Baipā was incredibly restless. He was pacing back and forth. Mind in overdrive.
He hasn't seen you since your escaping from him and the others. After that.. silence. He knows that Mikey got you.. again. Hanma told him. Though that wasn't making him feel easy. Cornered in a tight spot, that's how he felt and he wasn't so sure how to continue on. Where to continue. They were in a way at square one. Something that wasn't supposed to happen. Something that wasn't even in their mind.
He got a briefing of what happened. Itsuki found her but got, practically, raided by Ran Haitani. And that was the end of it.
Hanma didn't know more, only that Mikey ordered for a meeting of the executives. Leaving Hanma out of it. It was unusual but who was he to go against his manic boss. Hanma had, no doubt, no ounce of fear nor the feeling, empathy or sympathy for death. And he never feared for his own life but Mikey.. Mikey was one he didn't want to mess with no more. In his younger days perhaps. It was fun. It was really fun to challenge him to fights back in his teenage days.
Now?
Mikey is different. Life is different. Dull.
"Stop pacing like a psycho in front of me!" Hanma huffed out and rolled his eyes. Getting slightly irritated with Baipās pacing. "Leave me alone!", Baipā snapped back. "I'm gonna get her out-", "We! We are gonna get her out!" Baipā corrected Hanma sharply. His gaze dropping to the dual colored male who did nothing but smoke a cigarette. Lazily slouching on the couch.
Said man, once more, rolled his eyes. "Instead of snapping at me like a bitch and walk around like a psycho, how about you calm down and we start brainstorming?" Baipā paused and looked at him, shaking is head when he narrowed his eyes. "You should leave."
"What?" Hanma glared back at Baipā. "You're kicking me out?", "I'm not kicking you out.. I need some fucking time for myself right now. I need to think. I need to make up a new plan. You want me to brainstorm? Then leave." Hanma clicked his tongue. Reaching towards the couch table, he put out his cigarette and left it in the ashtray. He stood up and fixed his attire and calmly walked past Baipā. "I'm watching your every move, Baipā. Don't try to fuck me over. It's gonna end up bad for you", Hanma said in a low threatening voice. Baipā only scoffed at that. "Whatever.. leave. Now."
The door closed behind Baipā. The man running a hand through his hair in annoyance. There was literally nothing he could do but not doing anything, wasn't an option either. No matter what, they need to keep moving. Moving and moving until he or the others could reach you with even the tip of their fingers.
He let out a sigh before pulling out his phone and dialing the number of his new companion.
Itsuki.
After two rings the white haired male took the call, his voice booming through the speaker, "(hey hey there.)"
"Any news?"
"(No. Isamu tried to get some info on the low but the Koh Brothers got a bit suspicious and Mishima is keeping distance from Bonten until further notice.)"
"Why are the Koh Brothers suspicious?", Baipā asked. His brows furrowed, worry settling in his body system for his brother. "(I don't know. Isamu and I went out, which isn't unusual from us. In all honesty. But I guess with all the things that had happened, they're keeping a close eye on everything... also.. Isamu told me not to mention it but Joker has been acting incredibly weird lately..)"
"What do you mean, acting weird lately?"
"(We're keeping watch. I'll tell you more if I know more later)"
"Alright.. Is Isamu with you?"
"(No, he's out. I have a meeting with Madame Rouge later so call him yourself.)" Itsuki and Baipā didn't exchange more. There was no need for it anyway so shortly after that, they hung up.
Baipā was about to dial his brothers number when his assistant knocked on the door, telling him, "a Nikushimi Sensou Member arrived. He's asking for a meet up!" Baipā furrowed his brows, nodding his head at his assistant when he grabbed a gun and hid it behind his back. Suspicion settling in but relieve quickly washing over him when he was his brother walk in. "You bastard! I thought someone else was coming!"
"I don't have time to announce myself." Isamu simply replied to him, letting himself fall back onto the couch of Baipās office. "Who was here?" He saw the cigarette, a brand that Baipā wasn't smoking as far as he knew in the short amount of time they spend time together again. "Hanma.. I gotta keep him a lengths arm away. He's.. He is getting bit bold and direct.. I don't like that.. Also.. what's with Joker?"
"fuck.. I told him not to tell you", Isamu sighed. Running a hand through his hair. Annoyance clear on his face. Fishing out the pack of cigarettes from his dress pants. He took a cigarette out, wanting nothing more than to smoke right now before he gets interrogated by his own elder brother. "Why are you still keeping secrets?", "It's nothing against you, Baipā. I'm just.. fuck.. I don't want you to.. worry.. about more than you should." "I should be flattered. That my own little brother doesn't want me to worry but.. Jesus, Isamu.. be for real. We're on a plan to betray everyone here with our names, automatically, written on a Hitlist. I have to Know when someones acting suspicious. We can't miss any fucking detail."
"I know.. I know. Sorry.. Joker just has been snooping around. I can't exactly say that he's actively working against us but I can't also say that he's working with us.. it's like he's... working independently from Nikushimi.. and Mishimas orders."
"What were the exact orders?"
"Stay on stand by until Bonten needs us. We're doing all our own business at the moment though. Clubs, deals, partnerships and so on. But joker.. Joker has been working weird..". "can you elaborate?"
"Not really.. I'm trying to figure out more. It's just his behavior and my gut feeling, I guess.."
"okay", Baipā sighed. He patted Isamus shoulder. "It'll be fine. We're just gonna keep watch over Joker and Hanma.. Hopefully it stays with these two.."
Itsukis sighed, almost regretting to not have Isamu do this meeting. Though the least suspicious person to and the least watched person is Itsuki, himself. Even though everyone saw, that after (y/n) he got more vocal and a bit more open - well at least with her - they still considered him as the rather silent outcast.
So, yeah.. he took this chance to visit Madame Rouge without being watched, followed and at the end interrogated.
But fuck.. he did almost regret it.
"I'm so happy to see you.. even though I would've wished to see Isamu more. You're also quite the looker. A very.. exotic look. I like it", she said. Licking her cherry red lips as she watched him fidget in his seat.
Scratch everything.. he does regret it.
"Listen.. I came here to talk about (y/n)-." Before he could even finish his sentence, she gasped. Startling him a bit. "Mentioning another woman's name in front of a women you're seeing.. you're not quite the gentleman."
He furrowed his brows, eyes narrowing as he observed her. Hoping she was just being sarcastic and joking but it seemed like.. she meant it. "I thought you were working with us?" Itsuki tilted his head slightly back. His narrowed eyes still focused on her. Sharp gaze as he watched her every move. Trying to figure out what was going on in her head. Wondering if she got paid by someone else. If it was Hanmas doing or if Bonten figured something out. "I suppose I do", she sighed. Taking a drag from her extendable cigarette holder which held her slim cigarette delicately.
Real classy.
"What do you mean by that?"
"That everyone knows, if this plan fails.. I will spend a good amount of money to buy her from Bonten and sell her", she smirked. Her light blue eyes, almost icy, staring back at him daringly. "I thought you were on a good relationship with her?" "Oh, don't mistaken me. I do like her. She's a feisty little cute thing. But I am also a business woman. Can you imagine how much money I would receive from a beautiful thing like her in my solid collection?"
"So why are you helping in the first place?" Itsuki asked. Trying to keep his voice level headed and calm which was getting harder and harder by the seconds that passed. Mixed emotions on the entire ordeal. Oh how he did wish Isamu was here instead of him. "Cause I like her bite. She bites back and I certainly can tell you, I do not like the men around her nor around me. She is a disrespectful little wrench and it gives me so much pleasure..", she moaned. "A little vixen."
"I'm sorry to disappoint you but Bonten has her locked up.-" "She's alive. That's all that matters."
"I can't fucking believe this", Itsuki muttered underneath his breath. "I am, just providing the money. Darling. Everything else is on you or the others.", "we need help!"
Madame Rouge sighed, "annoying little prick." She abruptly stood up from her desk, startling Itsuki as his eyes stayed sharply on hers. She turned towards the window of her office. The cigarette long out and her hands clasped together behind her back. It looked like Madame Rouge was contemplating something, leaving Itsuki with nothing more than to wait for whatever she had to say or would do. After a moment or two of silence, she sighed a bit defeated.
Turning around she walked towards her desk again, leaning her hands against it, "listen.. you men are incompetent as ever. Hopeless." Madame Rouges voice sharp and laced with accusations. "Of course you would come crawling to me for help. But it's fine. You need help? I will give it to you!"
"what's the condition?", "the condition?" She laughed, a hand in front of her face. "My condition is simple. You and the others disappear from my eyesight.. Forever!"
"Fine. I don't want to be here anyways", Itsuki huffed out, crossing his arms as he clicked his tongue in distaste. "Good! I'll lend you my girls. They will provide you any information you need and they have.. My eyes and ears are everywhere. I know that you and your little friends are in a corner. The girls will help you. Use.them.wisely!"
Hanma was sitting in his car. Phone in hand. Dialing one of the guys from Kazuyas gang that are his now. "(what's up, Boss?)"
"I have some work for you.. Keep an eye out on Baipā and report any suspicious activity towards me"
__________
Authors Note
hello 👉🏻👈🏻🥹