakuza didn’t offer verbal consent to Akiyama’s proposition. Daigo’s sluggish, awakening heartbeat and their bond affirmed that he had no arguments  ―  only understandable reservations from what happened before. He whimpered softly in reply to Akiyama’s kiss, clearly nervous. The gold ring in his scarlet irises was significantly brighter than normal, which signaled that there was a rising fear in the elder of the creatures.

          When Akiyama’s fangs sank into his flesh ( not quite warmed yet ), Daigo sucked in a breath. His chest rose into Akiyama’s, back lifted briefly from the cushion. Daigo’s mouth opened, fearsome hardware exposed with a gesture that seemed close to a silent scream. Though his initial reaction was arguably concerning, their bond begged the younger vampire to continue. The ex - yakuza was a fighter by nature  ―  backing down was not in his vocabulary. Daigo fought to breathe, fought to recall how as the jagged sounds escaped his throat. 

         He remembered Katsura. The night he chose Daigo as his prey, he was angry. Eager to tear into flesh and take the blood as a secondary prize. No one was sure what had driven him to such a senseless act of violence, but Daigo felt under those claws that Katsura had done it before. There was no mistaking the behavior now that he was his attacker’s equal. Katsura had leapt into the wandering Chairman and raked at his back, shredding fabric and skin without a second thought. Forcing Daigo to his knees ; twisting his arms back with such a viciousness that they slipped free of his shoulders and the bones snapped ; grabbing Daigo’s hair in a clawed fist and yanking his head to the side  .    .    .  all before the bite. Katsura knew what he was doing  ―  Daigo would stop screaming, would stop suffering once the venom from Katsura’s fangs began to circle through his system. A dead meal, however, was equally not as acceptable. The ancient had finally bit into Daigo’s neck, clearly soured by the fact that Daigo would not be in the same agony, but that motion was as unnecessarily harsh as its predecessors. Katsura didn’t just push his fangs into Daigo’s vein : he tore at the spot, clamping down with his incisors and pushing as deep into the wound as contact with the mortal allowed.

          There were times that Daigo wished the injuries from his unexpected transformation hadn’t healed over while he laid helpless on the ground. He wanted to show those marks to the associates of Katsura’s that still existed in the coven, have them see what exactly a vampire that viewed humans as cattle did without provocation. Daigo knew that if those scars had persisted, they would knot over his half of his face, neck, and back like thick rope. That his ink had survived enough under its mangled canvas to fight Katsura on his behalf still stupefied Daigo. 

           As Akiyama took mouthfuls of blood from his mate, Daigo couldn’t help but think of Katsura’s attack. He replayed it, nearly lost in that night, and his frame shook in spite of Akiyama’s care. Daigo inhaled in an effort to clear how tight his chest had become. As the air rushed in, his mate’s scent came with it.

          Little by little, Daigo started to relax under Akiyama. The familiar smell of his lover was calming. Daigo swallowed thickly, eventually able to close his jaws. His grip on the loan shark loosened. Though he continued to tremble, Daigo fell into the couch. Hearing Akiyama feed was strangely comforting.  

         This was not Katsura. Daigo stroked Akiyama’s thigh leisurely, blowing out a long breath. His cheeks were a light pink. This was Akiyama. The man he treasured. The mate he would walk with for the rest of eternity. 

         A vampire’s venom did not do the same to a fellow vampire as it would to a human, but it carried a pleasing quality to it nonetheless. The ex - yakuza likened it to being drunk as his spine settled into the furniture again. There was a buzz over his brain. It was nothing he couldn’t fight if he wanted, but he frankly had no desire to combat the moneylender. Akiyama’s bite was replacing Katsura’s attack bit by bit. Daigo was content to succumb to his mate and make room for Akiyama’s affectionate hold to remove Katsura’s agonizing one.

          “If only you could leave a mark  .    .    .  ” Daigo said airily, biting back a quiet whine that threatened to suddenly roll past his lips. “  ―  so I could imagine some days that it was you who changed me, Shun.” His voice had a rough edge and deeper volume to it. The words were slow. Daigo gasped softly at a faint turn of Akiyama’s fangs. Arousal rippled through their bond, as well as appreciation and gratitude. It was evident Daigo had let go and given his mate’s venom control ; he was happy to be so malleable beneath Akiyama’s warm hands. Let the moneylender have him and wipe Katsura’s cold grip from his memories.

          Thank you, he said, despite the words not passing his teeth. Akiyama would know. 

[dojimakaichou]

[ TILT ] sender uses two fingers to lift receiver’s chin to look them in the eye

domestic intimacy prompts ★ accepting

★. ―

The ex - yakuza was at the table, reading from his tablet. It was a rare weekend day where he hadn’t decided to take a field trip to his private office or Osamu proper  ―  for once, Daigo seemed content to relax at home. He sat with his legs crossed. One hand idly spun the stylus for his tablet through his fingers. His coarse hair wasn’t slicked back in his normal style, but he had done his best to pull it out of his face. This left his small silver reading glasses perfectly displayed.

         Daigo glanced up when he heard the first sounds of the loan shark shuffling into the main room. He chuckled lightly at Akiyama’s disheveled appearance. The moneylender, still partially - asleep, stopped beside Daigo’s chair. He reached out and placed two fingers under the older man’s chin in order to lift his head the rest of the way. Those were  .    .    .  reading glasses. Akiyama blinked and leaned back. 

          “Those look nice,” Akiyama murmured, lips curling into a smile. “Very stately. They’re a good style for someone your age, Daigo-kun.”

          It took a moment for the comment to register. Daigo’s expression suddenly verged on thunderous, mouth narrowing to a thin line. Sensing imminent danger, Akiyama quickly dropped his touch and scurried forward. Daigo scowled at how swift the slender man was. His pointed swat with the back of his tablet should have connected with Akiyama’s bottom, but it merely glanced off of a retreating thigh. Nonetheless, the amount of force behind it was startling. Akiyama winced at the sharp pain that bloomed on his leg as he rounded the table to safety. 

          Akiyama had discovered that there were two consistent facts with Daigo Dojima. The first was that he aged frustratingly well. Faint lines gathered at his eyes and mouth ; the dignified flecked gray of his hair ; even this latest discovery concerning the glasses  ―  the ex - yakuza only seemed to look better with every change. In a similar vein was the second fact : Akiyama was convinced that the passage of time only made Daigo stronger. He had been a force to reckon with in their youth, sure, but not to the extent he was now. The former Chairman possessed a body that could make professional strongmen jealous, and those muscles weren’t merely for show ( as his stinging skin was evidence of ).

          “I said they looked nice on you!” Akiyama objected, leaning forward over the back of another chair.

          “Alright.” Daigo arched a brow. He set his tablet onto the table with a decisive thump and regarded his lover with a jagged grin. “ Come here and say it again, then. You know that the hearing starts to go at my age ; I might have misheard.”

[dojimakaichou]

‘ you did this on purpose, didn’t you? ’

only one bed ★ accepting

★. ―

The former yakuza sighed. His arms were crossed over his chest with one limb folded up at the elbow. A hand rested against coarse facial hair. Daigo regarded the situation before them with a thoughtful frown.

          In keeping with Western tradition, Melissa and company and lovingly persuaded her husband and a group of his associates to travel to Los Angeles for an informal bachelor party. It was only for two days, but Daigo was DISGRUNTLED at the mere thought of parting from his wife. Thusly, Sasaki had stepped up to book hotel accommodations for everyone. The men were paired off : Junichiro and Sasaki ; Majima and Saejima ; Watase and Shinada ; Daigo and Akiyama. Daigo had grumbled fondly at the choice of bunkmate that was made for him, but Sasaki was quick to point out that it was at the request of Melissa and Okamura. Evidently, they were afraid that Shinada and Akiyama would wander off or get into trouble if not given someone with a more firm demeanor to watch out for them.

           What Sasaki failed to mention when he made the arrangements was that each room had ONE BED  ―  a fact hardly troubling to the others but irritating to a man who was loathe to have people so close. ( especially when he was known to be rather cuddly in his sleep, regardless of what company was with him. )

          “My secretary did it,” Daigo said with a sense of resignation. He paced around the room briefly. There were no additional ways to make this work, either : no sign of a cot, couch, or much room to sprawl out on the floor.

          In short  .    .    .  they were stuck.

          The ex - Chairman sat gingerly on the edge of the bed and regarded Akiyama pointedly. “I assure you that I had nothing to do with this,” he replied. “Since Sasaki-san is fluent in English, as well, he has NO EXCUSE.”

          Daigo leaned back into the covers stiffly. It seemed spacious enough. Perhaps, with the right amount of cushioning in between them, he could avoid an embarrassing incident by the time morning rolled around. Daigo patted the mattress after a moment.

          “Come here, Akiyama-san  ―  let’s sort this out. So long as neither of us tells Melissa or Okamura-san, we should escape this with our pride intact.”