Archive of Our Own

Oda didn't think much of what he put on the TV, he just wanted white noise while cleaning up their shoe box apartment. He regrets that now, if only he put on something else, anything else, he would have been able to remain ignorant, he knew he wasn't a good person and did whatever it took to come out on top. Of all the possible things to come back to haunt him, how was he supposed to know that the woman he sold was Tachibana’s sister.

He wanted to deny it, pretend it wasn't real or that he was mistaken but the likeness was uncanny. He would never forget the pure hatred and fire in her eyes as she realised what Oda has done, where he's led her. He was a fool for not realizing sooner, he vividly remembers that same fire in Tachibana's eyes when they first met, when Tachibana wiped the floor with him and his gang without even breaking a sweat.

Oda tried swallowing the sudden lump in his throat, it was the middle of summer but he felt so cold. Were his hands shaking? He was torn from his spiral by the sound of lock turning and door opening.

“I'm back.” Came Tachibana's sweet voice. Under normal circumstances, Oda would've been eager to welcome him back and make him tea but he felt completely rooted to the spot. Unable to move and unable to speak.

“Oda-san?” Tachibana’s voice was dripping in concern and it churned Oda’s stomach, he doesn't deserve that kindness. Tachibana approached closer, every step felt like a whip across his back.

His head was spinning.

He couldn't breathe.

Tachibana reached his hand out and Oda recoiled away, his back hitting hard against the wall. Normally he'd seek Tachibana's touch like a dog starved for affection but now, if Tachibana touched him he feared his tainted self would sear his skin and bring more harm to him. Tachibana was visibly confused by this reaction as well, searching around the room for a possible hint. His eyes landed on the documentary playing, the girl long gone from the scene.

His eyes softened in misguided understanding and turned off the TV. Oda should speak, say something, tell Tachibana about his sister and beg for a forgiveness he doesn't deserve.

“The after effects of war are felt by many, even decades after it's over. There's no shame in getting lost in memories but such things would best be avoided if it's too much.” Tachibana said, no judgment in his voice, no disgust in his eyes. Oda opened his mouth to speak but no sound came out. He needed to tell Tachibana, he deserved to know exactly how lowly Oda is.

Tachibana held out a glass of water to Oda, that look of concern still there but now it was mixed with understanding. It was too kind, too pure, Oda had to look away. He inhaled deeply, the longer he delayed the harder it would be to admit it, he needed to rip it off like a bandaid.

“Sorry, I-” his tongue felt heavy. “It's never really bothered me before, I don't know why this time was different.” He said with a pitiful chuckle and Tachibana smiled warmly. He looked relieved to hear him speak.

Oda was a coward.

A disgusting coward who didn't deserve to breathe the same air as Tachibana, let alone be in his presence.

He took the water from the man's hand, careful not to touch his skin, and drank slowly. He couldn't lose Tachibana's presence in his life, no matter what. It was a selfish desire from an undeserving man, he'd only bring ruin to someone with so much potential as Tachibana and yet he couldn't let him go.

“That's alright, but you should be careful, if you get like that around someone else you'll be wide open for an attack.” Tachibana said, half joking and half serious.

“No problem aniki, I don't think it will happen again.” He still couldn't look Tachibana in the eye, he knew he noticed that, although it wouldn't be hard when Oda’s eye normally gravitates to Tachibana whenever he's around. He shook his head, trying to return to some semblance of his normal self. Oda placed his cup on the low table before standing up, if he drank anymore he was sure he'd puke.

“Sorry aniki, got a little side tracked and haven't finished cleaning, I'll do that right now.” Tachibana didn't reply and Oda was thankful for it, right now he wanted nothing more than to disappear deep into the Earth. Oda headed towards the sink, there weren't very many dishes left to clean. Truthfully he liked cleaning and the tasks allowed him to focus elsewhere but more importantly, Tachibana deserves the best he can offer and he didn't want him to deal with such menial tasks, not when he works so hard everyday.

“Oda-san.” Tachibana spoke, voice clear and projected, commanding. Oda froze, he hadn't even heard him move and yet he had him completely pinned by his body and the sink. He could feel his warmth seep through their clothes, sinking into his cold and clammy skin. Tachibana reached over, turning off the stream of water before flipping Oda around to face him. The move was sudden and done with enough force to knock the wind out of him. Before he was able to respond or process what had happened, Tachibana grabbed his chin and forced him to look at him.

“If you ever flinch away from me like that, I'll have to punish you.” he said with a faint smile. He said it so casually, almost jokingly but Oda knew from the grip on his chin and half lidded eyes that he was dead serious. In an instant the fear of tainting Tachibana was replaced with the fear of angering him, fear and a rush he wasn't ready to admit to himself. Oda rarely rejected physical affection, let alone Tachibana’s. He'd seen other's reject him before, a refused handshake or a flinch from the gang when he pat their shoulder but he never reacted beyond a sigh or unbothered smile.

Too lost in thought Oda failed to respond and Tachibana’s eyes became more intense. He felt the hand on his chin travel downward to his throat, pressure applied unforgivingly until he was wheezing with every attempted breath. He felt a heat surge through his body in a way that wasn't related to the typical summer heat. He was getting turned on from this and shame quickly flooded his body, making it even hotter.

“Do you understand, Oda-san?”

He nodded hastily.

The pressure around his throat increased and Tachibana’s body leaned closer.

“Say it please, Wei Tian.” He spoke directly into his ear, gasping when Tachibana’s leg was roughly shoved between his and rubbed painfully against his cock. There was definitely no denying how hard he was now.

“Y-…Yes, aniki.” The moment he gasped out the words, Tachibana released his grip and stepped away causing Oda to collapse to the floor like a marionette whose strings were cut. Tachibana looked down on him, although his expression was mainly hidden by the back light, Oda could tell he still had that faint smile on his face.

“That's good! I would hate to cause harm to Oda-san, take care not to do it again.” Tachibana said cheerfully, he crouched down to pat Oda’s head before walking off to the bathroom. He sat in silence for several minutes trying to process everything that happened. He stared at his filthy, tainted hands and shame flooded through him. Despite it all he was still painfully hard and panting like a dog. He only flinched away because he knew he didn't deserve that kindness, not with the knowledge of what he'd done but he never expected Tachibana to react like that nor his own body to react like that.

He wanted to leave the apartment, get out, if only for a few minutes but he couldn't in his condition and he had a feeling Tachibana wouldn't like that. Oda knew that the moment he met the other man he wouldn't be able to live without him but he never thought for a moment that Tachibana might feel the same. Would he still feel the same if he knew? Was there a way Oda could tell him where his sister might be without bearing everything?

Oda swallowed dryly, he willed his breathing to calm and prayed for his erection to subside. His thoughts were a complete mess and well beyond anything he could sort out. Right now he should just finish cleaning, a task he wouldn't have to think much on. Using the cupboard as a support, he stood on trembling legs. He almost crashed to the floor again when he attempted to take a step but managed to catch himself at that last moment.

The chores helped him calm down and allowed his mind to shut off, he didn't want to think about anything. He was hanging up the laundry to dry on the balcony when Tachibana finished his bath, his prosthetic hand removed and hair still slightly damp. Oda’s breath caught in his throat, he'd seen Tachibana lazing around in lounge clothes before but it never failed to make his heart skip a beat.

Tachibana turned his head to look directly at Oda, he had on his usual faint smile but his eyes were dark. Oda felt like they were an abyss staring right back at him, exposing his very existence. He could hear his blood rushing in his ears, every beat of his heart, every breath of his lungs. Those eyes had him completely pinned without any effort at all. He was a rabbit caught in a wolf’s sight.

“Ah, you're still here.” his smile widened a fraction. “If you had run I would have hunted you down and put a collar on you.” From anyone else, the words would have been a joke, from anyone else Oda would've punched them in their mouth for saying something like that. But Tachibana rarely joked and there was no stutter or hesitation in his voice. He could clearly picture it, a too fancy collar for someone like Oda with Tachibana’s ownership clearly on display. Within that moment, Oda realised he really wouldn't mind being owned like that, craving the rough fabric across his throat.

“I can see that won't be necessary though, at least not for now.” Tachibana didn't wait for a response, something Oda was thankful for as he didn't know how to voice his desires. Tachibana continued on to the kitchen, even one handed he was a much better cook than Oda ever hoped to be, sure what he cooked was edible but whatever Tachibana made was delicious.

Truthfully, Oda didn't think he'd be able to stomach much but for once, he really didn't want Tachibana's eyes on him. Even if it made him sick, he'd rather pretend to be normal than have Tachibana looking at him with those eyes again. Looking at him with eyes that seemed to bare his soul.

Oda didn't know what to do with himself anymore, he was done cleaning and turning on the TV didn't feel like an option. Getting out of the apartment would be best, going for a walk, getting into a fight or two would help clear his thoughts but he had a feeling Tachibana wouldn't like that. Likely wouldn't let him out of the door in the first place.

He heavily sat himself at the low table and lit a cigarette, bringing the ashtray closer. Despite his desire to not think about the girl, Oda’s thoughts immediately wandered to her. He never really considered the girls he sold, they were all undocumented, no friends and no family to come looking. He wasn't ignorant of what he was doing to them, what hell he forced them into. There was no way he could delude himself into thinking that the girl's buyer was anyone who could even be considered a good person, he wondered if she was still alive.

Oda couldn't fix what he had done nor did he want Tachibana to give out what he'd done, but maybe he could find her. Given the resemblance she was likely his sister and Tachibana always had such a fond look on his face the rare times he told Oda about his family. There is no doubt that Tachibana would never forgive him but maybe he'd still be willing to keep Oda by his side if he reunited them.

Oda let out a sudden hiss of pain and dropped his cigarette butt into the ashtray.

“Are you alright, Oda-san?” Tachibana said, voice full of concern. He almost flinched at the sound but willed himself to remain still.

“Yeah sorry, didn't realise how quickly the smoke was burning.” He replied, hoping it was said casually enough to satisfy Tachibana.

“Try to be more careful, I dislike when my things get damaged.” Tachibana said with a small chuckle, he said it so easily as if it was a given that Oda was Tachibana's property. Although he supposed that wasn't far from the truth.

“R-right. I'll be more careful.” Regardless of what the future holds, Oda could handle Tachibana hating him as long as he didn't abandon him.

He watched Tachibana cook, a soft hum on lips. Oda would do whatever it took to remain by his side, even if it meant tracking down the girl and bearing all of his darkest sins.

Oda woke up the next day in a cold sweat, nightmares of losing Tachibana plaguing his mind. He sat up and looked over at the man sleeping in the futon next to his, it calmed his heart a bit knowing he was still there. Tachibana looked surprisingly peaceful, ever since losing his hand, all the side effects from the medications, and general paranoia guys like them carry, it was rare to see. Oda wanted to protect this, he knew he wasn't a good person but Tachibana didn't deserve to pay for Oda’s crimes, he didn't deserve the nightmares and failing kidneys. He didn't deserve to lose a hand because Oda was too slow, too weak.

And now finding out he damned Tachibana's sister, the man's only family for all he knew, to the worst possible fates one could have. It made him sick.

No matter how much Oda tried to do better and be better for Tachibana, life had a way of reminding him how little he deserved. How much of a fuck he would always be.

He was a dog that couldn't even properly serve his master, not anymore.

His hands shook, he needed a smoke but lighting one right now could wake Tachibana and that's the last thing he wants.

‘I can't change anything about the past, I need to focus on what I can do now,’ Oda thought as he stood up and quietly put away his futon. 5:37am was too early to be awake but going back to sleep wasn't an option, Kamurocho is a city that didn't sleep and Oda may as well try to get a lead on the trafficking scene.

He left a note on the table for Tachibana, the man always had a habit of sleeping in unless Oda woke him so it wasn't something out of the ordinary for them. Oda knew Tachibana hated it whenever he left without proper notice, even if it was for a short amount of time. He always assumed it was part of what made Tachibana a good boss, always wanting to be in the know.

However the more Oda thought about it the more he realised something was off with that. Sure he did prefer the gang tell him if any members planned on fucking off for days without contact but he would only treat it like a mild inconvenience and a slap on the wrist when they didn't follow through, but Oda remembers the first time he went bar hopping until sun up. Tachibana didn't directly say anything but he didn't need to, not when he looked at Oda with such a cold glare despite his smile and casual, uncaring words. It took over a week before Tachibana permitted him to go anywhere without him.

Oda scratches his cheek lightly, he was a bit of a fool for not realising sooner, how differently he was treated. ‘It doesn't really matter anymore, Not when we're all we have left,’ he thought. The gang had long been broken up, any remaining never had joined a new gang, died, or attempted to live normally. Tachibana losing his arm made Oda realise how fragile the gang truly was. He quietly left the apartment, double checking that it was properly locked before stepping out onto the street. He had to find the girl, no matter what.

He spent the next several days searching for any information he could on the trafficking scene in Kamurocho. He knew it would have been more difficult now that he was in a different prefecture with very few connections but all these dead ends and empty leads were driving him to the brink.

Oda spent a lot of time running all over the city, doing whatever odd jobs people would offer. Ever since leaving Sotenbori, odd jobs were the only way they could make money and it provided the perfect cover for gathering information. With the amount of yakuza frequenting hostess bars, he was certain he'd be able to learn even the smallest of information when working as security but even completely shitfaced, they rarely said anything worth listening to. He got a good tip or two when doing construction but even that led nowhere other than extra bruises he had to explain to Tachibana.

Tachibana began worrying about him too, making his search even harder. His days were spent working and his nights were spent searching, it left little time to sleep. Oda knew he'd eventually have to stop his frantic search or he'd run the risk of Tachibana finding out what he was doing and why but the thought of simply being still, resting peacefully while Tachibana's sister could be dead or worse? It kept him too wired to sleep more than a few hours at most. He could still eat, being hungry affected his work more than a lack of sleep and regardless, he could never bring himself to reject Tachibana’s cooking, no matter what.

Last night, Tachibana said he had something he wanted to tell Oda but he'd only tell him in the morning. It was likely his way of forcing Oda to take a day off and sleep in, he knew full well that he'd do whatever Tachibana asked even if those asks were innocuous.

Predictably, Oda woke up before Tachibana and, unfortunately, before the sun as well. He should at least try to go back sleep, he knows that's why Tachibana didn't tell him whatever it was last night so he could keep Oda at home longer but the moment he closed his eyes he could only think of the girl, see her face as she realises Oda betrayed her. He sits up and holds his head in his hands, hoping his sudden wave of nausea would pass.

The panic raises in Oda, is that what Tachibana wanted to talk about? Did he know? No that can't be true or Tachibana wouldn't be sleeping so peacefully next to him. He tried to calm his breathing, he needed a smoke. He hesitantly stood up and bumbled around in the low light for his cigarettes and lighter, thankfully Tachibana remained sound asleep through all that.

Oda slid open the balcony door as quietly as he possibly could before stepping out. An unexpected cold breeze hit him, making him shiver. He lit his cigarette and took a long drag before exhaling into the sky above, the sun was starting to dawn and bathe the city in a pale pink light.

Its beauty was wasted on someone as scum as he was. The girl and Tachibana deserved to see such sights, not him.

If he could switch places with her right now- no. He stopped that line of thought, he knew he wouldn't, he knew what it was like to be at the mercy of someone else, to be their plaything to use and abuse whenever they wanted. None of that was new to him but he knew he'd never willingly choose to leave Tachibana's side, not unless the man himself ordered Oda to and if it ever came to that he was sure he'd prefer death.

Oda shook his head, willing his thoughts to change. He needed to get out and clear his head but Tachibana told him to stay, even if it would be hours before he was awake Oda would stay.

He sighed and just wished time could move a little faster right now.

The door was aggressively slammed open, startling Oda.

“Go back to bed.” Tachibana's voice sent a shiver down his spine, more than that little breeze.

Most people knew Tachibana as calm and poised as possible from the moment he woke up to the moment he went to sleep but Oda was one of the only people who knew just how much of that was Tachibana's persona. Whenever it was just the two of them, Tachibana was more relaxed and open and one of the first things Oda got to learn about him was how irritable he was when he just woke up. Especially if he got woken up early.

“I- I uh couldn't sleep.”

“I wasn't posing a question, Oda-san.” Tachibana stepped out onto the balcony barefoot, and grabbed the cigarette from Oda’s lips. Before he could protest, Tachibana snuffed it out in the ashtray. He then grabbed Oda’s wrist tightly and dragged him back inside. He didn't stop until he threw him onto Tachibana's futon before ungracefully flopping himself down as well.

His arms circled Oda like a vice and there was no chance of escape.

“You haven't been sleeping much. If I have to force you to, I will.” Tachibana said, voice still raspy from sleep. It was nice how much Tachibana cared about his well being but unfortunately for Oda, being this close to the man and cuddling with him, only had the opposite of the intended effect. Oda’s heart was racing, every place Tachibana touched him felt hot and made him hyper aware.

Oda wasn't sure if Tachibana could feel his jackrabbit heart beat or he just knew what Oda was like but he started to gently pat Oda’s head, smoothing down his ruffled locks.

“Shh.” He said, likely sensing Oda's question. “Don't think, just close your eyes.” And Oda did just that. It took a few minutes to get his racing heart to calm down, it helped to focus on the gentle hand.

Tachibana really was his best master.

When he next opened his eyes, the sun was high in the sky and flooding the apartment with its blinding light. He groaned, attempting to shift away from the light before he realised the heat of another body next to him. Oda wiggled, trying to dislodge the vice grip but it seemed to only make Tachibana grips even tighter.

What time was it? Surely Tachibana couldn't sleep for much longer right?

Oda was stuck between a rock and a hard place, he definitely didn't want to wake up Tachibana but he was starting to feel his bladder complain.

He waited a few seconds before shifting again, this time trying to also pry open Tachibana's fingers. The harder Oda tried the harder Tachibana gripper and he was starting to get desperate, there was no way he could stay like this just waiting for the other man to wake up on his own. It could be hours.

“A-aniki, please wake up.” No response.

“Tachibana Tetsu-san.” Nothing.

“Li Hua.” He felt a slight twitch, Tachibana was definitely fucking with him now and he was powerless. There was only one more thing he could try.

“Gege, please let me up.” He heard a small gasp behind him and felt the vice grip finally loosen enough to let him wiggle free. He heard Tachibana mutter something angrily in mandarin under his breath but Oda was in too much of a rush to process what was said.

By the time Oda finished his business, Tachibana had gotten up and started brewing tea. Oda would never admit it out of fear for his own safety but he always thought Tachibana was equal parts cute and terrifying when he first woke up. He has a deep scowl on his face with his eyes barely open, it just made him want to smooth out the furrow between his brows.

“Stop staring and have a seat, Oda-san.” He startled, he hadn't realised he was staring, he sheepishly sat down before he could do anything else embarrassing. Tachibana placed a cup of green tea in front of him, the summer heat was still bearing down on them but Oda was thankful nonetheless. Tachibana sat across from Oda, he took a sip from his own cup before gently placing it back on the table and turning his full attention to Oda.

“As I'm sure you'll recall, several days ago Kazama Shintaro requested to meet with me.” Oda frowned, he remembers the rare disagreement they got into over it. They have only been living in Kamurocho for a few months now but Oda would be stupid not to know the big names of the yakuza who run the city. He was strongly against Tachibana meeting with a top Tojo clan member and alone at that but once Tachibana's mind is made up, there's nothing he can do to change it. He feared what a man like that could say, did he know about Oda? Did the Tojo clan have connections to the Triad? He felt his throat tighten.

He opened his mouth to explain, maybe Tachibana would be more merciful if Oda came clean now.

The faint, icy smile on Tachibana's face stilled Oda’s tongue from any comments.

“Kazama-san informed me of some interesting but troubling news.” Tachibana paused for a moment, as if to figure out how to word what he wanted to say. Oda kept quiet, not saying a word, fear gripped his heart strongly.

“I have mentioned before that when I came to Japan I left my mother and younger sister behind.” He felt Tachibana's stare like heavy weight, he couldn't meet those eyes and instead stared at his mouth. Tachibana didn't like when Oda's eyes weren't on him when he spoke.

“I have been told my mother and sister had come to Japan and were staying with my grandfather. My mother has committed suicide and my grandfather has passed away, leaving a small but very important piece of land to my sister.” Tachibana let out a humourless chuckle. “It's funny, I didn't even know I had any relatives here and now I'm informed most of them are dead.”

“Oda-san.” Oda jumped, Tachibana’s voice dropped and his eyes hardened. “My sister has been missing for 4 years. Please help me find her.”

He didn't know.

Oda's disgusting secret was still hidden. He felt horrible but the crushing weight lifted off his shoulders and the lump in his throat lessened. Oda gently grabbed Tachibana's left hand, treating it like a sacred object he had no right to touch. He brought it up to his forehead, almost in prayer.

“I'll do whatever it takes to find your sister.” Tachibana's hand shifted down to caress Oda's face, he smiled so sweetly that he thought his heart was going to stop.

‘Ahh’ Oda thought, ‘this man is my saviour and demise.’

Tachibana Real Estate. It has a nice ring to it.

They started with a backing from that yakuza, Oda didn't like owing them favours but Tachibana said both themselves and Kazama had equal things to gain from the company. He was assured that there was very little risk in being in their pocket but Oda had his doubts, regardless, he would trust in Tachibana and carry out his wishes. At least they wouldn't have to be harassed for protection money from other families.

Real estate had fierce competition in Kamurocho, they had to contend with other legitimate companies with years of experience and local yakuza as well. It became equally a battle of wits and brawls for even the smallest property.

Oda never expected the people of Little Asia to be such a great asset to their company. Sure they had to be bribed for info but with Tachibana's charm and heritage, it wasn't hard to get them to offer up information on the most desired properties along with the shady history of those vying for it.

Using the cover of buying property, they searched for every bit of information they could about that small 3 by 3 property and its original owner. Oda could tell how much it meant to Tachibana to learn about the grandfather he didn't know he had. He wasn't obvious about it, if Oda didn't know the other man so well he would've been completely fooled into believing Tachibana genuinely cared about the history of all his properties.

It was almost magical watching Tachibana close deals and more than once he was able to de-escalate a tense situation from turning into another Kamurocho certified street fight. Oda didn't have the brains for administrative work or really anything that wasn't occasionally fighting on behalf of the company, it was a wonder that Tachibana kept him around for more important and delicate deals, especially when they were able to start hiring more staff.

With how fast the company was growing, Oda nearly forgot why they were doing this. He had become so focused on helping Tachibana grow his business that all thought of the girl had shifted to the back of his mind. He was momentarily deluded into thinking they were on top of the world with no end in sight but that all came crashing down when he was surrounded by five yakuza. He didn't know what family they were a part of but he knew it wasn't Dojima or Kazama.

Three in the front and two on the back, no alley or side street for him to duck into. They approached closer without a word and it was clear they wanted something more than a standard fight, their body language appeared casual but Oda could tell they were poised and ready in case he tried to run. He clicked his tongue in annoyance, today Oda had an important deal he was finally able to close out and Tachibana would be expecting word from him soon.

A fight would likely be pointless but if could get them off guard or break formation in some way he'd be able to make a run for it. He'd much rather be seen as a coward than to keep Tachibana waiting.

“Is there something you gentlemen wanted from me?” If there was a chatty guy amongst them, they would probably be the easiest to distract.

“The boss wants to see you, don't try anything stupid.” They all stepped closer and Oda was losing his escape chance by the second.

“Sorry but I think you have the wrong guy, no clue who your boss is.”

“Doesn't matter, he wants to see you and it would make things a whole lot easier if you came with us willingly.” The middle one in the front flashed a knife and threw his arm around Oda's shoulders. Before he could really think otherwise, Oda grabbed his arm and flung him forward, knocking him into one of the other guys. A yakuza from behind reacted quickly, turning Oda to face him and delivering a power right hook to his chin.

He stumbles against the wall and hastily dodges the next punch aimed at his face, he smirked a little at the satisfying crunch as the fist made contact with the concrete wall. Using the wall against his back as a prop, he kicked another one in the stomach and sent him crumbling to the ground. There was an opening now and Oda wasn't going to waste the opportunity.

He ran without looking back, he didn't know what they wanted and he wasn't keen on finding out. If he could just make it to Pink Street he could fade into the crowd and lose those yakuza guys. He was so focused on getting away he failed to notice a sixth guy waiting for him, Oda had no way of stopping his momentum. He felt it in slow motion, how the man grabbed his arm and the back of his suit to swing him against the wall. He knew he fucked up and there was nothing he could to stop it.

Oda was stunned by the impact, his vision momentarily went black. Before he could gather his senses or recover in any way, there was a sharp pain delivered to the back of his thigh causing his knees to give out. His chance of escape was low but now it was non-existent. He felt a knee press into his lower back and the cold steel of a knife against his throat, a warning not to struggle anymore. Oda froze, he no longer had a choice.

He felt the man roughly push off him shortly after Oda stopped moving. A powerful kick was aimed at his side and he couldn't stop the pained grunt from escaping his lips. He curled onto his side, trying to shield himself. It was a pointless effort when the next blow came in the form of his hair being grabbed and his head being slammed into the hard concrete below.

“You could've made this easy, y'know?” The man crouched next to him and grabbed Oda's hair again, bringing him to eye level. “good dogs should know when to listen.” He knew he shouldn't but Oda was acting before he could think better of it, he spit a mix of blood and saliva at the yakuza’s face. The man calmly wiped his face and stood up, Oda wasn't surprised by the next kick but that didn't make it hurt any less.

“Grab him and let's go, the boss is waiting.” He was roughly hauled up and his arm was thrown across someone's shoulder, he felt their hand snake around his waist. From the outside it must look like a typical drunken street brawl, no one would bat an eye at them. He felt dread begin to seep deep into his bones, he didn't know who these guys were, who their boss was and what he wanted. Tachibana was expecting him back soon, he'd want details of the meeting.

Tachibana waiting. That's all he could think about.

Tachibana would be disappointed at his pathetic display.

Oda was fading in and out of consciousness too much to know where he was being dragged. He tried to focus on the directions as much as possible, he may be at their mercy now but he wasn't willing to die so easily, not yet. He hung on as much as he could but the next thing he knew, he was being haphazardly thrown onto an expensive looking couch and told to wait quietly.

He had no idea where they were or how long he was out, if they were even still in Kamurocho anymore. He clenched his teeth in frustration, he was barely even able to right himself on the couch.

Pathetic.

Weak.

No, thoughts like that were worthless. He needed to get his bearings and start figuring out how to escape. If only he knew what they were after he may have been about to talk his way out or make some kind of deal. He slowly stood up and scanned the room. It was clean and lifeless, probably didn't have much use other than intimidation. There was a bookshelf to his left, it had a few standard decorations and some books. With nothing else to do he picked up one of the books and found it surprisingly light, he flipped the cover and found it hollow and empty. Nothing more than a fake display. His brief search was completely useless.

Unfortunately being stuck in this windowless room didn't give him any new information or possible options of escape. He couldn't tell what time of day it was nor how long had passed, he could feel his frustration building with more questions than answers. The only door to the room was locked and when he tried pulling it, a loud warning hit rang out. The door was being watched. He had no other choice but to wait for whoever this yakuza boss was.

He couldn't stand the waiting.

He tapped his arm impatiently, he could only hope they would get this over with quickly and wouldn't have to wait days. His body ached fiercely and anxiety was beginning to really creep in. Were they planning on just keeping him here until he died? If they were going to go through the trouble of kidnapping him, why make him wait like this.

At long last, he heard the door unlock and open. A man sauntered into the room, he seemed entirely uncaring and unbothered by the state Oda was in. No doubt this was the big boss, the reason Oda was roughed up and dragged here. He didn't like the look of him, he spent long enough around Tachibana to know the quiet confident ones were the scariest.

The man sat on the couch across from Oda and took out a smoke. One of the yakuza that brought him here seemed to materialise from nowhere to light the cigarette. Oda watched the yakuza silently leave and close the door behind him. The boss took a slow drag, eyes never leaving Oda. It greatly unnerved him. He felt like a rabbit caught in the sight of a wolf. He wanted to hide and never see this man again.

“I see my men had to be a little rough with you, I apologise for their behaviour.”

“Cut to the chase, we're past the point of the pleasantries.” Oda said in false bravado. He hoped the slight quiver in his voice was unnoticed but judging from the barely there upturn of the man's lips, he knew Oda was afraid.

“That will make things easier for both of us then.” The man reached over to snub out the remainder of his cigarette in the ashtray. “My name is Shibusawa Keiji, subsidiary of the Tojo clan and patriarch to the Shibusawa family.” He wasn't exactly surprised by this news, pretty much any yakuza in Kamurocho would have to be Tojo. The real question was what the hell did he want with Oda.

“And you are someone I know all about, Oda Jun or do you prefer Wei Tian?” He flinched, a name he long since abandoned and only recalled when uttered by Tachibana's lips. With one simple name, this man has revealed that he truly knew everything, after all, even when he was working with the Korean mafia he only used his Japanese name.

Shibusawa continues to speak, he knows he has Oda's full attention even if Oda’s mind is racing. “I also know that you have a master that you are very loyal to, I believe it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say you would do anything to stay by his side. Am I correct?” And just like that everything in Oda's body froze, it felt like all blood was drained from his body and he was left with nothing but ice. He tightened his fists, knuckles white. This man was using Tachibana to threaten Oda and he was powerless to defend him. He couldn't allow any harm to come to Tachibana, especially not because of him.

“Don't misunderstand, I do not mean to harm Tachibana Tetsu. Quite the opposite in fact, I would hate to see such a strong relationship broken by a youthful, foolish mistake.” The calmer Shibusawa was the more it unnerved Oda.

“What the hell are you implying?” He burst out and Oda cursed himself, Tachibana taught him to remain calm under pressure. Don't let them know they're getting under your skin, even if you slip up once, recover and pretend. But there was no way Oda could keep quiet. Shibusawa put out his hand, placating him but his expression sent a shiver down his spine. There was no doubt in his mind that Oda would be killed here if this man decided it was more trouble than it was worth.

“As I can see your impatience, I will get to the point. We know you used to have dealing with the Korean mafia and one of the girls' you sold to them was Makimura Makoto, Tachibana's sister. A few months ago she completely disappeared from the market.” Shibusawa rested his elbows on his knees and leaned in close, demanding Oda's complete attention.

“I'm proposing a simple enough offer for you. Assist me in finding the girl before Kazama does and your little, life altering, secret will be safe.” Oda swallowed. This man was basically offering him a get out of jail free card for doing something he already planned on doing but there had to be a catch. Before he could open his mouth to ask, Shibusawa continued. “There's one little caveat of course, once you find the girl, kill her.”

Shibusawa leaned his back against the couch, casual and uncaring. Oda's breath caught in his throat, choking him.

“It shouldn't be a problem for you, this wouldn't be the first time you'd have blood on your hands. A dog like you should know, no matter the master, you can't change the savage, selfish beast in you. The life of one girl is practically meaningless.” And he thought about it, it would be so easy. Tachibana didn't know, Kazama didn't know, and if the girl was dead then no one else would have to know and he could remain by Tachibana's side without worry.

It was so, so tempting.

But then Oda remembered the first time Tachibana had drunkenly opened up to him. He told him all about his dream to get rich and powerful enough to bring the mother and sister he left behind to Japan, to save them from the prejudice hell hole he selfishly abandoned them to. And Oda recalled how awestruck he felt at that moment. He never gave a shit about his family, his father only occasionally came around to extort what little savings they had and beat it out of them when they refused. His mother wasn't much better, taking out her frustrations on him, blaming him for not being strong enough to fight against his father, despite only being a child. But Tachibana was different, he cared for his family in a way that Oda never imagined possible.

Tachibana had a love and loyalty in him that Oda craved. He wanted that more than anything and on that night, he vowed to do whatever he could to help Tachibana achieve it.

It would've been so easy to give in to Shibusawa, he was right. Oda was nothing more than a feral, selfish dog and in another world, another life, he could see himself agreeing. Doing whatever it took to remain by Tachibana's side but this time was different. His dream was bigger than Oda and this time, he'd refuse to betray his master any more than he already has.

He bit his lip and steeled his resolve.

“No.” His voice came out shaky and barely above a whisper. “No.” He said louder and more firmly. “I would rather Tachibana find out than deny him meeting his sister. I won't help you.” Shibusawa sighed, as if Oda was nothing more than a bratty, unreasonable child. He shook his head before standing up and walking next to Oda, body relaxed and expression blank. He once again felt fear coursing through his veins as the man came closer, there was no telling what a yakuza patriarch was capable of.

Shibusawa’s hand reached out and caressed his cheek, unexpectedly gentle and it made his skin crawl. The way he was looking at him reminded him of all the unpleasant touches he couldn't escape from as a child. No matter his age, he was still as powerless as he's always been. The hand slowly made its way down to his throat and Shibusawa's eyes gave a chilling glare. He roughly grabbed Oda's collar and lifted him up, dangling him off the ground for a moment and then threw him into the bookshelf. Oda grunted in pain as his head bounced off the shelf, he had no time to recover or process what happened before a shoe was pressed onto his chest. Shibusawa's eyes stared down at him as if was a bug.

“My intentions may have been over your little head. I wasn't asking.” Shibusawa leaned over, putting more weight on Oda's chest and casting him in his shadow, he could feel his ribs creaking. “It's in your best interest to obediently agree.” Fear almost made him say yes, he knew what would happen if he said no but his mind was made up. He'd sacrifice his mind, body, and soul if it meant Tachibana's happiness. Oda bit his lip, cringing at the metallic taste that filled his mouth, and looked away from Shibusawa’s piercing eyes in lieu of answering.

“Such a shame, I suppose your master has not shown you what happens to unruly dogs.” Shibusawa removed his tie and wrapped it tightly around Oda's wrist, he tried struggling and doing anything he could to resist. It only earned his head being slammed against the bookshelf, dazing him. His head was spinning too much to resist anymore, even when he felt a cloth being pushed into his mouth.

His shirt was ripped open as easily as if it was paper, buttons flying across the room. For some reason, that action briefly annoyed Oda more than anything else that has happened today, Tachibana said that shirt suited him. His thoughts were brought back to the present when Shibusawa started undoing his belt, his hands were shockingly warm and it felt disgusting on his skin.

Shibusawa leaned over so that his lips were touching Oda's ear. “You can stop this, at any moment, you can stop this by just giving in.” He closed his eyes and breathed out through his nose, no matter what Shibusawa put him through he couldn't agree to killing the girl. In a way, this was nothing more than karmic punishment for his sins, he could only blame himself for this situation. The only one that should suffer is himself.

When he opened his eyes again he looked directly at Shibusawa and glared.

The faint smile he received in response was chilling, this man wanted to devour him whole and Oda was at his mercy. There was a glee in his eye that made Oda believe he had no intention of stopping. He wondered if this is what Shibusawa wanted from the start, whether the decision he made would've even changed the outcome.

Without any further comment, Shibusawa ripped off both his pants and underwear and was roughly flipped over. He couldn't help the hot shame that overcame him from being exposed. He took a moment to knead Oda's ass cheeks, slowly traveling down to his thighs, he seemed appreciative of the flesh and it made his skin crawl. He wanted this to be over as soon as possible but Shibusawa clearly had other plans.

The touching stopped but only for a moment, Oda had no time to brace himself before his cheeks were pulled apart and his hole was in full view. He felt a finger slowly circle the hole, prodding at it once before it was fully shoved inside him. Oda bit down hard on the cloth in his mouth, he wouldn't give this piece of shit the satisfaction of his screams at least.

“Truthfully, I'm surprised you're so tight here. I was sure Tachibana had you on your knees every night.” Oda attempted to kick the man for that, an admittedly worthless attempt but he hated the sound of Tachibana's name on his lips. The struggle earned him a painful strike on his ass and he couldn't help the muffled scream that came out of him.

It didn't take long before a second finger was added and Oda hated his body for reacting to the stimulation, even more so when his prostate was brushed and heat pooled to his cock. He tried to let his mind wander, when he was younger he'd be able to enter a mind palace of sorts until the act was over but for some reason he couldn't. All he could focus on was the mix of pain and pleasure, of humiliation and desire growing in him. Tears welled in his eyes and it only made the shame in him stronger.

He heard Shibusawa undo his belt and Oda prayed to whatever deity that would listen that it meant that this would be over soon. He didn't expect to be flipped on his back and be forced to have to look at Shibusawa’s sadistic face.

“I can see why Tachibana keeps you around when you can make a face like that.” Shibusawa leaned over to his ear, “like a bitch in heat.” Oda wished he was able to spit on the man, his glare seemed to only bring the man greater pleasure. He bit hard on Oda's neck and pain surged in him, he struggled not to whimper. A feeling of nausea rolled in his stomach as Shibusawa lapped at the blood he'd drawn.

Shibusawa pulled away and looked at Oda, his face had returned to an infuriating neutral expression even as he licked his lips. Oda felt fear, dread, and a twisted sense of anticipation as Shibusawa lined up his cock with Oda's hole. He bit down on the cloth as he was slowly, painfully, entered. Tears spilled from his eyes and Oda was reminded how weak he was once more. He couldn't bring himself to resist any more, only hoping this torture would end soon.

Once he was fully in, Shibusawa set a brutal pace. He had no time to get used to the sudden fullness or intense pressure. He was being used as a glorified sex toy as Shibusawa chased his own pleasure. When his thrusts became more erratic and less rhythmic, Oda knew he was close. He didn't care what came after, if they killed him or broke his bones, he just wanted this part to end. If he could survive this part then the worst would be over.

In a final act to further humiliate him, Shibusawa started jerking his hard cock. Only a few strokes were needed before Oda was cumming onto his own chest and hating himself more. Shibusawa then buried himself as deep as he could and released inside him. The seed felt like fire in his hole and it made Oda sick, even more so when he pulled out with a wet squelching sound. He couldn't stand to look at Shibusawa, opting to look at the fall wall instead. The man didn't seem to particularly care as he tucked himself back into his pants.

“I suppose you should be commended for being such a loyal dog.” Shibusawa took out a cigarette from his pack pocket and lit the smoke, looking down on Oda. “Killing you is more trouble than it's worth for now. But this is far from over.” He didn't know what he meant but he couldn't bring himself to care anymore, he felt small and tired, so tired. He felt Shibusawa redress him and untie his wrists, the rush of blood back to his numb hands was uncomfortable.

“I'll give you one week to reconsider your position. If I don't like your answer, the one to bear the consequences will be your master, after all an unruly dog is the fault of the owner.” Oda's blood ran cold, he felt bile gather in his throat. The very thought of his actions bringing further harm to Tachibana was nearly enough to make him cave.

Tachibana deserves someone better by his side, he deserved more than Oda was ever worth. He'd rather Shibusawa end his life right now than risk that possibility but he knew the man would never grant him that mercy.

He heard Shibusawa call for some of his men, he sounded distant. When he was hauled up and dragged off someone, he couldn't even bring himself to lift his head. He would have to do whatever it takes to make sure they never get their hands on Tachibana, no matter what.

He closed his eyes. Mind and body too weak to remain awake any longer.

Tachibana looked up from his paperwork and bookkeeping. The sun was just beginning to set, Oda should be done that meeting soon, if he wasn't already. He stood up and stretched, he needed to give his eyes a break and his arm was starting to hurt in the prosthetic. It had been several months since he started his real estate company and thanks to Oda’s assistance with scheduling, time management, and organization, they have grown quicker than even he could've predicted.

He looked out of the window and into the dirty streets of Kamurocho. In the grand scheme of things, it really was no different from Sotenbori. The city held as much of a seedy underbelly while also holding promise of great riches and Tachibana planned to take as much power and riches for himself as he could. He hated the glamourised struggle of rags to riches, Oda and himself have struggled and lost so much just to survive to the next day. He had hope that wherever his sister was, she was fairing better than them. That she wasn't waking up in pain and had to wonder if she'd get a tomorrow.

He rubbed the ache between his arm and prosthetic soothing. Maybe once they find his sister he'll take them somewhere faraway, maybe to Gifu where things were quieter and slower. Or to Iwate, they'd love to see the cherry blossoms even if Oda would pretend he's uninterested. Selling his company wouldn't be a problem with their portfolio and with the money from that, they could restart life away from all this. Tachibana smiled softly, they'd find Xiao Qiao and he'll ensure they're away from all the underworld.

His thoughts were interrupted by a soft knock on his door.

“Sorry for the intrusion, president.” Came a soft, hesitant voice. It was Ozaki, a recent hire to assist with accounting.

“Not at all Ozaki-san, what can I help you with.”

“Have you heard from Oda-san today? He was supposed to hand in his expense report before the end of the day but I haven't seen him around. He hasn't answered his phone or pager either.” Tachibana's fingers twitched, when it came to business his brother was quite a model employee, it was starting to bother him more and more that he hadn't returned to the office.

“Oda-san had a rather important meeting with a potential seller today, the meeting is likely running a bit later than expected. I'll make sure he has the report on your desk by the morning.” He replied easily, careful to keep any emotion out of his voice. “If that is all you have left to do, please head home for the day and not to worry, I will be heading out shortly myself.” Ozaki’s expression brightened at being able to leave early, he thanked Tachibana gratefully before scurrying out of his office.

Without a moment of hesitation, Tachibana called the owner that Oda was supposed to meet with. It may reflect poorly to have an employee seemingly missing but he was beyond caring about such appearances. The phone rang 2 times before a woman answered.

“Hello, you've reached Kanno Fumi, how may I assist you today?” It was his secretary, that was a good sign the owner was still away.

“This is Tachibana of Tachibana real estate, I was wondering if Yamamoto-san was around?”

“Ah! Tachibana-san, congratulations on being the new owner, we weren't expecting you to call so soon. Unfortunately Yamamoto-san is out celebrating the good news but I will contact him right away to let him know you called.” Tachibana wasn't surprised to hear that Oda was able to close the deal but his brother usually returned immediately to tell Tachibana the good news. When they were alone, he had a habit of giving a wolfish grin when they got a particularly good deal and Tachibana found it to be quite charming.

“I was actually inquiring about another matter. Would you be able to confirm if Oda-san is still with Yamamoto-san?”

“If I recall correctly, Oda-san left close to two hours ago after letting us know he'd be in contact for more details. Is everything alright?” There was no stopping the dread mixed with anger that filled Tachibana. Oda wasn't the type to disappear without a word, he knew better than that. Tachibana trained him better than that.

“Yes, everything is fine. There was just a bit of a scheduling mix up. My apologies for the call, thank you.”

“It was no problem at all, please take care, Tachibana-san.” Tachibana grabbed his coat, there was something very wrong with this disappearance and knowing this city, it was likely that yakuza were involved in some way. He would have to investigate further on his owner before making any judgment. He headed towards Pink Street, hoping to find someone that had seen Oda. The sun has now fully set but that means very little to an active place like Kamurocho, if he didn't look up he would hardly remember it was night.

It didn't take him long to reach his destination. His first course of action would be asking the barkers, if anyone saw something it would be them. He tried asking several in the area but once he got passed their spiel none seemed to have seen Oda around. He ran his fingers roughly through his hair, he was getting nowhere fast and the longer it's been the harder it would be to find him.

“Excuse me, sir” Tachibana nearly clicked his tongue in annoyance, he didn't have the patience to deal with Kamurocho’s usual antics. He managed to hold himself back, even under stress he still had to maintain appearances. He put on a polite smile before answering.

“May I help you?” He turned around to see a young teen, she looked vaguely familiar. When she spoke in Mandarin, he remembered she was one of the kids from little Asia, doing what she could to get by. Oda once mentioned paying some teens to stalk the activities of one of their competitors.

“Um, your friends Oda right?” She paused, uncertain. From the way she fidgeted, there was definitely something she knew about his disappearance but she also seemed reluctant or scared to say more.

“Yes, he's a close friend of mine, have you seen him?” He responded in Mandarin, trying to keep the impatience out of his voice. He was almost startled when the girl suddenly jumped at him.

“Then you have to help him! He was surrounded by some yakuza looking guys and hauled off! Some friends and I tried following them but we lost them when they went into the Champion District.” Tachibana felt his heart race and head spin, he suspected yakuza involvement but hoped it was nearly anything else. It was risky, incredibly so, to get involved with them more then he already was but there was a larger issue at play, what could they want with Oda?

No, it didn't matter if it was bad for business, not when his right hand had been kidnapped. Tachibana preferred to keep his distance from the yakuza but now they have gone too far and have taken what is his, he wouldn't forgive that. The girl was still looking at him expectantly and he cooled the raging fire within him, the anger would only hinder him right now. He asked her for as much information as she could remember, what the men looked like, which streets they took. She knew quite a bit and Tachibana instantly knew why Oda chose to recruit the girl as an informant. He thanked her and promised to do everything he could to find Oda.

And he would find Oda, no matter what.

Tachibana headed straight to the Kazama family office, now that he knew this was a move from one of the families, Kazama was a likely bet to know more. The walk wasn't a long one but the bitter cold of winter made it seem much longer. He felt a sense of bitterness well up at seeing the typical hustle and bustle of Kamurocho nightlife, the night was no different for them. He hated this feeling of powerlessness, the world continued on even when the most important people in his life are missing, even when his world feels like it's crashing down.

Tachibana clenched his fist tightly, he was losing control of himself again but he wouldn't let it win. He's never been one to accept the cruelty of the world laying down.

As he approached the office, there was a member waiting outside of the office, they must've noticed him coming. He was ushered into the office, not overtly welcomed but not disrespectful either. He felt a twinge of discomfort being in a yakuza den alone but he was too experienced to ever let that show, only Oda would've been able to see through it. Once in Kazama's office, he was greeted by Kashiwagi only with Kazama nowhere to be seen. Tachibana didn't know if this was usual or not, having only been to the office a small handful of times with his right hand.

“Tachibana-san, we weren't expecting you.” Kashiwagi said in lieu of a greeting, he was confident and to the point, Tachibana definitely preferred dealing with those types of people more than the ones that spent wasted minutes on unnecessary pleasantries.

“I apologise for my sudden appearance but this is a matter that couldn't wait.” Kashiwagi furrowed his brow, clearly not liking where this was going. Tachibana continued, “I have reason to believe that Oda Jun has been targeted and kidnapped by yakuza.” Kashiwagi’s glare was deadly and if Tachibana was anyone else, he may have groveled or ran away.

“Are you implying that one of us has taken him?”

“No, I believe there is very little reason for the Kazama family to target Oda-san, and even less so to spirit him away.” At the admission, Kashiwagi's glare lessened slightly, Tachibana wondered if he saw concern in his eyes but he doubted the other men would be so open. “Although I do not believe the Kazama family is involved, I was hoping that you may know something.” The man was silent for a moment, assessing.

“There are no known hits on Oda-san but if what you're saying is true, it's best you stay out of it. No good would come from a civilian poking their nose into yakuza business.” Tachibana felt the desire to punch Kashiwagi, if he cared about the potential danger from the yakuza he wouldn't be there in the first place. His face remained neutral but the annoyance was welling inside him, waiting for a release.

“Listen Tachibana-san, I cannot stop you nor will we interfere if you decide to investigate further but I will warn you now that things will soon be getting messy within the clan.” That gave Tachibana pause. Oda had no reason to go to a loan shark, cabaret visits were used for business only, and he knew how to spot a scam bar. Yakuza picking fights with civilians weren't exactly uncommon, especially ones as flashy as Oda but a fight lasting hours? No, it was much more likely that the internal strife was manifesting more and Oda was somehow involved. Tachibana stood up, there was no point in staying any longer.

“I see, I apologise for wasting your time. I will be going now.” He bowed and stepped towards the door.

“Tachibana-san, we cannot look into another family's business without raising red flags but I will contact you if our boys hear anything.” Tachibana felt a small amount of relief at that, he should've known that they wouldn't be able to directly help but having more people on alert is more than he could've hoped for. He nodded and bowed once more, deeper this time. He didn't like owing anyone but if they helped him find his brother, he would pay whatever they'd later demand.

There was only one more place he could go. Little Asia had people everywhere, always watching and listening and with the right offer they'd gladly share that knowledge with him. Tachibana didn't have the patience to walk there anymore but he had no choice, he wasn't going to wait around flaunting his money until one decided to pick him up. He had already wasted enough time as it was. His eyes were starting to get heavy and the cold made the persistent ache in his arm nearly unbearable but he pushed it aside. Once Oda was back at his side he'd make him wait on him hand and foot for all the trouble he's caused. Although maybe that would be more of a reward than punishment with how eager Oda was to serve him.

Little Asia was as cramped and lively as ever. Under normal circumstances Tachibana would make his rounds and greet the people that kept Little Asia running and the yakuza out but he couldn't bring himself to bother. He went directly to elder Chen’s place, the man was typically asleep during the day and awake at night. This was normally a pain to deal with when Tachibana real estate conducted most business during the day but it was perfect right now. Waking elder Chen up was even more difficult than it was waking himself up.

He knocked once on the door, paused for 3 seconds and then knocked once more, slightly louder. An unassuming man let him in, upon realising it was Tachibana he welcomed him warmly. He owed the residents of Little Asia a lot, he wouldn't be alive without their care after all and for it he made sure to support the area in any way he could which only strengthened the bond.

“Li Hua, can't say I'm surprised to see you.” The man said. There was an unexpected exhaustion in his voice. Tachibana would be more shocked if they didn't already know about Oda and was expecting Tachibana's visit sooner rather than later.

“I take it you know why I'm here then. Is elder Chen in?”

“You know where to find him.” The man paused, “don't get your hopes up, Oda is only one man.” The surge of violence nearly took hold of him again, the implications nearly drove his stressed and overtired brain to impulsive behaviour. Instead he smiled and made his way to Chen's room, if he had to search alone then he would.

Elder Chen looked the same as always. Spry for a man in his 70s and no less sharp, this man was the main reason the Tojo clan had very little power in Little Asia and couldn't easily step foot in there without causing problems. Tachibana bowed and sat on one of the cushions across from the man, he didn't want to be here long but there was no escaping formality with someone like him. The man let out a resigned sigh and Tachibana didn't like what that meant.

“Before you speak, let me state that what you are requesting will put all of Little Asia in danger. These past few weeks all Tojo families have become exceptionally aggressive and several of our men have been beaten within an inch of their lives for being in the wrong place at the wrong time.” Tachibana said nothing, information was always a dangerous game and even more so for those that were not Japanese. He didn't lack sympathy but they have all shed blood to survive in this world.

“If you want to know what happened to Oda, you cannot allow your information source to be known and it'll cost you heavily.” Tachibana say up straighter.

“Money is no issue, I assure you.” He said confidently. Elder Chen looked directly into his eyes but Tachibana wouldn't be intimidated, he couldn't look away.

“Tell me, Li Hua, how much does Oda mean to you really?” And the question momentarily stunned him. He never had to put his relationship with Oda into words, the man usually understood without needing it. Oda's place was right next to Tachibana, he wasn't allowed anywhere else. He breathed deeply before answering, choosing his words carefully.

“Oda-san is very important to me, he has been my right hand from the moment we met. He is my oath brother and If I must face all of the Tojo clan for him, then so be it.” Elder Chen gave a defeated sigh and Tachibana knew the man had given in. It went easier than expected but the man was truly soft to the residents and those within his circle, even if he pretended otherwise.

“We cannot be certain but one of the men who abducted Oda was later seen coming from the Shibusawa family office.” The Shibusawa family? Tachibana heard of them but most of the territories in Kamurocho were under Kazama's jurisdiction so they've had very little dealings with any other subsidiaries.

“What could they possibly want with Oda-san?” He asked.

“That, we don't know yet but it is likely related to whatever has the Tojo clan on edge.” Tachibana nearly clicked his tongue but at least he already had more information than before.

“Then we'll put aside that issue for now, where is the office?”

“Come back in the morning and we'll tell you then.”

Tachibana was dumbfounded, had Elder Chen not agreed to assist already? Why would he hold out on him now? Tachibana’s careful composure was showing its cracks, he stared at the man for several seconds. Anger bubbling below the surface. “Excuse me?” He finally managed to get out.

“You look like shit Li Hua, your hair is a mess, you have deep bags under your eyes, and you're shaking. Do you even know when you last ate?”

“I fail to see how that's any of your concern, I am fine.” He did his best to keep the growl from his voice. When had he started shaking? He couldn't even challenge the man's statement or it would just prove his point.

“Go home Li Hua, you try anything at the Shibusawa office in your state and you'll only end up dead. This isn't up for negotiation.”

“You're asking me to leave Oda-san for dead!” It was the first time today that Tachibana couldn't control his temper.

“And you're asking me to ensure Oda comes back to a dead brother!” The man steeled and Tachibana knew it was a losing battle but he didn't want to admit that. Tachibana felt like if he stopped now he would be giving up on Oda, his brother, and if he couldn't help him then what hope did he have of ever finding his sister? He would be nothing more than a failure to them both.

“If you don't go home now you won't get more answers.” Elder Chen said, his tone allowing for no more argument.

Tachibana bit his tongue to stop himself from exploding. He could no longer tell if the shaking was from low blood sugar or anger. The situation was out of his control, elder Chen had him against a wall and he wouldn't be falling for any of Tachibana's charm. He had nothing more to say and he feared that opening his mouth would result in making the situation worse. He stood up and bowed, using every ounce of his self control to carefully close the door and not slam it as hard as he could.

He walked directly past the guard, he was past the point of caring for decorum. It had been a long time since he was this worked up, he craved the violence. He craved being able to crush an insignificant person below his heel until they understood their place beneath him.

He was careful to side step people walking, he knew if any of them bumped into him he likely wouldn't hesitate. Everything seemed to be more irritating now, the barkers yelling to catch people's attention, a group of girls laughing as losers try to hit on them, punks shaking down weak looking business men. It all grated on his nerves. The blinding lights, the parties, the careless abandon as if they're on top of the world and with nothing to lose.

He hated all of it.

Tachibana nearly made it back to his office without incident until someone walked into him, almost knocking him over. It was enough to make him see red, he didn't even bother listening to their lies about a broken collarbone. He will be happy to make sure it's not a lie. Tachibana cut the man off with a left hook, the group clearly never expected him to fight back and he took full advantage of that. He brought up his leg to roundhouse kick another man before any of them could recover and just as quickly, there were only two men left standing.

The wannabe gang was so young, it reminded Tachibana of Oda's gang. Thinking they were untouchable having never been beaten before. The reminder of what once was only angered him more, what right did those brats have to encroach on Oda's memory. In the face of his renewed anger, one of them fled leaving a single young man. Unexpectedly, the man widened his stance and squared his shoulders. He hoped this man would provide more of a challenge.

The man managed to land one hit on Tachibana, causing his head to spin. His arm ached unbearably and he could almost hear Oda scolding him for not taking better care of himself. Tachibana sidestepped the next punch which left the man wide open, before he could catch himself Tachibana kicked in his knee causing the man to collapse like a ragdoll. He kicked over the man so he was on his back and stood on his chest, slowly applying pressure.

Tachibana was disgusted by the fear in his eyes, he was a fool for comparing him to Oda. His brother was far more driven, even when on the brink he never lost the fire in his eyes. And just like that the cold fury that's been coursing through his veins died out, leaving him cold and empty.

This fight was pointless.

He was so tired.

Without another word, he lifted his foot off the man and walked away, not sparing them another glance. His legs quickly carried him home, he had no other choice but to listen to elder Chen. He vaguely thought about returning to his office, doing work until his body passed out; after all, his penthouse was right above the office. As he stepped into the elevator his finger hovered, there was no way he could work in his current condition. His movements were sluggish, reading the symbols in front of him was unexpectedly difficult. He sighed and roughly ran his fingers through his hair, he pressed the bottom for his penthouse. It took him two tries before he was able to correctly press the button.

Unlocking his front door was a similar struggle. He quickly removed his shoes, leaving them skewed about. As he slowly made way deeper into his home he began shedding his clothes, throwing off his blazer, undoing his tie and letting it fall somewhere. He struggled taking off his prosthetic and felt satisfaction in hearing its heavy thud on the floor, some of the thubbing fading now that it was removed. He collapsed bonelessly on his couch.

He stared aimlessly at his ceiling. It was almost funny, even since he agreed to lead Oda's little gang he never imagined the man being anywhere else but at his side. He knew that in their line of work and all the risks they took that dying young would be their reality but it was always supposed to be the two of them. Wherever Tachibana went, Oda was going to follow. It was simply how things were supposed to be and remain until something inevitably killed them.

Now someone has taken Oda from him and it left him feeling an aching emptiness that he never experienced before.

Alone in his home, he could no longer stop fear from creeping in. This was the home he shared with the other man and now it was just him. It felt too spacious, too off, as if someone moved everything slightly to the left. He could feel Oda's presence in every part of the apartment and it made his absence more painful for Tachibana.

When the company started making enough money that they could purchase almost whatever property they wanted, the thought of not living together never even occurred to them. Both himself and Oda had gotten so used to practically being in each other's pocket that the idea of living in separate spaces seemed unfathomable. They had separate bedrooms but more times then he cared to admit, they had ended up asleep on the couch together. Simply too exhausted to make it to bed or even out of their clothes.

But now he was alone and all he could think about was the worst case scenarios.
It was common to hear about bodies being found in Tokyo bay, bodies too mangled to be identified or worst of all, the abducted people never to be heard from again. Those people likely dead before the search had even started. It was already too much when he found out Xiao Qiao was in Japan and had been missing but now the only other person he cared about was gone.

Tachibana clenched and unclenched his fist, willing control of his panicked emotions. When Tachibana first met Oda he couldn't stand the man, someone older than him losing so pathetically? Clinging to him and calling him older brother? It was strange, odd, he despised it and yet the more time Oda hovered around him the more he got used to it. He started to crave the way Oda seemed to revere him as a saviour or God, to look to him for answers and direction. He craved the way Oda could see his weak points and fully embraced them, never looking down on him when he couldn't live up to Oda's expectations. He was certain by now that Oda could never see Tachibana in a negative light, no matter what happened.

Tachibana rubbed his arm. Oda didn't become disillusioned when he lost his arm like the other gang members had. If anything it only made his brother more devoted to him. He recalled how broken Oda looked when Tachibana finally woke up, how he vowed to never let Tachibana get hurt again. He never flinched from the wound, helping him dress and treat it without scorn or hesitation. More than anything he called how Oda took his outbursts, silently accepting it whenever Tachibana's anger exploded. He stayed by his side through it all, as if it was as natural as breathing.

And now, Tachibana didn't know how to continue if he lost the other man. Oda had become his life line and it was a shame he only realised that when he was gone.

It was unacceptable that someone would take what was his. He vowed to find Oda and crush whoever had taken him. He would find his sister and Oda, there was no other option.

With his resolve renewed again, Tachibana could no longer keep his eyes open. He would show the world his wrath if he must.

Waking up was an expected struggle. The moment he opened his eyes, he was hit with a searing pain in arm combined with an annoyingly empty stomach. His head ached from a lack of sleep and likely dehydration but he pushed through that to sit up. He felt groggy and slow as yesterday's events came back to him, his body desired more rest but his mind raced too much. The sun had already risen enough to signify morning had long since come.

Food is what he needed most pressingly, it didn't matter if he had little appetite. Tachibana knew the consequences of going into a fight with hunger pains and if he wanted to actually help Oda he would need to be in better condition. Wandering to his kitchen he decided on instant noodles, not the healthiest and he was certain Oda would disapprove but he couldn't bring himself to care enough. Leaving his dishes in the sink, the next step was getting dressed and putting his prosthetic back on.

Tachibana underestimated how painful it was attempting to fit it back on his swollen and irritated stump but he powered through it. In a place such as Kamurocho, showing any weakness was almost asking to get harassed and he didn't have time for that. Putting on new clothes was only marginally easier with his tired and heavy limbs. Before leaving he grabbed some staminan from his fridge, it was likely that we would need an energy boost or two.

Tachibana ignored the clothes he had discarded across his apartment yesterday, he had more important things to worry about. He had kept up his words, just as elder Chen wanted. He had wasted long enough, nothing would stop him from finding his right hand today. Checking one final time that he was presentable enough, he began his descent from the penthouse and made his way to Little Asia.

The moment he stepped foot out of the building, something felt off.

The amount of people bustling about, heading to work or closing up shop in the case of host clubs, all seemed normal. A few drunks were stumbling around, likely regretting their night of overindulgence. From a single glance he couldn't identify anything out of the ordinary but every cell in his body was on edge, as if he was being watched. With no other option, he ignored it for now, remaining tense and on guard but proceeding forward.

It didn't take long for his instincts to be proven right when he noticed someone following behind him. He really wasn't in the mood for another fight but he couldn't risk bringing attention to Little Asia and having elder Chen refuse him because of it. He would deal with the person swiftly and quietly, before they could cause him any issues. He couldn't rule out the possibility that the Shibusawa family was targeting him now that Oda was taken.

Tachibana made his way to the alley across Public Park 3, the closest isolated area he could think of. The man must've realised what he was planning as he called out to Tachibana. When he turned around, ready for a fight, he saw it was Suzuki-san; a homeless man he paid for information on occasion. He was another informant for little Asia. Although he was on friendly terms with the man, he didn't fully lower his guard. Suzuki was an outsider that could be bought just as easily as anyone else in Kamurocho.

“Heard you were looking for your friend.” Tachibana felt anger swell in his chest but resisted acting out, it was best to get as much information as he could first. He put on the most polite smile that he could muster.

“I might be.” Suzuki put up his hands, likely in an attempt to show him he was disarmed

“We found him at West Park early this morning, he's in rough shape but still breathing.” Tachibana's head started spinning, he wondered if this was a trap or something else entirely. Why would Suzuki tell him that without incentive? More than anything he wanted to run there and see for himself but he knew better, showing desperation was a sign of weakness.

“Why tell me? What do you gain from that?” He said in nonchalance, smile still in place.

“Paying it forward, you've been good to us and that goes a long way in this city. But you should really be thanking Chen, he knows how to get what he wants.” Before Tachibana could say anything further, Suzuki disappeared into the crowd. He clicked his tongue in annoyance, even if it was just paranoia he couldn't help but feel as if something was off. Regardless he really only had one option, he wasn't going to waste the tip. Especially not if elder Chen was involved in sending the information to him.

His feet were bringing him to West Park before his mind was even made up.

Getting there was easy enough even without a taxi, it was still too early for most of the punks or wannabe gangs to be out just yet. Once there he couldn't immediately see anything out of the ordinary, a man smoking on the bench, the barrel on fire keeping the homeless warm, crowds of people walking past, none stopping to look in the direction of the park. Calling out for Oda was probably not the best option nor would frantically searching every inch of the park be.

As Tachibana took a step closer to the park, he noticed there was another man sleeping near the washroom entrance. Based on his position, it was clear he was trying to deter people from going near there. When one of the men by the barrel caught his attention and nodded to the bathroom, it confirmed his suspicion. The sleeping man must've sensed Tachibana getting closer and moved aside without a word.

He felt like the world stopped when he saw Oda’s unconscious body.

The first thing he did was drop to his knees and check for Oda’s pulse. His mind went into overdrive as he took in as much of Oda's injuries as he could. His face was in quite a state, covered in purple and yellow bruises, dried blood, and tear tracks. There was a high chance he had a concussion or even worse. Whatever Oda had been through, it was not pretty. The rest of his body must be in a similar or even worse state, Tachibana thought grimly.

Oda's pulse was strong but he was deathly cold and that was what had him the most concerned. His highest priority would be getting Oda to Little Asia for treatment. There was a blanket covered in dirt and who knows what else, if Oda had any open wounds it may have done more harm than good but he wouldn't fault the men for trying. Tachibana carefully removed the blanket, he would need to get a sense of the injuries before moving him.

He hissed in sympathy at seeing the smattering of deep bruises all over Oda's chest. He couldn't see any obvious signs of a break but still gently probed his chest to make sure. He was thankful that he couldn't feel anything of concern, encouraged further by Oda's lack of reaction to the touching. Tachibana had noticed some out of the ordinary injuries for someone who was physically assaulted.

He felt a cold rage flow through him at seeing the bite marks littered across Oda's neck and shoulders, the outline of a bruising grip on his hips, wrists raw from being tied up with something. Oda's shirt had been ripped open, most if not all buttons gone. His pants were dirty and ripped in some places but mostly intact. He was certain they hid more grim injuries but now was not the time nor place to check. Tachibana quickly shrugged out of his own blazer and covered his brother with it. Carrying Oda would pose a bit of a challenge, the weight of him wasn't much of an issue for Tachibana but the balance and support of his limp body may make things more difficult.

It took some shifting and maneuvering before he was able to properly lift Oda, his left hand supporting his shoulders and right arm nestled under the back of his knees. Tachibana didn't want his right hand man to be in any more discomfort and angled his head to rest against his chest. Before leaving the Park he whispered gratitude to the homeless, he would have to have supplies delivered to them as soon as possible. They nodded their acknowledgements and Tachibana wished he could adequately express how grateful he was. His hand gripped tighter around Oda's shoulders, now that he had him back he wasn't going to ever let him go.

Getting to Little Asia was a blur. He vaguely recalls elder Chen telling him something before two people attempted to take Oda from him. He almost fought them but elder Chen's unexpected death grip on his arm held him back. Releasing Oda almost felt like a betrayal but he knew the doctor would need to fully examine him and she couldn't do that if Tachibana didn't let go. The doctor promised to tell Tachibana of the results and as soon as she was done, he could visit Oda.

Tachibana nodded but still struggled to let Oda go. He forced himself to take several deep breaths and relented to them. He stood in silence for a moment, he wondered if this is how Oda felt when he lost his arm. Angry, frustrated, fear creeping in and regret at not being able to protect someone so important. Having no one to direct his pent up emotions only made them grow more uncontrollable. Elder Chen was no stranger to these kinds of emergencies, having seen a wide range of reactions when loved ones are harmed. Tachibana appreciated his offer for tea and possible rest at his home but he rejected it, emotions still too unstable to sit still and patiently wait.

He thought about walking to the Kazama office to let them know Oda had been found, it would give him something to do that was more than just aimless pacing. Logically he knew his presence wouldn't make a difference, it would likely be hours before Tachibana could even see Oda again but the idea of going anywhere else seemed highly unappealing.

Tachibana also knew that if he went anywhere in his state, he was only going to get onto another fight and he may not be able to stop himself from killing his opponent. The last thing he wanted was the attention of the cops nor did he want to bring more trouble into Little Asia.

Before he could spiral any further, an auntie grabbed his arm right above the prosthetic. He bit his tongue to stop from crying out at the sudden pain. Tachibana didn't even have a chance to question her as she demanded he make himself useful and help her set up shop. Under normal circumstances Tachibana would politely refuse, he was never one to be strong-armed by aunties and give into them just because they were intimidating but today was different. He was thankful for the distraction that let his mind focus and still remain close to Oda, to his brother.

He diligently followed their directions, stacking the produce where they said and even listening to their unprompted gossip. Tachibana allowed himself to be absorbed in the work, the chatter enabling him to tune out the world enough for him to not count the seconds. He was grateful to all the residents of Little Asia, the aunties obviously distracting him, the doctor working on Oda, the informants, elder Chen. They were safe there and Tachibana wondered how long it had been since he could rely on others, at least others that weren't Oda.

Tachibana wasn't sure how long it had been when he was finally being flagged down by one of the doctor’s assistants. He bid the aunties farewell and followed the assistant closely, eager to know Oda's condition. The assistant gave nothing away, there was no grim expression nor any relief in their eyes. It unnerved Tachibana to know so little, he wanted to ask, no, he wanted to demand answers but knew it was best to silently follow. Whatever condition Oda was in, he'd know from the doctor directly or Oda himself if he was awake.

Once they had arrived, the assistant asked Tachibana to wait a moment while they informed the doctor that he was here. Tachibana knew the doctor had other patients and it was irrational to be irritated at having to wait longer but he couldn't entirely repress his emotions. He was still feeling high strung and anxious, waiting only heightened those feelings.

Thankfully it did not take long before the doctor arrived and led him into a private office, closing the door behind him. The doctor sighed heavily as she sat behind her desk and opened a file.

“Under most circumstances, I wouldn't be telling you anything but I would like to avoid a repeat of what happened when Oda brought you here. I have a feeling you may be even worse than he was.” She sounded tired but slightly amused. He heard about it from elder Chen, how Oda would camp out in the waiting room and harass the staff for information, how they kicked him out of the makeshift hospital room only for him to weasel his way back in. Eventually they couldn't deal with it any more and gave him a run down of Tachibana's condition before he was finally allowed to visit.

‘Yes,’ Tachibana thought in agreement, `I'd be worse.’ He wouldn't hesitate to break in and steal Oda's file, it wouldn't even be that difficult and with his fighting prowess he doubted they'd be able to stop him if it came to that. He nodded to the doctor’s words, she was right and they both knew it.

“Where to start?” She paused, skimming the file. “As you know he's covered in several deep bruises, several of which are none deep, most centred around his face and chest. He has several abrasions on his palms and knees, a few lacerations and other cuts that needed stitches and a concussion. With proper rest and care, his wounds are not life threatening. The biggest concern is possible infection.” Tachibana listened intently, none of this surprised him. So far the doctor had listed injuries that none of them were strangers to, typical injuries associated with street brawls and other fights. She was avoiding the elephant in the room, he knew the chances were high that Oda had been assaulted in more ways.

She opened her mouth and closed it again, unsure of how to bring up the rest of his injuries. Despite his growing impatience, he didn't blame her. He was familiar with the mindset that men couldn't be raped, assault like that simply didn't happen to them but he knew better then that. Tachibana knew all about the horrors of the underworld, how surprisingly common things like that were. He didn't think less of his brother for that, the only one at fault was the bastard that dared put their hands on his Oda.

“Please continue. As his friend and caretaker, it is important to know the extent of his injuries to best help him.” Tachibana said calmly. She pursed her lips, steeling herself for the unpleasant conversation.

“Oda has been sexually assaulted, the trauma to his anus is minimal but no protection was used. We are waiting for the results regarding potential STDs. In addition, there are several bite marks around his neck and shoulders that broke skin. We are also waiting for the results on that for potential disease or infection." Her voice was professional and monotone. He knew it but hearing it confirmed by the doctor was almost more than he could handle. A range of emotions surging through him, how dare someone take what's his and defile it, how dare they take Tachibana's right hand and treat him like a toy. His hand gripped into the flesh of his arm, bruising it, he needed to control himself. Oda would need support and not his anger, at least right now.

“Is that all?” He asked.

“For now, until we have the results. His current wounds should be healed in 3 weeks time.”

Tachibana inhaled deeply. “Can I see him now?”

“Yes. Please follow me.” She eagerly stood, grateful to be done with the conversation. Tachibana was led to a small room where Oda slept peacefully. He was covered in quite a few bandages but no longer had a pain induced furrow on his brow. It was a relief seeing Oda again, knowing his life wasn't in immediate danger. Tachibana brought one of the chairs over to his bed side and sat next to him, grabbing his hand and gently stroking his knuckles. It had been less than 24 hours since his brother was taken but it felt so much longer.

Tachibana knew Oda would be a mess without him, he had seen how rough the man looked after Tachibana got out of surgery. He knew how stressed he got whenever Tachibana’s next dialysis treatment came around. Thinking back now, he's never been in a position where he had to worry for another not truly. Oda had always put it on himself to care enough for the both of them. He gripped the hand tighter and felt Oda’s twitch in response.

Love may be seen as a weakness but denying himself Oda in any way seemed unthinkable now. He wasn't entirely sure if that was what he felt but what he did know was that Oda is his and he won't accept anyone or anything trying to take him. No matter what, Oda was his.

Tachibana wasn't sure when he fell asleep but when he next opened his eyes, Oda was sitting up and staring at him. His eyes seemed glazed over, eyes not quite taking in sight. He wondered if the reaction was due to the painkillers or due the traumatic experience he just went through. The reason didn't particularly matter, he didn't like that there was something that could take Oda's attention from him.

He would change that so the other man would only look at him, only think of him.

He smiled softly at Oda and straightened his back. Tachibana slowly reached out his left hand and gently pat his head, he'd let Oda know he was safe and out of that nightmare. He was pleased that he didn't shy from his touch but he didn't react to it either. That was fine, Oda was still recovering after all. They remained like that for a while, the warmth of his hand seeping into Oda's hair.

After some time, Oda finally spoke.

“Sorry for worrying you, boss.” His voice was rough and scratchy, tone deceptively light. Tachibana knew it was an act and not a very good one at that but he couldn't fault the man for trying. The sad looks, the sympathy, the feeling of being lesser, Tachibana knew it all too well and hated it. As Oda did for him, he would treat him no different. An easy enough task given that he didn't view him any differently in the first place but feared Oda may think otherwise.

Tachibana retracted his hand and crossed legs. “Yes, you gave me quite a scare, Oda-san. Not to mention work had to be postponed as well.” There was a nervousness in Oda's eyes but he could see relief as well, punishment did always bring out the best in him even if it was undeserved. “Once you are well enough, you will be reorganising the files and verifying if anything is missing. You will also be joining me at all future meetings.” None of these tasks were difficult but they were tedious and boring. A perfect punishment for a busybody like Oda.

Oda’s eyes widened, mouth open to protest but the slight glare from Tachibana silenced him. He found the small pout on the man's face quite cute, it made him want to tease him more. He would hold himself back for now, at least until Oda has been cleared by the doctor. Tachibana was tempted to ask how he was feeling but he knew it was pointless, just like himself, he would never admit pain.

“You should get some more sleep while you can.” Oda let out a small laugh at that.

“Look who's talking. No offense but you look like total shit.” Tachibana pinched Oda's arm in an area with seemingly no bruise. The man hissed and jerked away before rubbing the sore spot.

“I would prefer not to hear that from someone in a hospital bed.” Oda’s expression seemed to shift, he appeared more distant and looked away from Tachibana. He opened his mouth to say something but stopped himself. A few seconds went by before Oda spoke again.

“I'm sorry, aniki.” Tachibana felt anger at that. Oda still wasn't looking at him and his voice was suddenly small. He stood up and grasped Oda's chin, gentle but firm, and forced Oda to meet his eyes.

“There is nothing you have to apologise for. You are not at fault for my state nor yours for that matter.” Tachibana could only guess as to the reason tears seemed to form in Oda's eyes, perhaps he was in pain or maybe there was something more. “You are only to get better and return to my side as soon as possible, is that clear?” Oda nodded, eyes never leaving Tachibana's own. He smiled at Oda for giving the correct answer and Tachibana did enjoy the obvious flush that rushed to his face.

There was a small knock at the door and Tachibana released Oda before stepping away. A nurse stepped in and greeted them both, happy to note that Oda had regained consciousness. He checked several of Oda's vitals, asked how he was feeling and if he remembered what happened to him. He answered to the best of his ability but on the last question he hesitated before looking at Tachibana, Oda likely assumed he knew about all his injuries but he doubted he wanted to speak about them. He wondered if he should step away to give them privacy but Oda made no move to suggest that he didn't want him there.

The check up continued as normal, Oda did not hesitate again. Other than an elevated heart rate, the rest of his vitals were normal but they would still keep him overnight to monitor his condition. Tachibana was slightly displeased to hear that, Oda seemed that way too but they both understood the importance of it.

Unfortunately Tachibana wouldn't be allowed to stay the night and it would be best for him to go home and rest properly.

“Besides, I wasn't able to give Ozaki-san my expenses and the kid will get insanely stressed if he misses a deadline.” Tachibana didn't like the idea of leaving so soon but he knew there was no point in him staying, Oda was getting drowsy and he'd likely get bored. He knew his brother was safe and awake now, it wasn't ideal but it did calm his nerves slightly.

“I suppse you're correct however, I will need the password to your computer in that case unless you've already printed the report?” Tachibana smiled innocently, he knew Oda's password already but it would be more fun to hear it from him directly. Predictably, Oda stuttered and turned an interesting shade of pink.

“Don't you already know it? Why do I have to say it?”

“But I only think I know it, what if I'm wrong and then have to come back?” He stared innocently at Oda, it would only take a few more seconds for him to give in. Right on cue, he looked away and mumbled something.

“Sorry Oda-san, I didn't hear you, can you repeat that?”

“It's your birthday! Do I really need to say more?!”

“No, that's quite alright, thank you Oda-san.” He smiled sweetly at Oda, it was a good thing he was already sitting or Tachibana feared he may have collapsed. Satisfied with knowing Oda was now safe, mostly okay, and reacting as he usually would, Tachibana felt secure enough to leave Oda. After ensuring the staff knew how to reach him in case of emergencies or if Oda needed anything, he left Little Asia and returned to his office.

Despite how much he wanted to remain with Oda, the man was right to send him away. Work never took a break, especially in Kamurocho. When he entered the office, he was greeted by several frazzled looking employees. Any other time Tachibana was away, Oda would be around to give direction or detailed instructions would have been left if both men were away. Perhaps he needed to give his few employees more training to be slightly more independent. His first order of business was getting the report for Ozaki.

Oda's computer files were fairly organised and properly labelled, it didn't take him long to sort that problem. Oda may not enjoy paperwork but with some teaching he was decent at it. His next task was identifying serious inquiries and calming his employees. He was thankful for the work, it helped his mind stay focused and not wander too much to Oda's condition. A few of the employees asked about Oda, he informed them that he would be off for several days and nothing more. Knowing Oda as well as he did, he knew the man would want to keep the kidnapping a secret, both for their peace of mind and his.

Tachibana hasn't missed that much work but returning to his empty apartment seemed unappealing. It was around 10pm when he finally allowed himself to go home after getting food from a nearby restaurant. Tomorrow morning, he'd pick up Oda and help him recover as much as possible. The search for Xiao Qiao would have to be put on the back burner for a moment, at least until he knew Oda wouldn't be taken again.

The next day Tachibana awoke to a phone call. He instantly felt a surge of irritation followed by panic. Stumbling out of bed, he took a moment to clear his throat before answering. Unsurprisingly, it was the hospital calling to let him know that Oda was cleared to be discharged, he sighed in relief and let them know he'd be there within the hour. He made himself as presentable as possible, slicking his hair back and making sure there were no wrinkles in his suits before finally putting on his black glove. Despite only going to Little Asia to get Oda, he wanted to look as put together as possible, he was certain that he had already jeopardised his reputation with his state from the past two days.

Before leaving he stopped by the office where a couple of employees greeted him. He quickly left them with daily tasks and informed them that he may not be back for the rest of the day. The taxi ride to Little Asia wasn't very long but he was still feeling quite impatient. The feeling only let up slightly when he saw Oda staring blankly and mindlessly drumming his fingers from the bed. The sight made him smile, he supposed they were both feeling the same thing. When the man realised Tachibana's arrival his face lit up before dimming ever so slightly, he wasn't sure why, perhaps something made him recall what happened.

“Yo, aniki.” Oda greeted while standing up, he was likely eager to leave and get back to work. Although Tachibana would refuse that request if he brought it up, it was clear Oda was still in pain and would need more time to recover.

“Hello, Oda-san, are you ready to leave?”

“Yeah, just gotta tell the nurse I'm heading out. Pretty sure they need the bed immediately, I think someone came in with a gunshot.” Given how small the building was, it didn't take them long to find staff. They were given several papers regarding at-home care for Oda. They both bowed gratefully for their care and Tachibana made a mental note to give a larger donation to the small hospital. For being an unofficial and off the record place, they worked efficiently and carefully and were very good at keeping things secret.

Tachibana walked next to Oda, keeping one eye out in case the man stumbled. He seemed to be in better condition than yesterday however he was still clearly walking with a limp. Neither man spoke as Tachibana flagged down a taxi for them and the ride to their apartment was equally silent. Several times Oda opened his mouth and shut it, unable to form whatever thought he had. Oda was usually quite talkative but Tachibana had no desire to push him so soon, when he wanted to talk Tachibana would be ready to listen. He gently nudged the man with his prosthetic hand, reminding him he was there and without judgment.

He hoped the action would comfort the man but, for whatever reason, it seemed to make Oda more conflicted before he corrected his expression to a tired smile. It was a curious reaction, it made him want to command him to speak, to let him know what he was thinking and what he had gone through. He breathed deeply and reined his emotions in, Oda would tell him soon so there was no reason to rush him. The drive seemed to take longer then it did that morning but soon they had finally arrived back home.

Tachibana softly closed the door behind them when they finally came back into the apartment. Oda was still at the entrance, opening and closing his fist before finally speaking.

“Hey aniki.” Oda whispered. “Why haven't you asked me about what happened yet?”

“There is no reason to act yet, we'll wait until you have recovered.” Tachibana was momentarily surprised by Oda frantically turning to face him, eyes wide and fearful in a way he hasn't seen since he first beat the man.

“What do you mean to act? There is no reason to, just leave it alone!” Tachibana's eyes narrowed in confusion and suspicion. They've always taken action when slighted and this time should have been no different, even if they were against a major subsidiary of the Tojo clan.

“And why is that? Why should we leave it alone this time?” He noticed Oda was shaking.

“This- this is too big-” he struggled to get the words out, tripping over his own tongue but Tachibana did not like the words that he could make out. “It's too dangerous this time!” Oda continued.

“Everything we have done has been dangerous, you haven't really answered the question Oda-san.”

“It's already been dealt with, they wanted me to work with them and I refused. That's the end of it, aniki, please.” Oda's voice cracked, the more desperate he was the more odd Tachibana found it. This wasn't his usual behaviour after getting jumped, did the man who assaulted him instill that much fear in him? No, there had to be more to this and now Tachibana wanted to push. He sighed heavily and feigned nonchalance before speaking.

“Oda-san your answers are only giving more questions. You know very well that we cannot show weakness or the Tojo clan will easily finish us off, someone has to pay for this.”

“The Tojo clan? Why bring them up when they have nothing to do with this?” Oda's breath was getting ragged.

Tachibana's patience snapped.

He wouldn't accept his brother lying to him.

He took a step closer to Oda, crowding him and forcing him to take a step back. “I know very well that the Shibusawa family took you but not the why. If you want to avoid retaliation then you must give me a real reason.” Oda visibly flinched at the mention of Shibusawa, it would certainly make things more difficult if it was the patriarch that did this but wouldn't deter him.

There was heavy silence as neither man said anything more. He moved to step closer to Oda again but then he noticed that Oda had suddenly stopped shaking and his breath evened out as if a switch was flipped.

His eyes went lifeless. Tachibana wondered if he pushed too hard, if Oda was trapped in a memory.

“I sold your sister to the Korean mafia.”

At first Tachibana wasn't sure what he had heard, the words didn't make any sense in his mind. He couldn't understand why Oda would suddenly say something like that. The world started spinning and the silence was becoming too loud. “She was looking for you. She was so trusting that she never once hesitated in following me.” Oda’s lifeless eyes stared straight through him. Tachibana wanted him to stop talking but he couldn't get the words out. He briefly wondered how it was possible to even hear him over the rush of blood in his ears.

“They told me to put her in a cage for easier transportation.” Oda said while his hand was scratching at his wrist, if he didn't stop soon he'd likely make himself bleed. Tachibana reached out and stopped the motion, Oda didn't flinch or resist the touch.

“That's enough Oda-san.” He finally made out. His voice was level and deceptively calm. “Why are you telling me this now?” Oda's eyes drifted down to where Tachibana's hand touched him. He carefully brought his own hand up and pried Tachibana's fingers away, holding the hand in his for a moment before letting it fall.

“I'm not worth the effort, please aniki, don't pry further into this.”

Aniki.

Big brother.

Did Oda have a right to call him that anymore?

A well of emotions built up within him, he's spent so long repressing it that he couldn't help the flood any more. He kicked Oda down, his goal wasn't to inflict pain yet but he still felt a twisted satisfaction at the man's grunt of pain. Oda gazed up at him, mind finally back in the present and Tachibana enjoyed the look of fear, regret, and acceptance in his eyes. Tachibana slowly lowered himself so he was straddling Oda's chest, eyes taking in every minute expression. Tachibana slowly brought his left hand to lips, carefully removing his glove. He wanted, no he needed to directly feel Oda's skin as pressed down on his throat.

He brought over his hands to Oda's throat and gently applied pressure, he applied more and more until he heard Oda's broken gasps, felt his pulse thump desperately under his thumb. Unconsciously, Oda brought his hands up to grip Tachibana’s arms. He felt a light scratch but Oda never fought back, not truly. He was accepting whatever fate Tachibana gave him.

Tears welled up in Oda's eyes and began to spill down the sides of his face but he never once looked away from Tachibana. He wondered what Shibusawa said to him, why would Oda reveal this secret now if he was willing to die by Tachibana's hand. Why would he not say anything before?

When Oda's gasps died down and his fingers slumped, Tachibana released him. Death would be too simple and he still had questions that needed answers. He stood up, towering over Oda's body as he curled into the fetal position and pathetically gasped for air.

“Get up.” He commanded coldly. Oda was still coughing and wheezing but he obeyed without hesitation. “Follow me.” He headed towards his bedroom, not looking back as he knew Oda would follow. Tachibana sat on the bed and crossed his legs, without a word he gestured to the floor and Oda understood. He kneeled in front of him, head bowed.

“Tell me everything.” And Oda did, the words spilled from his lips like a dam bursting. He told him how he did whatever it took to survive once he got to Japan, weapon smuggling, selling drugs, prostitution, human trafficking, it didn't matter to him. No job was too dirty, you couldn't afford morals when you were one meal from starving. Crime is all he's known, both in China and Japan, it was all the same wherever he went. It was never easy money, not when every encounter could have been his last.

He never officially joined the Korean mafia but they were desperate for people and Oda already had experience getting his hands dirty. He knew it was unforgivable and selfish but he always considered it as ‘them or me’. Those girls meant nothing to him and usually very little to anyone else, it's what made them easy targets. Tachibana felt ill hearing that, knowing his sister was considered an easy target but he didn't interrupt. Oda continued on, ignorant of Tachibana's state as his head remained bowed. He roughly ran his fingers through his hair, the movement calming him slightly.

Xiao Qiao wasn't the only girl he brought them, he could hardly remember everyone. Truthfully he didn't even remember her either, not until that documentary. And Tachibana remembered that day well, how odd Oda was acting. As far as he knew, Oda didn't care much about the war and how it affected him but Tachibana assumed it was just a part of the man he didn't yet know. He had already stopped dealing with the mafia by the time he met Tachibana but that hardly mattered, it didn't change his sins or what he had done.

Oda didn't know she was his sister either but with how similar they looked, he assumed they had to be related. From then on he did what he could to get any information about her but he had no luck, no matter how hard or how much time he spent searching. When Kazama brought news about the lot, it confirmed his suspicions and increased the guilt within him tenfold. Oda did everything he could to help Tachibana expand the business and use the new revenue and connections any way he could but it didn't matter, nothing came of it.

Shibusawa kidnapped him to pray on Oda's fears and convince him to find and kill Xiao Qiao before Kazama could find her. He wanted the lot for himself and Oda knew the most. He didn't care what happened to him but the thought of Tachibana getting hurt, again, because of him almost broke him.

“I should've told you that day I realised but I was scared. I'm nothing more than a coward and the thought of not being by your side is the worst fate I could imagine. I didn't want to betray you anymore” Oda said. Tachibana was still silent, digesting every word the man said, his emotions becoming so overwhelming that he felt nothing at all. The more Oda spoke, the less he cared. What difference did Oda's guilt make? His repentance and groveling wouldn't help Tachibana feel better and it definitely wouldn't help Xiao Qiao.

Tachibana inhaled, held it for a beat, and exhaled. He stood up and stepped in front of Oda. He was amazed at how small he could make himself appear, Oda was noticeably bigger than himself both in height and muscle mass but kneeling as he was Tachibana could only think of a helpless, desperate child. He crouched so he was eye level with him and reached his hand out to lay it on Oda's head, fingers nestling into his disheveled hair. He violently flinched underneath the touch but he quickly leaned into it, desiring whatever Tachibana gave him.

Good, Tachibana thought, that was the correct response. He slowly tightened his grip and pulled so that Oda was forced to finally look at him.

“There is no punishment I could give you that is fit for what you've done. For the lives you ruined.” Tachibana saw the tears gather in Oda's eyes but they did not spill this time. “You will recover and continue as usual, you will help me find my sister, and you will remain at my side until I say otherwise.” Oda's eyes widened in shock but he did not make a single noise.

“Your life is held in my palm, every action you take I will know.” Tachibana released his grip and watched as Oda collapsed like a doll. He felt nothing as he watched him struggle to right himself back up. Numbness has overtaken his body, he didn't know what to think. He couldn't believe that the man he lost his arm for, the man he wanted to spend the rest of his life with, had betrayed him in such an unforgivable way. He stood up and walked towards the bedroom door.

“Do not leave the apartment.” He ordered. Tachibana needed to leave, he couldn't stand looking at Oda any longer and he was afraid of what he might do if he stayed. He was careful not to slam the entrance on his way out. He debated if he should return to the office but he currently had no desire to sit still and make nice with business men that thought they were too good for the world.

He needed a smoke.

He has pretty much quit since losing his arm but he couldn't bring himself to care, he craved the nicotine. He walked to the closest Poppo and purchased a pack of cigarettes and a lighter. The moment he was outside he put the cigarette in his lips and lit it, taking a deep inhale and letting the smoke fill his lungs. He exhaled slowly and watched the crowd pass him by. He wondered about them, how many had done horrible things and hid it? Have they hurt people they cared about to protect themselves? When trying to survive in this unforgiving world, who had a right to pass judgment.

He wondered just how low Oda's morals were, was there anything he wasn't willing to do? He knew that although they went through similar hardships, their struggles weren't the same. Oda had no family to speak of, although he couldn't confidently say if they were dead or simply dead to him. If Tachibana didn't have his mother and sister would he be able to stoop so low? When push came to shove, what was he capable of?

Tachibana took another slow drag of his cigarette. Tachibana himself was no saint, he recalled how many people in trouble he ignored, women being dragged off somewhere while screaming for help. How many people has he beaten beyond recognition? He's killed before, in turf wars, for honour, the rival gang that took his arm didn't even exist any more, no survivors.

Tachibana wasn't a good person, never claimed to be, he was just a man trying to survive and protect those he cared about. He didn't hate Oda for surviving, for ruining the lives of others, killing for his own sake. But Tachibana was human and even if it made him a hypocrite he couldn't forgive him. He couldn't forgive him for breaking Xiao Qiao’s trust, for putting her in a fucking cage like she was livestock. He could only imagine what horrors she has had to endure and the thought makes him sick again. Tachibana crushed the cigarette butt under his shoe.

He wouldn't let Oda run from this reality.

They would find his sister and Oda could spend the rest of his life begging for forgiveness that he would never deserve and never receive.

His mind churned in thought of Oda and Xiao Qiao, fate was truly the most cruel. He may have been able to rationalise Oda's actions more if it wasn't his sister but it has become personal now. Oda was his right hand, his most loyal friend but now that trust has been shattered and he has no desire to pick up the pieces. If Xiao Qiao was dead, he'd kill Oda and then likely himself. He couldn't fathom living in a world where the action of his brother had led his sister to the worst fate.

He stared into the starless sky. The smoke helped him clear his head but he still didn't want to return to the apartment yet. He supposed this would be the perfect time to inform the Kazama family that Oda had been found. It wasn't a very far walk but he wanted to take his time, observe his surroundings and focus on what he could see instead of his chaotic thoughts. Despite the crushing truth he had been told, he was amazed how much the world continued. It felt different now that he wasn't frantically searching for Oda, he didn't want to pause and breathe. Even if he stood around wallowing, Xiao Qiao still needed help, work still needed to be done.

His feelings may have changed but his goal has not. In the grand scheme of things, nothing has changed or at least that's what Tachibana wanted to convince himself of.

As he approached the Kazama office, he wasn't surprised to be greeted by a member again. He didn't know their name and didn't care to ask but he was grateful to be led to Kazama's office so easily. Unsurprisingly again, he saw Kashiwagi with no Kazama in sight, he supposed that made this easier. Kashiwagi didn't look up from counting bills diligently, Tachibana had enough of a mind to wait until he was done. When he was done, Kashiwagi stood up and motioned for him to sit on the small couch located in the room. Kashiwagi sat across from him, back straight and full attention on Tachibana.

“Oda-san has been found.” He was sure something in his voice or mannerisms gave him away as Kashiwagi’s expression turned from neutral to grim. As to be expected of a veteran yakuza. Not even someone as skilled as Tachibana could hide things from him.

“He is alive and expected to make a full recovery but I was hoping you could deliver a message to the Shibusawa family for me. Given the circumstances, I would rather not see them myself.”

“That's quite a large favour you're asking.”

“I'm well aware of that however I assumed it would be worse if the police were involved, Oda is a citizen and there were several eyewitnesses.” Kashiwagi narrowed his eyes.

“Is that wise? It would bring a lot of attention to your company, to Oda-san.”

“By all intents and purposes, my company is legit with nothing to hide. This is certainly not what we would prefer but it is the only other option.” Kashiwagi signed in a way that made him seem older.

“I can't make that call, it'll be up to patriarch Kazama, what is the message?”

“I know what Oda-san has done. I will not hesitate if they make another attempt at myself or Oda-san.”

“You'll be making war with them, painting a larger target on your back by doing that.”

“They shot first, I would simply like to let them know that there won't be a next time.”

“I'll pass on the message to patriarch Kazama but it would be best for you to keep away from here for a while if you want to avoid rumours. He'll contact you if needed.”

“Thank you, Kashiwagi-san, that is all I ask.” Tachibana stood up and bowed.

“For what it's worth, I'm glad you got Oda-san back. I wouldn't wish the loss of a brother on anyone.” Tachibana's fist unconsciously clenched but he thanked Kashiwagi once more before leaving. Outside it had begun to softly snow, he could see each breath he took.

In spite of everything, he couldn't help but still think of Oda as his brother.

Maybe they were perfect for each other after all, two twisted monsters in an unforgiving world.

When he returned to the apartment he wasn't entirely surprised to see it spotless. Oda had developed a habit of cleaning up after Tachibana, even the smallest and miniscule thing he'd clean up when possible. He used to find the habit endearing, Oda was like a devout follower, always making sure the shrine was in perfect condition. Back when they were in the gang, he knew Oda would nag and annoy the members until they picked up after themselves but only with Tachibana would he not say anything. He thought Oda's concern over cleanliness was interesting, in their line of work it was rare to find someone who cared about that. Although Tachibana would clean when he could, it wasn't a priority for him like it was Oda.

He recalled the day he asked Oda about it. It was a simple response, it was one of the only things he could maintain control on. No matter how dirty or messy a room, it could always be cleaned and organized.

But now he wondered if Oda cleaned out of habit or misguided obligation. He knew the man wouldn't leave, not when Tachibana told him to stay. He didn't quite want to see Oda but he wanted to run from him even less. He checked his own room first, wondering if Oda would return where Tachibana left him. If he would return like a good dog.

He felt conflicted when he didn't see him. He knew Oda hadn't remained sitting there the whole time he was gone, it would've been impossible and yet he felt annoyed that Oda didn't entirely listen. At the same time he was also glad he wasn't there, in his room, a place he considered safe and resting.

That left only one other room, Oda's own room. At first he couldn't see the other man and felt a surge of anger and confusion but when fully entering, he found Oda asleep on the floor. The sight of him washed away the previous emotions and replaced it with slight annoyance, this sacrifice benefitted no one. Tachibana shifted the blankets before gently picking up Oda and laying him on the bed, wrapping him in the blanket to protect from the persistent draft. He knew the man didn't deserve the comfort or gentle care but Tachibana couldn't help himself.

Tachibana was a little surprised that Oda didn't even stir at the movement. Typically the man was a light sleeper, ready to go at the drop of a hat. They both have spent most of their lives on edge and waiting for an inevitable attack to come, it was strange to see him asleep so heavily. He knew it must've been a side effect of the pain medication, Tachibana himself remembers how drowsy they made him, but looking at him now he couldn't help but think of Oda as lifeless.

He was cold but not concerningly so, he could see the faint rise and fall of his chest through the blanket. Tachibana knew that Oda was fine but he couldn't help how off everything felt, even before he learned about his sister, nothing had felt right since Oda was taken and now those feelings have only increased. Simply seeing his breathing didn't seem like enough to confirm, Tachibana slowly brought his hand to Oda's face, it felt warm and surprisingly soft. The bruised swelling only makes the skin feel more fleshy in a way.

He dragged his hand down to Oda's throat. He traced the marks that formed what he did that morning, he liked seeing those marks. Leaving traces of himself on the other man, giving him pain that he knew Oda craved. Although this time he knew there was no pleasure gained from these marks, not this time. He laid out his hand across Oda's throat and pressed, not hard enough to choke but enough to feel the pulse thump, feel each breath he took, hear the slight wheeze at the pressure.

Oda's life was truly in his hands and he would keep it that way. He wouldn't allow him to be taken away, not even if it was what Oda desired.

The next few days were filled with a heavy silence between them. From an outsider perspective, very little changed between them. When others were around they didn't speak differently in tone or mannerisms, Oda continued to follow Tachibana like an eager dog and listen to his commands. It made the return to routine work fairly easy, a few employees had questions but most were well acquainted with Kamurocho and knew how dangerous it could be. It was easy to chalk up Oda's injuries as a street fight gone wrong. Their eyes wouldn't pry further, they had accepted Oda as someone at the wrong place at the wrong time and Tachibana as the caring and worried boss. Nothing had changed for them.

But there was a difference only the two of them would note, Oda would not speak unless spoken to and Tachibana had very little to say to him. Oda had somehow become more clingy while also keeping a firm distance. He hung onto every word Tachibana spoke, eager to follow any possible request, eager to please but he would not approach him. If any paperwork needed to be given he would carefully place it on the desk in front of him, he would walk several paces behind him and ensure they were never close enough to touch. Before now, Tachibana never realised how often they touched casually, he couldn't say he missed it.

While Oda recovered, Tachibana kept him close by. Although this meant a dip in productivity, Tachibana preferred that over allowing Oda to go off alone. Truthfully he wasn't sure if he kept Oda close out of a sense of protectiveness or possessiveness, the thought that the Shibusawa family could take Oda again set him on edge but it didn't stop there. Tachibana did not want anyone coming too close to Oda anymore, business handshakes were kept to a minimum and should last less than a second. More than once he had stepped in to brush off a hand that lingered on Oda's shoulder or steer him away from the contact entirely.

It was odd, Tachibana didn't particularly care to have Oda touch him and he wasn't too keen on touching Oda either but he loathed anyone else touching him. There was no change in Oda's voice but he noticed the tense posture, eyes subtly shifting for an escape. It annoyed him that others would touch his brother so casually and not notice the difference, what right did they have to touch him anyway? Tachibana knew it was hypocritical to keep Oda at arms length while also keeping him close but he didn't care, Oda was his after all.

The most frustrating part was his own dialysis treatments. Oda would typically take him to the doctor's in Little Asia and pick him up after but now, he didn't have the option of leaving Oda to his own devices. He hated the idea of Oda waiting around uselessly for hours, watching Tachibana get weaker but the thought of leaving him alone in their apartment was just as awful. He didn't have much of a choice but to bring Oda with him, even if it was for a short while he wouldn't risk letting him be alone. Tachibana was sure Kashiwagi and Kazama delivered the message in some way but it was still risky.

Oda treated Tachibana with the same care and attentiveness despite the new wall between them. The treatments always made him so unbearably tired and weak, he knew he was unfairly standoffish because of it. In just a few days there has been far too much change combined with things remaining the same. Tachibana pushed Oda away but would quickly pull him back and Oda would quietly accept each reaction, he wondered what it would take for him to hate Tachibana, to fear him. It didn't really matter what Oda felt, as long as he remained where he belonged, stuck in limbo right next to Tachibana or rather because his own actions dragged Tachibana down with him.

The most notable difference that angered Tachibana was that Oda would not look at him. When speaking to him, he would look behind him or down but never at him. Seeing a man he accepted as his oath brother appear so meek and subdued was not what Tachibana desired. If he wants Oda to grovel he would've had him on his knees.

The fire in Oda's eyes has faded considerably and Tachibana did not like that. He did not want a broken brother any more than he wanted a broken sister. He considered punishing Oda, it's what he desired most but Tachibana couldn't bring himself to do it. It's not that he believed Oda didn't deserve it but rather he didn't want Oda to believe he was absolved through it. Tachibana would have to give Oda a goal, something to strive for before he wasted away in a misguided attempt at repentance.

He now knew that Oda often spent his free time searching for Xiao Qiao, it was his goal but that wasn't enough. He wasn't foolish enough to believe Oda cared about Xiao Qiao, he only cared because Tachibana cared. He would have been more surprised if Oda even truly wanted to find her but he would change that.

Tachibana watched Oda work from the corner of his eye. His bruises were beginning to fade, he still hasn't fully recovered and limped when walking but he was in a better condition physically. He knew that mentally Oda was doing much worse, it wouldn't take much to push him over the edge, to break him and remold him in a way where he would never betray Tachibana again.

It would be a more fitting use of his life, his brother already swore to live for Tachibana's bidding but it wasn't enough. Oda's existence would need to be solely for Tachibana, he needed to be consumed by thoughts of him in a way where he couldn't think of anything else. He didn't want him thinking about guilt, about regrets or mistakes, about forgiveness or how to obtain it. No, Oda should only be able to think about Tachibana and if he needed to break him to do that then he would.

He needed to break Oda before the man broke himself.

He must've stared too long as he saw Oda stiffen, he wouldn't look at Tachibana but he certainly knew he was being looked at. It made Tachibana want to call out to him and force him to look but he held back for now. Tachibana returned his gaze to his computer, he would wait until Oda had recovered more. Until then he would have to watch and make sure Oda didn't pull too far away that he couldn't reach him.

It took nearly a week before Tachibana considered Oda well enough. It was evening, they had finished work for the day and had finally planned to travel to Sotenbori. Now that they had a starting point, they were much closer to finding Xiao Qiao and Tachibana would need to have Oda's full devotion.

Tachibana sat cross legged on the loveseat and rested his head on his palm. He called Oda over, it didn't take long for the soft sound of socks on the floor to stop next to him. Without moving his head, he shifted his eyes to him.

“Yes, boss?” Oda said hesitantly.

“I want you to strip for me and kneel here.” Tachibana replied calmly. Oda wasn't exactly shy about his body, they've shared public baths and patched up each other's wounds enough to know exactly what they looked like naked, but Tachibana knew that Oda didn't like fully exposing himself in front of him. Tachibana never understood his inferiority about his body, Oda wasn't the only one with scars and his muscles were quite remarkable, Tachibana certainly enjoyed the view when he got it. But this time, pleasure was only an afterthought.

Oda stared in confusion, hoping for Tachibana to elaborate but he wouldn't. It wasn't Oda's place to question, only follow. When he realised that Tachibana wasn't saying more he slowly began unbuttoning his shirt. His eyes kept flickering to Tachibana before quickly looking down, not quite looking him in the eyes but it was still progress.

He was slower than Tachibana cared for, each piece of clothing taking a minute or two before being neatly folded and laid on the floor next to his feet. He paused before removing his boxers, unsure of how far Tachibana wanted him to go.

“All of it.” Oda startled but did as he was told. Once fully naked, he kneeled in front of Tachibana without saying a word. Like this, Tachibana got a much better view of Oda's healing injuries. Most of the bruises had faded to a barely noticeable mark but a few remained deep and vibrant. Tachibana wondered how Oda felt regarding his assault, if he didn't know any better he would assume nothing had happened. Tachibana himself wished to overwrite the bruises, make Oda forget about a time where he belonged to someone else but at the same time, it was only because he was taken that he learned a bigger truth. He wouldn't go so far as saying it was a good thing Oda was taken but now he his a high chance of finding Xiao Qiao.

He was certain that if Oda had a choice, he would've never revealed what he did, he wouldn't put it past the man to kill Xiao Qiao for her silence. If Oda truly cared so much about Tachibana, about his happiness and wants then the secret hurt that much more. He didn't doubt Oda's devotion before but maybe he should have, maybe he should've known that Oda's true desires were always rooted in selfishness. Tachibana clenched his fist, keeping his emotions in check. Soon none of that would matter.

While Tachibana was lost in thought, Oda remained silent and tense. Tachibana couldn't tell if he was shaking from the cold or from shame.

“Oda-san, Look at me.” Oda flinched but did as he was told, slowly bringing his gaze up but Tachibana could tell he was looking around him and not at him. He sighed heavily, exaggeratedly, and Oda understood what he had done wrong. It took a few seconds before he finally worked himself up to truly look at Tachibana.

It had faded considerably but Tachibana noted the fire in Oda's eyes was still there. He wondered what exactly it was, a desire to live? To please? What made his brother keep going despite all his failures and all the horrors he had to endure.

“Very good.” He said softly, almost a purr, and Oda's eyes lit up ever so slightly. It pleased Tachibana to know how deeply he could affect the man with barely any effort.

“I told you that your life is in my hands but now I want you to show me your dedication.” He held Oda's gaze. “Show me what it means to be my right hand.” Oda's eyes widened and mouth went slack before he was able to pull himself together. He bowed in a full dogeza.

“My life has been yours from the day we met, I'll do anything to show you that. Please let me show you!” Oda almost shouted his desire. Always eager to please, always eager to prostrate himself. It made Tachibana smile.

“Then, Oda-san, I will use you however I want. You will simply become a part of me without any hesitation.”

“Yes, please use me however you see fit.”

“Good boy. Now crawl over here.” Tachibana said while pointing between his legs. Oda, true to words, didn't hesitate and quickly crawled between his legs. His eyes stared up at Tachibana, awaiting further instruction. He enjoyed having the intense and weighted gaze on him once more. Tachibana reached out his left hand to rest on Oda's head, fingers running through his soft locks.

He leaned close enough for his lips to touch Oda's ear.

“Show me your dedication.” He heard an audible swallow.

When Tachibana leaned back against the sofa, Oda's hands slowly reached out to his belt. His eyes were fully on Tachibana now, watching for any signs that he was going about it wrong. Tachibana sighed when Oda's cold fingers touched his skin. He was hyper aware of the sinful hands on him, allowing Oda in when he should be pushing him away. Meeting his brother was an irreversible mistake that he wouldn't change even if he could.

Oda gently opened Tachibana's slacks and carefully brought his soft cock out, treating it like it was sacred. He took the tip into his mouth, licking and sucking until he was fully aroused. Oda continued to look up at Tachibana, always checking that he was doing it right, that he was pleasing him. And he was pleasing him, Oda was skillful with his tongue, almost too skillful. A bud of annoyance pricked in his mind at the thought of how Oda would have gained a like that. How many people had he been on his knees for? But he pushed that feeling aside, none of those people mattered in the here and now. He was taking Tachibana's cock now, no one else's.

Oda was his alone.

Tachibana couldn't help a sharp intake of breath as Oda licked from the base of cock to the tip. He then swallowed down as much of Tachibana's cock as he could, bobbing beautifully and moaning. He inched closer, lightly pressing Tachibana’s thighs further apart for more access. He could see Oda was already hard and leaking precum onto the floor. Tachibana used his foot to roughly nudge Oda's cock and enjoyed the guteral moan the man released.

“Don't cum until I say so.” He commanded. Oda didn't reply but the pitiful frown he gave was enough of a response. Tachibana then gripped Oda's hair and pulled him down to the hilt. Oda panicked for a few seconds at the sudden intrusion but quickly tried relaxing his throat to accept all of Tachibana. His eyes started to water and make small whimpering noises, all while looking up at him. He looked perfect like that, an object made just to fit with Tachibana.

When Oda's eyes began to roll to the back of his head he released him. It was hard to resist cumming down his throat but he had other plans. Oda coughed and tried catching his breath, greedily sucking in air. Tachibana stroked Oda's hair while he caught his breath, Oda looked back at him with pleading eyes. Although Tachibana wasn't sure what he could be pleading for, it didn't matter anyway.

“Stand up and follow me.” He said calmly while walking to his bedroom. Once they were both in the room, Tachibana smiled gently at Oda and stroked his head once more, praising him for listening so well. Oda leaned into the touch without hesitation.

“Take off my clothes.” His right hand did not hesitate this time and instead carefully removed each article of clothing. Just like his own, Oda folded and placed the clothes neatly on the floor. It was entertaining watching him focus so hard on such a mundane task while being completely aroused, under lighter circumstances Tachibana might have even teased him for it.

Oda's voice cracked when he attempted to speak, he flushed brightly and cleared his throat before trying again.

“Did you want the hand removed?” Admittedly, Tachibana had been so focused on Oda he had forgotten it was still on. Although it would be interesting to watch Oda attempt to undo the straps, it would be best for him to leave it on.

“No, leave it.” Tachibana walked to his bedside table and pulled out a bottle of lube, he then gestured for Oda to get on his bed. “Face down, ass up, Oda-san.” He said with a calm smile. Oda jolted at the words, he wasn't sure if it was from the words themselves or the promise they'd bring.

“Are you sure?” The smile remained on his face but his eyes turned cold.

“I do not believe it is your place to question me or is this the extent of your pathetic devotion?” Oda paled at the words.

“I'm sorry aniki- I just-” He did not finish his sentence as he quickly pushed his face into the covers, ass up and on display for Tachibana. Sometimes he'd forget how voluptuous Oda's backside was, he normally wore baggy clothes that hid it well. He took a few seconds to admire the view of Oda tense in anticipation, a flush running down to his shoulders, hands tightly gripping the sheets. He was beautiful.

Tachibana approached him and used his prosthetic hand to carefully glide from the top of his spine down to his tailbone, feeling Oda's shiver. He would greatly enjoy using his own hands to overwrite the bruises on Oda's hips and with how hard he was breathing just from that touch, Oda was likely looking forward to that as well. Tachibana took a moment to rub and knead Oda's cheeks, appreciating the way his hands sunk into the soft flesh. It was difficult to keep his wits about him when presented with something so delectable. Especially with the quiet moans Oda made.

Tachibana slowly poured the lube over Oda's hole, stroking his thigh encouragingly when he startled. He probed around the hole, allowing Oda to get used to the sensation before inserting one finger. It went in with surprisingly little force. Oda gasped at the pressure but quickly adjusted to the new feeling. Tachibana wanted to drag out the moment as long as he could but he was approaching his own limit. It didn't take him long to add in another finger, Oda hissed but gave no words of protest and soon he was back to moaning in pleasure as Tachibana continued to pump his fingers in and out of Oda.

Oda bit his hand in an attempt to stifle his voice but that only made Tachibana want to hear it even more. He could order Oda to stop but it would be more satisfying to make him lose control, to get lost in the pleasure. And he would do just that by applying pressure to Oda's prostate, rubbing at it over and over again until he could see Oda's eyes glazing over. He was completely at Tachibana's mercy, exactly how he wanted him.

Oda didn't seem to register much pain when Tachibana added his third finger and whatever discomfort that he felt was swiftly erased by Tachibana's word of praise for him. Once he felt that Oda had been stretched enough, he flipped him over onto his back. Oda's eyes shined with unshed tears, a trail of drool led down his chin and he was breathing heavily. He struggled to turn his attention back to Tachibana, he found it cute how hard he tried.

Tachibana leaned over so he could whisper directly into Oda's ear.

“You'll give me every part of yourself won't you, Oda-san? You'll become part of me and lose yourself entirely, won't you?” Oda nodded, barely aware but that wasn't enough, it wasn't what Tachibana needed from him. Tachibana lined his cock at Oda's entrance and teased it, frustrating Oda.

“A-aniki please. I need it.” Oda begged, words coming out breathy and with a whine.

“You should know better than that, we can't become one until then.” Oda's fists tightly gripped the bed sheets, knuckles turning white but after a few seconds he was finally able to focus his eyes on Tachibana completely.

“I'm aniki’s, I only exist for you, because of you.” Oda reached out his arms to Tachibana. “Please don't abandon me.” Tachibana allowed Oda to wrap his arms around him, savouring the feeling of his blunt nails dragging down his back as he slowly entered him. Oda released a soundless scream and the previously unshed tears rolled down his face. He felt so good wrapped around him, warm and tight. It almost drove him over the edge that he had been on for far too long already. Regardless of the circumstances, it was inevitable that Oda would become his and Tachibana couldn't get enough of it. The rush of his worship, of his dedication, his willingness to sacrifice every part of himself to please Tachibana.

Once fully inside, be paused and allowed Oda to adjust to his size. Once the man started squirming in impatience, Tachibana began to fuck him slowly. He drew out every moan he could, making Oda more and more desperate with each thrust. Tachibana's own control started waning, being lost in the heat and the filthy sounds. He kissed Oda, swallowing his next moan and intertwining their tongues. Tachibana was surprised at his own desperate feelings, wanting to consume and own Oda completely. He wondered why he hadn't done this before, why he didn't take Oda away and fuck him into the ground when they first met.

Tachibana knew he could've had Oda anytime he wanted, it was a shame the first time he took him was now. When the hurt runs deeper than the pleasure. He broke from the kiss and allowed Oda to breathe.

Before Oda could fully catch his breath, Tachibana began to fuck him hard and fast, hands tightly gripping his hips. He didn't have much control left and he wanted to see Oda's face in total ecstasy before he lost it. His desperate muttering of aniki was almost enough to bring him over the edge, it's exactly what he wanted, Oda's head should only be filled with Tachibana.

Tachibana used his left hand to roughly stroke Oda's cock before leaning in close and whispering “Cum for me.” And like a good boy, he cum onto his chest with a broken sob. Tachibana followed soon after, cumming as deep into Oda as he physically could. He collapsed on top of the other man, both panting heavily. He wished they both could remain in this moment, caring about nothing else, existing only for each other. No betrayal, no lost sister, no assaults or threats but reality was too cruel to offer such peace.

He felt Oda wrap his arms tighter around Tachibana and mutter something over and over again. He flipped them on their side so he could cradle Oda's head to his chest. As he brought him closer he noticed tears free falling from his eyes and could finally make out what Oda was saying. It was slurred and faint but he realised Oda was apologising. Tachibana dragged a heavy arm to stroke Oda's head. They both knew the apology meant nothing, it wouldn't fix or solve anything but nonetheless Tachibana would comfort him as he cried. He had no absolvement to give.

Oda loved Tachibana and Tachibana loved Oda but even before they first met, their relationship was a sinking ship.

The next morning Tachibana was nearly surprised to find Oda still asleep next to him but with how little the man had been sleeping, he really should've expected it. He lightly brushed the hair from Oda's face, he was frowning and his eyes were moving rapidly from beneath his eyelids.

“Aniki.” Tachibana smiled, even in his sleep Oda was consumed by him. As much as he would enjoy watching Oda until he woke up, they had a flight tomorrow morning and would need to start packing. He pinched Oda's nose and watched his body struggle for air, he watched him gasp and his arms flail about. It was only a few seconds after for Oda's eyes to pop open. Tachibana gave him a sweet smile before releasing his nose, he couldn't tell if the bright flush was a lack of oxygen or from their close proximity.

“It's time to get up Oda-san, we have to start packing.”

“We? You'll still bring me with you?” Oda's voice sounds so small, so unsure.

“Have you forgotten already? You are simply an extension of myself, it wouldn't do to leave without my right hand.” He replied plainly, as if it was the most obvious thing in the world.

And to Tachibana, it was but yet Oda still looked shocked at the words. He would just have to give him the physical reminder sooner than expected.

“Ah, there is one thing I need to give you.” He got up and went to his night stand, he pulled out a small box and presented it to Oda. He looked at the box as if it would bite him, afraid of whatever was inside. Tachibana was slightly confused at the reaction, if he wanted to do something to Oda he would not put the request in a box. Disregarding his odd behaviour, Tachibana told him to open it. He looked at Tachibana one more time for confirmation before attempting to open the box. His hand quivered and it took him two tries to properly lift the lid.

Once open, Oda gasped. Inside was a thick gold ring attached to a simple silver chain. Inscribed on the ring was Tachibana's name written in Chinese, it was proof that Oda fully belonged to him now. He immediately tried putting it on but his hands were shaking too much. Tachibana plucked the chain from his hand and put it on for him.

“I don't deserve this.’

“No, you don't. But I'm giving it to you anyway.” Oda tightly clenched the ring, he almost looked like he was praying. The sight brought Tachibana an inexplicable joy.

He was truly no better than Oda. He knew this act of ownership was a betrayal to Xiao Qiao, he knew he should've killed Oda or cut all ties with him after finding out. It was the most logical option, the only sane option, but neither of those fit right. When they find his sister, it'll be his turn to beg for forgiveness.

The rest of the day was spent packing and leaving instructions for the employees. Things had been relatively quiet on the business front so they had very little trouble rearranging meetings and collections. They packed relatively light, not knowing how long they'd be there and with all their money, anything not immediately needed could be bought there. The plane ride was easy enough, with a minor exception of Oda being stopped once for looking suspicious but Tachibana was able to defuse the situation before it could escalate.

And within just a handful of hours, they were back in Sotenbori. Back in the place where everything has started, Xiao Qiao kidnapped and sold before he even knew she was there, meeting Oda, losing his arm. It was a city that held too many memories and one he hoped to never return to truthfully. Oda seemed to be lost in the memories as well, his face pinched into a frown. It was already night when they arrived and the city was still as lively as ever, some things seemed to never change.

After checking into the hotel, it was time to set to work. Their names wouldn't hold much water now that they had been out of the game for so long but money always made people talk. Although splitting up would allow them to cover more ground, Tachibana thought it would be best to remain together for the most part. More than just keeping an eye on Oda, Sotenbori was just as dangerous as Kamurocho and traveling alone was simply asking for trouble.

The very first place they should start is Chinatown. It was smaller than the one in Kamurocho, less organized too but that shouldn't matter much for their purposes. It wasn't in Sotenbori but it was close enough to not be too out of the way. The prostitutes should be the most knowledgeable and at the very least, they would know the most dangerous areas. Tachibana would have no problems gathering information that way, he knew he was charming and good at getting people to trust him but Oda was the opposite, especially with women. He always assumed it was due to his queerness that made them weary but perhaps they heard rumours about what Oda had done and who he was.

Regardless of that, Oda was always better at beating or threatening information out of others than any other types. Tachibana would need to visit the brothel alone but that meant he would have to ensure Oda was left somewhere close by where he wouldn't cause trouble. He wasn't fond of that idea but meeting with the women alone would make them feel more comfortable and be more productive. Tachibana flagged down a taxi for them, Chinatown wasn't far but it was too late to walk safely.

They had both lived in Sotenbori long enough to know where the brothel was without any issues. Before entering, Tachibana pulled Oda aside.

“You are smart enough to know that I'll be going in alone.” Oda frowned but nodded, he wasn't sure if the reaction was potential jealousy or the slight at his intelligence. Tachibana continued “I expect you to remain within the area, do not wander and do not let trouble find you.”

“The last thing I would want to do is cause you trouble, boss.” Oda replied while his fingers nervously played with the ring. “I'll page you if anything comes up.” He walked off casually but this would be the first thing he had been alone since the kidnapping. Tachibana knew he was anything but casual, he had been nervous and on edge from the moment they arrived in Sotenbori but he couldn't worry about that now.

Requesting the right prostitute was the next issue. The highest earner would likely know the most but she may attract trouble but his time could get cut short, a newbie would be pointless, and an average earner may not be knowledgeable yet. He would need to choose a girl that has been around long enough to know the area and have allies. Tachibana ended up requesting the fourth most popular girl, her time was expensive but not unexpected.

Her name was Ringo, obviously nothing more than a stage name. Her hair was down to her shoulders and she had big brown eyes. She was beautiful but Tachibana was only reminded of his sister. When she slowly started to strip, he quickly stopped her. He knew women in her position likely didn't have much of a choice, forced into this life or die on the streets but knowing that Xiao Qiao could be in the same position made him sick. Had this woman been tricked by a heartless person to save themselves? He pulled himself from his thoughts when Ringo blinked at him in confusion.

“My apologies, I am not here for that.” He said in Mandarin. Her confusion quickly turned into a glare.

“I don't do pain, if you want to hurt someone go find someone on the street.”

“I'm only here to look for my little sister, she's 19, almost 20 and I got a lead that she may have been sold here.” Tachibana allowed a bit of desperation and exhaustion to sound in his voice, some of the words may have been a lie but his emotions weren't. Ringo's expression changed from anger to pity, she believed him but her guard was still up.

“This store doesn't have women like that, you were told wrong.”

“Please, is there anywhere you know that I can search, she's the only family I have left here.”

“I'm sorry, I don't know anything. She's not here.” She crossed her arms and looked away, Tachibana only needed to push a little more to get what he needed. It wasn't hard for him to make tears spill from his eyes, the thought of Xiao Qiao was more than enough for him to break down. He breathed in shakily before speaking.

“Even the smallest amount of information will help. I just want to save my sister.” There was silence in the small room for a few seconds before Ringo sighed heavily.

“I wasn't lying, if your sister was sold she isn't here. This store mainly takes in immigrants that came to Japan on empty promises and lies.” She looked around as if checking that no one else was in the room. “But I've heard rumours of a man that may be able to help you, his name is Lee WenHai. He helps girls like your sister, all he asks is if they know anything about the man with the bat tattoo.” Tachibana froze. The likelihood of this man being after Oda was high but he couldn't pass up this opportunity. If he had to send Oda back to Kamurocho to keep him safe, lock him away from the world then he would. If it meant finding his sister while protecting Oda then it was a small sacrifice.

“Do you know where I can find this man? Or what he looks like?” Ringo frowned.

“I'm sorry, I don't but there's some street girls in Sotenbori that may know.” Tachibana thanked her honestly and profusely, Ringo got unexpectedly flustered in a way that reminded him of Oda when he was praised.

“I hope you find your sister, no one deserves this life.” She said sadly but sincerely. It made Tachibana pause, she was right, this wasn't a life for anyone. He wouldn't be surprised if the shop owner was holding her papers, refusing to let her even leave the country. Tachibana pulled out a stack of cash without thought.

“Use this to go to Kamurocho and find Little Asia, ask for elder Chen. Tell him Tachibana Tetsu sent you. It's not perfect but people look out for each other there.” Ringo stared at the money in awe and her eyes started misting. She reached out a shaky hand to the money but stopped.

“I-I can't accept this, it's far too much.”

“The information you have me means more than I can express. I'm leaving it here and I hope it'll be picked up by someone more deserving than the shop owner.” He bowed to her before leaving, he heard soft sobs as he shut the door. He truly hoped she took the money and left this awful place. It was just one woman, he knew he wasn't changing the system or helping to prevent it from happening to the next woman but even if it was for just one person, he wanted to help her.

Tachibana stepped into the city. It wasn't a perfect answer but now they have something much more concrete to investigate, all he had to do now was find Oda and head back to Sotenbori. Thankfully this Chinatown wasn't that big, it shouldn't take him too long to find his brother. He spent some time walking aimlessly but after half an hour of searching, dread and paranoia began to creep in. There weren't many places for him to be where Tachibana couldn't spot him and it would be highly unlikely for Oda to break a command.

Tachibana stopped his search, stepping aside from the crowd to allow himself to think. He could feel his heart rate raising. He took a few seconds to slow his breathing, jumping to conclusions wouldn't benefit anyone. Tachibana pulled out his pager in case he missed a message from Oda, it was rare he didn't hear his pager but not impossible. He saw the numbers 119 displayed from Oda's number, an emergency code. He felt his heart stop, the world started to spin. How had he missed such an important message? Endless possibilities were flowing through his mind.

Could this man named Lee have already found Oda? Was Oda still alive?

Tachibana bit the inside of his cheek to focus. The likelihood of Oda being in trouble but having time to send Tachibana a message was extremely low. He knew Oda was resourceful, the only reason he was taken in the first place was because he was caught off guard and outnumbered. Oda had been surviving on the streets longer than even Tachibana, he knew how to pick his battles and when to run away. It was much more likely that Oda had discovered something important and followed it.

Tachibana heard a small voice in his head that whispered that Oda ran away from him but it was quickly silenced. Oda couldn't survive without Tachibana, the thought was enough to make him laugh. The panic slowly started to dissipate, he may not know where Oda was but it was only a matter of time until he found his way back to Tachibana. It wasn't productive to stand around worrying, he ran his fingers through his hair and released some tension with a sigh.

With that in mind, Tachibana walked to the end of Chinatown to hail a taxi. It was unlikely that Oda was still in the area and he had already gotten significant information. It would be best for him to return to Sotenbori and refamiliarise himself with the city.

It was a short ride back to Sotenbori. He requested to be let out at the end of West Shofukucho, the hotel was located at the edge of Sotenbori Street East. This allowed him to explore the city and not think about where Oda could be. Tachibana walked a few steps before freezing. As if divine intervention, he spotted Oda on Shofukucho South. He was leaning against a wall and smoking, to anyone else he would look casual and uncaring but Tachibana had been on enough stake outs to know he was watching for something.

He felt a mix of humour and irritation at the situation, he was relieved how easily he found Oda but it was quite unacceptable for him to leave against Tachibana's direct orders. He may have to discipline Oda depending on the importance of whatever he was following.

Tachibana walked up to Oda and without a word he plucked the cigarette from his lips and took a deep drag for himself before returning it to Oda. He looked like he wanted to say something about Tachibana smoking but instead kept quiet, only blushing and looking away. Tachibana assumed that whoever Oda was watching was inside one of the buildings.

“You left.” Tachibana said calmly. Oda reacted as if burned.

“I tried to page you but when you didn't come out I couldn't wait.” Oda's voice cracked.

“And what was so important you couldn't wait?” He hesitated for a moment, eyes darting to the building.

“I think I saw your sister.” Tachibana inhaled sharply. Wasn't that too easy? Too simple? It had been less than a day and they may have found her. Oda rubbed the back of his neck nervously.

“I'm not sure it was her but she looked really close. She was walking with a beast of a man, he seemed pretty protective of her and noticed anyone looking too close at the girl so I kept my distance.” Oda shifted his weight from one foot to the next and wouldn't meet Tachibana's eyes.

“Continue.”

“I think the girl is blind.” Tachibana's eyes bore into Oda. He felt numb and hot all at once. He was conflicted and torn between wanting this girl to be Xiao Qiao, to finally reunite after all this time but he didn't want to believe that she could've been through something traumatic enough to blind her. Oda continued talking, just as commanded.

“I can't say for sure, I could be completely off the mark.”

“But you saw enough to come to that conclusion, enough to mention it.” Oda frowned.

“Yeah.” He paused briefly. “She stumbled quite a bit and each step seemed hesitant. She had a pretty strong grip on the beast man too, like he was her life line. She could be only partially blind.” Tachibana wasn't sure if the last comment was supposed to be encouraging or not.

Tachibana was tired of careful planning and wanted to see his sister. He needed to confirm if this woman was Xiao Qiao, she was so close and he was losing to impulse.

“Where are they?”

“Hogushi Kaikan Massage, that building right there. Should I stay here boss?” Tachibana thought for a moment, if the man that's with Xiao Qiao was protective Oda would likely be a red flag for him and he couldn't rule out the possibility that the man was Lee WenHai.

“Wait outside. It would be best for your contact with her to be minimum.” Oda nodded, looking relieved. They made their way closer to the shop, with Oda following a few steps behind. Before Tachibana could put his hand on the door, it opened revealing a middle aged woman on her way out and a very large looking man thanking her for the business. Oda wasn't lying by calling the man a beast, he was quite tall and very well built. It would be best to avoid a fight with him.

Once the woman left, the man stared at the two of them in suspicion. Tachibana didn't blame him, it was quite late at night and Oda certainly didn't look like a regular civilian. Tachibana smiled politely, hoping the man could be reasoned with, he knew confronting the situation was reckless when he didn't even know if the woman was his sister nor who this man was but it was too late to think better of it now.

“Pardon our sudden intrusion. I won't bore you with all the details but I've received information that my sister, who has been missing for several years, was spotted around here.”

“Don't know what you're talking about, if you're not here for business then leave.” The man said. Tachibana was correct in thinking he would try closing the door in their faces and was already putting his right hand out to block it. He knew he couldn't actually feel the pain of the door pressing against the prosthetic but that didn't stop him from feeling the phantom sensation causing him to almost flinch.

“I understand that you have no reason to trust me but I can't leave without knowing if it's her.”

“I have no idea what you're talking about, if you don't leave I'll have to call the cops.” He heard Oda say his name but he didn't care about caution anymore, he felt the desperation take over. He wasn't sure why but the more the men resisted, the more he felt like his sister was behind that door. He knew it foolishly but his instincts were telling him that this was what he had been looking for.

“You're Lee WenHai aren't you? I have information about the man with the bat tattoo.” Tachibana didn't need to look at Oda to know there was panic in his eyes. The man finally opened the door, releasing Tachibana's arm. He stepped out, putting himself between the door and them.

“You have one chance to speak.”

“A long time ago, my friend and I were part of a gang. That gang had a quirk of forcing all members to get a tattoo of a bat.” Tachibana shrugged out of his blazer and rolled up his sleeve to reveal the tattoo. He didn't stop there, he motioned for Oda to do the same. He frowned but followed the order without a word. Lee WenHai stared at their forearms, he could see him tensing and jaw clenched. Tachibana was playing a dangerous game.

“Nearly a year ago I lost my arm in a fight with another gang. Oda followed me to Kamurocho while I recovered, while we were gone everything fell apart. There was no gang to return to and two of our members wound up getting themselves killed.” Tachibana paused, giving himself a moment to think about his words carefully before continuing.

“It was then we learned that one of those members had ties to the Korean mafia, it's what got him killed. Turns out the whole time we knew him, he'd been kidnapping girls to sell them. After losing my arm he must've been hit with the reality of how dangerous the underworld was. Heard he tried fleeing and the Koreans didn't take that lightly.” He wasn't lying just to protect Oda. The only one allowed to kill him was Tachibana, and he wouldn't allow anyone else to take his brother, even if he had to form a lie. Oda remained silent throughout the whole conversation, from the outside he looked calm and carefree. Tachibana knew he was anything but.

“Why are you here then? How would you know what I was looking for?”

“That's nothing more than a perfect coincidence. My sister actually made an appearance in a documentary about war orphans living in Japan. The documentary was several years old. I had only recently watched it but until then I had no idea she was even in Japan. I learned a lot after that, I wasn't aware I had a grandfather nor that both my sister and mother had come to Japan at least 5 years ago. I also learned that no one had seen her in about 4 years but she was last seen in Sotenbori. All of this was within the span of a few months. We arrived in Sotenbori today to dig deeper.”

“And the girl I saw you with, she looked a lot like the girl on TV.” Oda finally spoke. Lee WenHai was contemplating, he didn't look completely convinced but he wasn't quite glaring in suspicion any more. Blurring the lines between the lies and the truth would make it much harder to distinguish either.

“What's your sister's name?”

“Xiao Qiao.” Tachibana answered without hesitation. “She will be 19, turning 20 soon. I haven't seen her since she was 10 years old.” Lee WenHai frowned deeply, Tachibana wasn't sure what to make of that reaction. After several seconds of silence, he finally spoke.

“What’s your name?”

“Li Hua.” Lee WenHai nodded.

“Follow me, just you.” He said while pointedly staring at Oda. Tachibana nodded, pausing only when Oda grabbed his arm.

“Yell if you need anything. I'm not going anywhere.” Tachibana gently removed Oda's arm from his, patting it twice in reassurance.

Lee WenHai led him into the store. He was cautious, keeping an eye on Tachibana and watching for sudden or suspicious movement. He was a good guard, protective but not snapping for a chance to attack. Tachibana stared ahead, hoping to see Xiao Qiao. Anticipation began building up within, he was so close to finding her. He prayed to any deity that would listen for this woman to be her.

“Makoto, there's a visitor for you.” Lee WenHai calls out.

“Just a second.” A woman's voice response. Just a few seconds later she appears from the privacy curtain, still in her work uniform. Tachibana's breath stopped. Everything in the world seemed to fade away and all he could see was her.

Xiao Qiao.

His sister.

She was finally right in front of him. He felt tears flow from his eyes before he could even register them. Xiao Qiao didn't seem to notice Tachibana there, Oda's assumptions about her eyes were likely correct.

“Xiao Qiao.” He whispered. She looked in his direction, confusion visible on her face.

“Xiao Qiao it's me. Li Hua.” He took one step closer to her. He wanted to hug her, be closer to her but Lee WenHai’s warning grip stopped him from proceedings. He felt frustrated but understood, Xiao Qiao wouldn't know it's him yet and Lee was still tense with cation.

“Li Hua?” She asked with uncertainty clear in her voice. Even if she could see, he wouldn't blame her for being suspicious, she would only remember him as a teen with his voice still cracking and higher pitched.

“When we were kids, we didn't have much but sometimes our mother would bring us home Old Master Q comics. We would spend hours reading and rereading them all. One comic had Master Q’s shadow walking into the shadow of a pole, you were maybe 6 and were so sure it was possible.” Tachibana smiled softly as the memory flooded back to him. “We spent from morning to the beginning of sun down outside as you tried over and over again to get your shadow to hit the pole. The sun had almost set but you still refused to stop trying, eventually I got the idea to throw a rock at the pole and you spent the next week telling me “I told you so.””

Xiao Qiao took a few steps forward until she was directly in front of him. Her hands hesitantly reached out until they were touching his chest. Her hands explored from his shoulders to his face, seeing his age in a different way. She was crying now.

“Brother!” She shouted before finally throwing herself into his arms. He caught her in a crushing hug and lowered them both to the ground before their legs gave out. Finally, after all these years, all the time searching, he found his sister. They have both been through a lot but they're still here, still alive and breathing. It's all he could've hoped for. She has grown since he last saw her, no longer the small 10 year old he couldn't help but remember her as. He wanted to hold her tight and shield her from the world, destroying anything that would hurt her. After everything, she deserved peace and happiness above all of them.

His mind was quick to remind him that the one that caused her a significant amount of harm was standing outside right now. He felt a cold rage fill his veins, it was unforgivable. He turned his attention back to his sister, he would think about what to do with Oda later but right now was an unbelievably happy moment.

Lee WenHai remained silent as he watched the two siblings, lowering his guard the moment he realised Tachibana was Xiao Qiao’s brother. He gave them a few more minutes of crying in each other's arms before he cleared his throat, reminding them that he was still present. They both startled at the noise, both of them wrapped up in a world of their own completely forgetting about anything else.

“I'm happy you guys found each other, really, but it's getting late.” Tachibana stood up before helping Xiao Qiao to her feet. He took out his pocket square and used it to wipe her tears. Tachibana didn't need a mirror to know that he must look like quite a disaster but he couldn't bring himself to care. He looked at the clock in the room and saw it was close to midnight, it had been quite a long and unexpected night.

“My apologies, I didn't realise.” Xiao Qiao reached out and grabbed Tachibana's right hand, he tensed but didn't stop her. There was no way she wouldn't notice the inorganic feel of it. She paused for just a moment, he could see her fingers gripping in uncertainty but continued on without question.

“There's a restaurant on the west end of Shofukucho Street, it's called Kushikatsu Daruma. I normally work the evening shift so we can meet there for lunch.”

“I'll be there, without a doubt.” Tachibana smiled at her and gently put his hand on her head. The siblings hugged one more time before he left the store, Lee WenHai following him out. He looked tired but there was a faint smile on his lips, Tachibana would have to find a way to thank him for caring for Xiao Qiao in his stead. It eased his mind a little to know she had someone to rely on.

“I don't think I need to say it but don't disappoint her.” Lee WenHai said.

“I won't. Not when we're finally reunited.” The man nodded his acknowledgement before Tachibana left the store, allowing him to lock up for the night. Tachibana closed his eyes and breathed. He had finally found his sister and he had so much to tell her, ask her but he'd first have to deal with the empty lot to make sure no Yakuza could target her. As Tachibana slowly opened his eyes, he saw the next he knew he'd have to deal with.

Oda was smoking, watching the crowd go by without much thought. He knew the man was aware of his presence, perhaps he was pretending to ignore him to give him space and allow him to compartmentalise. It was a kind gesture he supposed.

“It's her. And you were correct, she has lost the sight of her eyes but I don't know to what extent.” Tachibana said without looking at Oda. Seeing his face would be too much at the moment, he knew what Oda had done but seeing what it had done to Xiao Qiao, to his sister, first hand made it all the more real. He never really blamed Oda for his arm but he was now realising how much misfortune they had both suffered because of him.

He wished he could hate Oda.

Oda stomped out his cigarette on the ground. His face morphed into an expression of regret but he didn't say anything. Tachibana was glad for that, he didn't want to have to listen to apologise or attempted justification at the moment.

Tachibana sighed. “Oda-san, return to the hotel on your own. I will be returning later.”

“Aniki-”

“Don't.” Tachibana gave Oda a cold glare causing Oda to flinch back. Eventually he nodded, leaving Tachibana alone on the bustling Street. He wished Oda was more reactive, making excuses or even being apathetic of what he's done. Instead he confessed and lived up to his word of helping him find Xiao Qiao. Tachibana wasn't a fool, he knew Oda didn't care about her nor the other girls he took but he knew Oda cared about him and by extension, his sister.

Oda's actions disgusted him but more than that, Tachibana was disgusted at himself. He had come to terms with understanding that he couldn't and wouldn't let Oda. He wondered why he couldn't get rid of Oda, if it was anyone else he would've killed them after getting the necessary information and he would've done it without remorse. Tachibana began walking to Ashitaba Park, it didn't matter how many times his mind returned to that train of thought. He always reached the same conclusion, he couldn't forgive Oda but couldn't let him go either and forced them both into a catch 22.

Tachibana was thankful that not many people were at the park at this time of night. A drunk passed out in a bush, a homeless man sleeping under a tree, a few people walking past the park without so much as glancing their way. It was as empty as possible in a place as lively as Sotenbori. He sat on a bench and placed his head in his hands. What a mess his life had become.

He wanted to blame everything on Oda but it was his decision to come to Japan, inadvertently having his mother and sister follow. He has always hoped for a better life in Japan but what did he have to show for it? A missing hand, a dead mother, and a little sister who's been through more than he can imagine. Perhaps everything that happened was to punish Tachibana and his selfish decision to abandon his family, perhaps even Oda is nothing more than another form of punishment for himself.

Tachibana sat up straight. This park is where he accepted Oda, where they made their oath. He remembers it so clearly, his tattoo was fresh and had begun its awful itching, Oda would laugh every time he saw Tachibana struggle to not itch it. That night was the first large collection they had made with Tachibana being the newly appointed leader, it took weeks of planning with how well hidden the debtor was. Things turned dicey when it turned out the man had hired yakuza as bodyguards instead of paying up. They were all bruised and bloody at the end but their gang came out on top, they brought the debtor to the collection agency and took their payment silently. It was Oda, with a split lip and swollen eye, that suggested going to the park and drinking.

Tachibana recalls how unexpectedly happy he was at that moment. He felt like he belonged and was relied on in a way that felt good, felt powerful. Oda's easy comments, how observant he was about Tachibana, and his desire to please. It made him realise he had never experienced anything like it before, he had no friends in China let alone any romantic relationships. Maybe Oda felt something too that night because he suddenly insisted on making Tachibana his aniki. They all laughed it off, Oda was older and more experienced in life than he was, it was foolish to think himself above Oda even if he was physically stronger.

But Oda only became more determined. He ignored the other members and opened a can of cheap beer before offering it to Tachibana. His eyes were completely serious and Tachibana, for better or worse, was swept away by those eyes. He made a joke about how they weren't yakuza and how this wasn't the proper ceremony but Oda dismissed it, he didn't care. It was the first time Oda pledged his life to him and Tachibana felt like an irreversible and unbreakable bond was forged that night. Oda belonged to him and felt so right.

The memory fades. It was so much simpler back then, so much easier.

How is he supposed to hate someone who's been by side the most? How can he keep someone by his side when they've hurt him the most? He knows what he should do, he knows what Oda has done to Xiao Qiao should have him killed. It should be easy. But yet, even with his sister found and back in his life, he cannot picture his life without Oda anymore and that is his greatest unforgivable sin.

He had already trained Oda to live solely for Tachibana, he knew that that action alone was already his decision to keep Oda. He only wished the guilt of his own inaction wasn't so crushing.

He made his way back to the shared hotel, he was exhausted both emotionally and physically. Later today he would have to tell Xiao Qiao what he knows and the selfish man he is. He momentarily considered lying to her, like they did Lee WenHai but he knew it wasn't a secret he would be able to keep. Regardless she deserved to know, he only feared the aftermath but that was unavoidable.

Before long he was making his way up to the hotel room. He was greeted by a startled Oda, he couldn't entirely blame him for being surprised that he actually returned to the room. He did not acknowledge the other man yet and instead walked into the bathroom for a shower. Oda didn't attempt to stop him nor speak, he knew his place.

The heated water felt blessed on his unexpectedly cold skin. He must've stayed out later than he realised. As the warm spray chased away his chill, he allowed himself to relax and simply breathe. Oda could read him as easily as he was able to read Oda, he didn't want to deal with pleading eyes or unspoken questions. Tachibana allowed himself to stay in the shower longer than necessary, gathering his emotions and temporarily avoiding seeing the other man.

Changing into one of the hotel's provided robes he left the bathroom. He wasn't surprised to see Oda in the same position, sitting on a plush looking chair while waiting for him. His fingers were absentmindedly playing with the ring around his neck. There was a lit cigarette in the ashtray next to him, its smoke slowly dissipating into the air. It would soon burn out uselessly.

He slowly walked over to Oda, stopping when he was right in front of him. Oda looked up at him. Tachibana gently grasped his chin, locking his head into place. He peered deeply into Oda's eyes but all he could see was himself reflected back. If his sins didn't hang heavy over their heads, Oda would've been perfect by his design. By his own hands.

“Do you hate me?” Oda asked, his eyes didn't change and they remained on Tachibana. The question didn't come as a surprise but there was no answer he could give that would accurately describe what he felt towards Oda. Instead he dragged his fingers down to Oda's neck, he took a moment to tug on the ring, rolling it over his finger. This single item was proof of their connection, they were bonded in self destruction now.

Tachibana released the ring, watching it drop the short distance to Oda's chest before his hand around his throat and slowly applied pressure until he could hear the wheeze in each breath he took.

“Everything would be so much simpler if I did.” Oda's hand grasped his wrist, he could feel the tremors wrecking through his body. Tears were beginning to gather in his eyes.

“Then why won't you punish me? Why won't you kill me? My life has only made yours worse, I don't want you to suffer anymore because of me.” Tachibana released his throat and wrapped his arms around Oda.

“And that's why I can't kill you, despite how much you deserve it.” He smiled gently at Oda, it was the exact opposite of what Oda wanted at the moment and Tachibana wouldn't give it to him. Oda bit his lip to keep from arguing but Tachibana's fingers probed at his mouth to stop him from further harming himself. Oda easily opened his mouth for them, allowing them to pinch and tease his tongue before Tachibana finally removed them.

Oda's face was a mix of tears and drool, his eyes had glazed over but he was still looking at Tachibana. It was too much and not enough at the same time. Tachibana pulled Oda to the bed. Even if his emotions were still a mess, physical pleasure was something easy, especially when his partner was someone so willing and ready to please him.

Come what may tomorrow, he would enjoy Oda's body at the moment. He would devour him until his own mind was silenced. Take him apart piece by piece until only their sins remained, unable to tell where one started and the other began.

Before he knew it, Tachibana was standing outside of Kushikatsu Daruma, waiting for his sister to arrive. Oda remained at the hotel under Tachibana's orders, he didn't want to deal with any disappearances. Not long after, Xiao Qiao appeared with Lee WenHai at her side guiding her without leading.

He must have experience with the visually impaired, Tachibana thought. As they came closer, he greeted them both before enveloping Xiao Qiao in a hug which she returned with a surprising crushing grip. It was still surreal having her in front of him, knowing she was relatively safe, knowing she survived.

When Lee WenHai attempted to follow the siblings into the restaurant, Xiao Qiao stopped him. It was clear he didn't entirely trust Tachibana alone with her despite knowing the truth, it frustrated them both. Tachibana couldn't help his small smile when Xiao Qiao stubbornly argued with Lee WenHai that she would be fine. It was entertaining to watch someone so large get put in their place by someone much smaller. Eventually Lee WenHai relented to Xiao Qiao after telling them that if she wasn't back in 2 hours he would be returning.

Having a time limit on their meeting was unfortunate but they both accepted the terms. The moment they sat down, both attempted to speak, it made them laugh. Tachibana let her go first, she was eager to know everything about his life. How he got to Japan, how he survived alone, if he made any friends. So if her questions were easier to answer than others, he didn't want to go into too much detail about the gang just yet. He opened up about what he could, the struggle it was acclimating to Japan while learning the language. There were quite a lot of Chinese people in Japan that were willing to guide him and shelter him until he was old enough and strong enough to support himself.

“There was one person in particular that I met, calling him just a friend wouldn't be entirely accurate. Although he is older than myself, he has become similar to younger brother. We have been through quite a lot together.” Xiao Qiao smiled warmly as he called his past and for just a moment, Tachibana allowed himself to imagine a kinder world. One where Xiao Qiao and Oda met under better circumstances, he could imagine his sister easily bossing Oda around as she did with Lee WenHai. The three of them could've been friends but when he saw her reach for her cup and miss it by an inch, he was brought back to reality.

“That's enough about me, please tell me about yourself.” Tachibana knew it was an abrupt change but he didn't want to go into more details and he was tired of talking about himself. Xiao Qiao was kind enough to not press him on it, even when it was clear she wanted to.

She told him about coming to Japan with their mother, meeting their grandfather.

“It was hard communicating with him at first. I didn't know any Japanese and mother's had gotten so rusty she wasn't always sure what he said.” She paused, giving a sad smile. “I wanted to learn as fast as possible, to speak with grandfather, to find you. I stopped speaking Mandarin wherever possible, if not for Lee-san I might have forgotten entirely.”

“I was friendly with some people but I didn't have much of a chance to make any real friends. It's been hard since I lost my sight but Lee-san has helped a lot and all my coworkers are quite nice as well!” She seemed genuinely excited to talk about them and the occasional women Lee WenHai helped out of tough situations. He was amazed at her desire to help and how willing she was to trust strangers. It was clear to him that despite everything Xiao Qiao still believed in the good of the world. He could only hope he wasn't about to shatter that.

The conversation slowly died down while they ate. Xiao Qiao looked like she wanted to ask something but wasn't sure how to, there were several elephants in the room that they had both been avoiding. She was more bold than he remembered as she carefully put down her chopsticks before speaking.

“Brothers, your right arm…” she trailed off, the rest of the words weren't needed. Tachibana stroked the prosthetic, he knew she felt it and it would only be a matter of time before she asked.

“It's been almost a year since I lost it.” Xiao Qiao’s face grimaced in pain.

“I'm sorry.”

“It's nothing you need to be sorry for, I lost it protecting someone and I don't regret it.”

“You must've really cared for that person.” She paused, thinking for a moment. “Was the person you brought with you yesterday? Lee-san said you came with another man but he waited outside.”

“Yes, it was for him.”

“I'm glad he's still by your side, he must care a lot for you too then.” She smiled and Tachibana felt a stab of guilt. She wouldn't say that if she knew who Oda was, he would need to tell her soon.

“It seems like Lee WenHai cares a lot for you too, how did you meet him?” He changed the topic again. She frowned, wondering if it was at the clear deflection or about how she met Lee WenHai.

“Lee-san is a wonderful person. He's helped me through things I definitely wouldn't have been able to do on my own. He's helped me a lot adjusting to my disability and I can even walk on my own now, only in familiar places but still.” She takes a breath before continuing. “I met him when I was in a really bad place, I couldn't see and didn't know where I was but he was kind and patient. It was risky trusting him but something told me I should, and I'm glad I did.” Tachibana knew she must've been skipping a lot of details but he could tell she had a lot of trust for him. He owed a lot to the man, he wasn't sure he'd ever be able to pay off a debt that large.

“He gave me a place to stay and a place to work. I don't think I'll ever be able to repay everything he's done for me, especially when he refuses to let me.” She said with a slight pout. Tachibana couldn't help but laugh and he knew it, she was laughing as well. For just a moment, they were simply brother and sister having a good time, forgetting about the worries and baggage they carried. It was an indescribable feeling.

The rest of their lunch went by with more light hearted stories, silly moments when they were adjusting to their disabilities. Tachibana was surprised about how nice it felt to speak to someone who could relate to a struggle as simple as washing the dishes. For as long as he could, as long as he was allowed to, he would cherish her laugh and smile.

After a surprisingly tense battle of who would pay for the bill, Tachibana knew it was time to tell her what he had been dragging out.

“Before we part again, there's one more thing I need to tell you. Could you join me at Ashitaba Park for a short while?”

“I don't mind but we'll have to be quick, Lee-san really will come looking and he will tear the city apart if I'm gone.” Xiao Qiao said with a laugh. Tachibana felt himself smiling as well, he could certainly picture the man immediately thinking the worst.

“That’s quite alright, we shouldn't be too long.” He gentle grabbed her arm, a silent offer to guide her which she gratefully clinged to.

The walk to the park wasn't far but it seemed to take longer than expected. He couldn't help but go on high alert when guiding Xiao Qiao, feeling like a failure every time she stumbled. Lee WenHai made it look easy, almost second nature but he realised how much he took sight for granted just like his arm.

Finally they reached the park and sat on one of the near by benches. It was even more empty than it was last night, only the occasional person walking by lost in their own world and worries. Xiao Qiao tapped his shoulder, bringing his focus back to her.

“What did you want to talk about?” She asked curiously. Tachibana's breath caught in his throat, there was so much he wanted to say but no words felt appropriate for what he needed to say.

“I wanted to talk more about how I found you. How much did Lee WenHai tell you?” He asked.

“You knew the man with the bat tattoo.” Shee said quietly, fearfully. And he hated the fact that he made her sound like that, for bringing up the memories that she may have begun to heal from.

“What I told Lee WenHai about that man is only partially true. I only recently found out about his crimes, I only recently found out what he had done to you and soon as we could, we came Sotenbori in hopes of finding you “

“We?” Xiao Qiao gasped. “Brother, what do you mean ‘we’?” Tachibana ran his hand through his hair.

“The friend I talked about, the one I lost my arm for and the one that allowed me to think and hope for the future, he is the same one that sold you.” There was a heavy silence between them after the confession. Xiao Qiao was no longer looking at him, instead staring blankly ahead with a knuckle white grip on her pants.

“He’s your friend.”

“Yes.”

“The one you brought with you.”

“Yes.”

Tachibana could see the silent tears rolling down her cheeks but her voice remained level and cold.

“Why are you telling me this?”

“Because I didn't want to hide it from you.”

“And you're still keeping him by your side despite knowing what he's done to me?! What he has done to countless other girls?!” Her voice cracked. Tachibana looked away from his sister, he knew what he was doing was wrong but admitting it out loud was a pain he wasn't expecting.

“I couldn't abandon him, not after everything we have been through.” He whispered.

“So he means more to you than I do.” Her voice was so cold and it struck Tachibana to the core.

“That's not true! It's not that simple-” Xiao Qiao stood up and faced him.

“It is exactly that simple, brother. If he's still with you it means you can turn a blind eye to what he has done!” Tachibana couldn't argue that, he wanted to deny it but he couldn't, not as long as he kept Oda.

“I'm sorry.” He looked away from her again.

“This isn't something you can apologise for.” And all at once it was like life was drained from her. She deflated and looked exhausted, her eyes were red and puffy, and she was shaking. “I-I don't think I want to be around you knowing he's there.”

“Xiao Qiao.”

“Please give me some time. I need to think.” Her expression hardened, it didn't matter what Tachibana would say at this point. She needed time to process and he didn't fault her for that, even if it pained him, he understood her reaction.

“I understand. Please allow me to walk you back to the store, at the very least.” It hurt him to see how she weighed her emotions versus practicality, he had no doubts that if she was more used to lack of vision she would have rejected him out right. She crossed her arms, looking away from Tachibana’s direction. There were a few more seconds of heavy silence before she finally nodded and allowed Tachibana to take her arm. She kept her gaze resolutely away from him.

The walk back was just as tense, neither saying a word. The light and happy atmosphere was completely gone and there was nothing he could do to fix it. He wished there was another way, that Oda didn't sell her, that Xiao Qiao never met him, that life had been kinder to all of them and none of this happened. It was a useless feeling, there was no way to turn back time and change things. He would live the rest of his short life with failing kidneys and one arm and Xiao Qiao would never be able to escape the scars of being trafficked. Even Oda has never truly known peace or safety, his life having always been a battle for survival.

Soon they approached the shop where Lee WenHai was waiting outside for them. It didn't take him long to piece together that something happened. Xiao Qiao was visibly upset and Tachibana knew he wasn't in much of a better state. Lee called out to his sister, tone asking without words. Her hand reached out to him and detached from Tachibana without hesitation.

“We had a lot to talk about, not everything was good. We should get ready for work.” She said in a tone that offered no room for questions. Lee gave a look to Tachibana but he remained silent. After a few moments, both retreated inside without another word and Tachibana was left alone.

He felt cold and empty.

He never wanted to choose between his sister and Oda. He never considered that he would truly have to but that was naive of him. Foolish and reckless even. There could be no future where he had both in his life, to keep Oda by his side would be abandoning his sister but if he left Oda he would effectively be leaving him for dead.

There was no right answer, no way to have both.

He would have to choose.

He sighed in frustration, running his fingers through his hair once more. With no direction in mind his feet brought him back to the hotel, back to where Oda would be waiting. His hand hesitated before opening the door. He half hoped Oda wouldn't be there, that he ran away in cowardice. It would give them both an easier out, if Oda prioritised his own survival than Tachibana wouldn't hesitate to track him down and end his life. It was another pointless thought.

Oda wouldn't run from him, he never had, even when he beat him within an inch of his life. Oda was truly like a dog, no matter how cruel he was treated he would still obediently love his master. After one deep inhale, Tachibana opened the door. Oda sat on the chair, staring out of the window with blank eyes. He didn't make any moves or acknowledge that Tachibana was in the room, his mind must've truly been elsewhere.

He took the opportunity to simply observe him. Oda looked beautiful with the setting sun catching his hair, Tachibana wished he had a camera to catch this moment and remember it forever. He wanted to memorise every detail he could on the man that existed only to please others, his brother that he molded to perfection. He wanted to run his fingers through his hair, pretend that all the hurt didn't exist even if it was for just a moment.

But as he looked closer, he noticed the dark bags under his eyes, his sunken cheeks, the paleness of his skin that used to have a healthy glow. A broken dog for a broken master.

His eyes drifted lower and he realised Oda's hands were in a prayer with a familiar chain hanging from his palms. He felt an indescribable feeling to know that Oda had removed the ring but also seeing how delicately he held it. His object of worship when Tachibana wasn't present.

Finally he noticed a small paper bag on the table next to him. There was no telling what was in it from his angle. He wasn't sure if it was there last night or if Oda had left some time this morning. Although with the orders he gave, that was unlikely that he had left the hotel today. He put aside his curiosity for the moment in favour of sitting on their shared bed, facing Oda. The man still didn't seem to notice. Tachibana frowned.

“I'm back.” He said. Oda startled almost comically and accidentally dropped the ring. He swore before picking it up and putting it back around his neck.

“Welcome back, I didn't hear you.” He replied sheepishly.

“Yes, I noticed that.”

“Sorry, aniki.” Tachibana didn't reply, an awkward and tense silence filled the room. Tachibana’s gaze remained on Oda, he seemed to shrink in on himself but kept his eyes trained on Tachibana. Finally he spoke again.

“How did the meeting go?”

“It was going quite well, I learned a lot about her life in Japan and she has fared with her disability. I only wished I was able to talk with her more before I told her about you.” Oda flinched as if he was slapped.

“What.” He swallowed, “what did you tell her?”

“I told her who you were and what you had done.” Oda didn't reply, only clenched the fabric of his pants in a knuckle white grip. Tachibana laid back on the bed, staring blankly at the ceiling.

“She gave me an ultimatum. She does not want to see me for as long as I'm connected to you.” Silence fell between them once more. Tachibana breathed, in and out, allowing his mind to stay blank. He heard the rustling of the paperbag and a metal clank, the sound of footsteps approaching, and something being gently laid on the floor.

Eventually after realising his brother wouldn't say anything more, he sat up and saw Oda kneeling before him with his head down, he was staring at the object he had placed between them.

A gun with a silencer.

Tachibana felt a surge of rage and fear bubble up in him but kept control of himself, body remaining relaxed and voice level.

“Why do you have this, Oda-san?”

“I figured it would come to this. My only selfish request is that you kill me with your own hands instead of abandoning me.” Tachibana leaned forward, hands neatly on his lap.

“So you're trying to make a decision for me?” At that Oda looked up at him, eyes wide and frantic.

“That's not it, I just wanted to make it easier-”

“Do you think this is easy? Being asked to kill my brother with my own hands?” The rage was building in him. Oda said nothing. Tachibana looked down on him, Oda was shaking and could barely hold his gaze.

“If I didn't want to stain my own hands, would you do it yourself?”

“Yes. If it's what you want.” In one fluid motion, Tachibana reached down to pick up the gun and pressed his foot against Oda’s shoulder, knocking him down. He trained the gun at Oda's head. He didn't try to fight Tachibana, easily accepting his fate and he hated it. He hated how peaceful Oda looked in that moment, as if it's all he wanted. He refused to give Oda the satisfaction.

No, it was not about that, but about Oda's satisfaction or what he deserved. He simply didn't want to do it, he didn't want Oda's life to end before his own. It wasn't anything grander than his own selfish desires.

He quickly turned the safety on and removed the ammo, tossing the unloaded gun to the bed and letting the bullets drop to the floor. Tachibana dropped to his knees and straddled Oda, leaning over him and gently cupping his face. Oda's eyes startled open.

“You have been selfish all your life, you have hurt countless lives just to save yourself and I hate what you've done.” Tachibana felt tears prick his eyes, “despite the monster that you are, I've never regretted meeting you and I suppose that makes me just as bad as you.”

“But your sister.” Oda gasped. Tachibana pressed his lips gently against Oda's, silencing him.

“I can't kill you, and I won't let anyone else kill you either. I don't have much longer to live and I refuse to choose between you or her.”

“Aniki.” He knew Oda hated being reminded that Tachibana's life was going to be cut short.

“I will hide you away from the world, you'll be caged just like Xiao Qiao was, no one will know if you're dead or alive. You'll belong solely to me.”

“You won't have to worry about Xiao Qiao or the rest of your sins, you'll be a good dog waiting for your master to come home. I am beyond the point of caring about right or wrong and you have lost the right to refuse.” Tachibana gently stroked Oda's head.

“I will take care of you until I cannot, and when that time comes, we'll die together. Okay?” Oda gasped Tachibana’s left hand, he hadn't noticed when the other man started crying but he briefly thought he was beautiful like that.

“I'll do anything aniki wants, as long as you let me stay by your side.” Tachibana enveloped Oda in a hug, one he returned in a crushing grip.

Finding someone with Oda's height and build wouldn't be hard. He recalled a property they had that was soon going to be demolished, setting up an explosion where a body wouldn't be recognisable shouldn't pose a problem for him. It was only an idea but everything was falling into place already, as if it was fate. It wouldn't matter if Xiao Qiao thought he killed Oda, she would likely rest easier believing her kidnapper was dead.

And Oda. He would look beautiful in a cage, having his whole life depend entirely on Tachibana.

He should fear what he's become. What Oda has made him become. This was never the life he wanted for any of them but it was the only way forward where he could keep the two most important people in his life. He could not live without either.

Tachibana smiled softly at Oda. He knew they would walk into hell together.