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Eiji really wished he’d stayed in bed this morning.
“ I have to use the bathroom” he informed the large intimidating men who stood on either side of him.
“ Then wet yourself,” Yut Lung said
Eiji rattles his cuffs which are attached to a mannequin in a surprisingly middle-class clothing store. He’d have thought someone of Yut Lung’s class would shop uptown at those pricey department stores with the other rich assholes. “ Why am I even here?”
“I’m not canceling a shopping trip for you, you’ll just have to wait until I’m done” Yut Lung informs him browsing through the clothes. It's the weirdest scenario Eiji has ever been in. It gets weirder.
“ While you are here you might as well be useful” Yut Lung pulls two identical shirts off the rack “ Which one?”
Eiji freezes he’s not the fashion type “ Um the one on the left?”
“ Are you an idoilt it's clearly the one on the right” Yut Lung scoffed?
“They're exactly the same”
“ Thei…” Yut Lung glances down at the shirts “ You have surprisingly good observation skills”
Eiji wishes he kept his mouth shut as he’s dragged to rack after rack, being asked about this outfit or that one. He manages to slip the cuffs and tries to sneak away from Yut Lung’s men just as the younger boy emerges from the changing boutique and dumps a pile of outfits into a shocked Eiji’s arms before leading him back to the front of the store. Five minutes later and Ash with Bones and Kong in tow burst in to rescue him and a shootout ensues between Them and Yut Lung’s men. Eiji is soon liberated and Yut Lung has been whisked away as his cries of rage echo through the store…
“ Are you ok Eiji did that Snake hurt you?” Ash asked concerned
“ It was fucking terrible he made me watch him pick out fifty outfits!” Eiji complained
Bones blinks “ Does anyone need that many clothes?” he asked
“ I guess if you have that much money” Eiji frowns thinking of his family's massive hospital fees, the weekly rent, and electricity bills. He had to work two jobs to pay for “ Must be nice” he sighed…
Eiji wishes he’d spotted Yut Lung’s get-a-way car in the store parking lot he laments. As the younger boys men drag him toward the car. “ Help!” the boy yells as several passerby’s look away.
“They're not going to help you, my family, is too infamous” Yut Lung informs him.
“ What do you want asshole?” Eiji exclaims
“ I’ll get you back to your old room but that can wait until after” Yut Lung starts off and Eiji is dragged along by his men, kicking and struggling the whole time.
This time he’s cuffed to Yut Lung as they enter a hat store.
“ Which one looks better?” Yut Lung preens a bit
Eiji races forward at top speed Yut Lung grabs a rack and kicks the other boy hard it sends them both tumbling to the floor in a tangle of limbs. “ Stop trying to escape!”
“ fuck you!” Eiji grabs Yut Lung's braid and yanks he gets a knee in the stomach and a sharp slap across the face. Soon fists fly and curses are hurled between the two boys. Eiji punches the other boy in the face.
Yut Lung spits blood in his face and laughs “ My brothers hit harder” he taunts.
The two of them are still wrestling on the ground when Ash and his gang show up.
Two minutes later and a battered Yut Lung uncuffs Eiji and hurls him directly on top of Ash before zig-zagging out of the store as bullets fly in his direction.
He’s fast, Eiji thinks with grudging admiration.
“ Eiji your hurt!” Ash sounds panicked.
“ You should see the other guy!” Eiji croaked rubbing the bruises on his shoulder and despite himself, he cracks a smile…
Eiji is getting so dam tired of this he groans as he finds himself yet again tied and gaged in the back seat in one of Yut Lung’s two cars.
This time it's a makeup store
“ You think I know shit about makeup?” Eiji asked him
Yut Lung takes off his sunglasses to reveal his black and blue face “You're going to help me fix this!” he rages
“ Did I do that?” Eiji feels guilt bubble up inside him. He banged him up a lot more than he thought. Still, he doesn’t want to go anywhere with Yut Lung.
“ So Ash’s Japanese cat has claws” Yut Lung smirked. “ Do you like my legs?” he asked innocently
Eiji has to admit they are nice long and even though they are not largely muscled they have a toned look to them. As an athlete, he can admire the work that’s been put into them. “ My brothers insisted I have strong legs for the aesthetic but I found another use for them”
Yut Lung invades Eiji’s personal space, fingers brushing his neck “ Help me or you’ll learn how a python crushes its prey” he murmurs into the shell of his ear.
Eiji went rigid and gulps nervously soon the two of them are in the cosmetics department.
He’s fifteen Eiji is four years older than him! It's ridiculous how this kid is able to push him around! He beat him up yesterday Yut Lung should be the one cowering. This makes Eiji angry enough to speak up.
“ You find stuff that matches, we go!”
“ You don’t simply buy foundation to match the color of your skin” Yut Lung explained “ You can carry warm or cool undertones to you that might clash” he picks up a makeup kit studying it. “i’m very pale but there’s a slight warm undertone to my complexion” he explained “ The makeup industry panders mostly to white. It's difficult to find something that balances”
“ We Japanese favor a simple look, you look beautiful without looking like your trying” Eiji remarks. “ You Americans are too flashy!”
“ I just want to look like, I didn’t get defeated when I join Mr. Golzine tomorrow,” Yut Lung said.
“ Why not wrap your legs around a few of their necks” Eiji suggested.
“ Oh yes, I’ll just strangle the head of the Strega family without consequences” Yut Lung deadpanned. “ Do you ever think?” he grabs a few blends.
“ Why are you buying all three?” Eiji asked
“ I’m mixing them to get a good blend” Yut Lung informs him.
“ Ah!” Eiji said.
“ I brought you here to get your recommendation for skincare products” Yut Lung explained.
“ You want my opinion!” Eiji exclaimed
“ You were a Japanese sports figure” Yut Lung reminds him.
How he knew that aside, It strikes Eiji that this is a trap and Yut Lung is just looking for an excuse to pounce. But on the other hand, he still feels slightly guilty about bruising the face of someone who took such pride in their appearance. So Eiji actually tells Yut Lung about the best types of skin cleansers. Offers a few tips as they shop “ Have you tried miracle masks?” and even ends up in a debate with the other boy about whether Tatcha or Absorb is the superior product. It would almost be normal, if not for the guns aimed at Eiji’s head and back as they stroll through the store.
Ash shows up and fights with Yut Lung’s men, Eiji hurls cosmetic bottles at their heads. While Yut Lung, looking unbothered by the situation, waits for the terrified cashier to pull it together to put his purchases into a bag. Once it's done Yut Lung snaps his fingers at his entourage of servants and mercenaries and bodyguards then strolls out of the store.
…
Several weeks go by without incident until Eiji is casually walking back from the grocery store with Bones and Kong when a group of familiar men with dark glasses show up and surround them.
Bones starts shooting at them
“ Run Eiji!” Bones yells “ R….” Yut Lung’s slender figure slips from the shadows and inserts a needle into his neck. “ Bones!” Eiji runs to him after he falls to the ground.
“ He’s only unconscious” Yut Lung reassures him.
“ No! I have to clean the hideout and start the Spanner crab rice!” Eiji put his foot down.
Yut Lung gives a nod and before he knows it Eiji is bound, gagged, and tossed into the trunk of his car. Which doesn’t stop him from screaming muffled profanities at Yut Lung. He turns to his driver and says something too quietly for Eiji to hear. The trunk is thrown open once they reach their destination which happens to be a different clothing store he’s picked up and carried by one of Yut Lung’s men. The second one pulls out a ruler and wraps it around Eiji's waist, while the third turns it longways. He says something to Yut Lung in Cantonese.
Yut Lung nods and the ruler is put away Eiji is put down and grabbed by the other boy’s fingers and dragged into the store. “ Pick out something”
“ This is the part where you insult me again” Eiji realized
“You're wearing a shirt with a purple bird, it's an eyesore. I’m doing New York a favor” Yut Lung argues.
“ You wore a turtleneck with ruffles!” Eiji exclaimed “ And one of those ridiculous jackets you only see in American action Movies”
Yut Lung flushed.
Eiji laughed “ Are you telling me you got one because of the movies!”
“ Shut up! They hardly ever let me out!” Yut Lung snapped
Eiji stops laughing, he doesn’t like the other boy but that sounds kind of awful.
Yut Lung picks out something from the rack “ How about this one”
“It's nice”
“ Do you really like it or are you trying to appease me out of pity?” Yut Lung’s eyes narrow
“ I don’t pity you, your an asshole” Eiji informs him. “ I was trying to be polite”
“ Stop, If I wanted to hear from yes men, I’d ask them” Yut Lung motions to his guys. “ Do you like it?” he asked
“ No” Eiji admits
“ Alright” Yut Lung goes through a few more options; he actually doesn’t get mad at Eiji’s no. Instead, he looks calculating as if this is a challenge to be won. He asks Eiji questions as they browse. Eiji never gets his shirt because Ash chooses that moment to burst into the store guns blazing. Yut Lung is quickly taken to safety away from Ash’s wraith…
It becomes a part of his ruin teen every couple of weeks Eiji finds himself snatched away to be Yut Lung’s hostage shopping partner and Ash shows up to rescue him…
“ Well go get the milk” Eiji orders Ash the two of them really needed supplies.
“It's all the way down there” The Blond sighed.
“ You said, you wanted to help with the shopping,” Eiji said.
“ But you’ll be out of my sight” Ash complained.
“ You think Yut Lung would go to a supermarket” Eiji points out.
“ I’ll be quick” the blond promises.
Eiji nods and heads down the third aisle only to run into Yut Lung Lee. He gapes at him in shock. Yut Lung casually grabs his arm and Eiji doesn’t even resist as he’s dragged in the direction of the shoe aisle.
“ Eiji!” Ash yells throwing down the milk and running toward them at top speed.
“It's fine, he just wants a second opinion!” Eiji calls back
“ Um why are you here?” Eiji comments
“ Don’t be so informal with me, I still hate you” Yut Lung reminds him.
“ So what shoes are you looking for?”
Yut Lung selects a pair.
“ Those aren’t lasting,” Eiji informed him after sticking his hand inside he can feel the lumps and folds. “ There’s even dried glue, poor quality”
“ What would dear Eiji suggest?” Yut Lung asked
Eiji pulls a pair off the rack “ Here, good sole, leather components”
“ You know, I might chase Ash around in these” Yut Lung taunts.
“ In that case, I’d go for these extra speed!” Eiji said brightly.
“ I said….”
“ I know what you said you're like an amusement park ride, exciting and a little scary, but I’ll be fine,” Eiji said.
“ I could put a bullet in your empty head!” Yut Lung snapped
“ You haven’t” Eiji pointed out. “ If you really wanted to kill me, you could have” it's dangerous taunting him like this but the other boy can't help it. A small part of him likes the adrenaline rush. He felt so lifeless in Japan in New York he feels fully alive.
“ Why are you in a supermarket to pick out shoes?” Eiji asked him “ Why not go to some High-end store”
“ None of your business” Yut Lung snapped.
“ You didn’t bring the bodyguards” Eiji observed.
“They're waiting outside,” the younger boy remarked. “ Just like Ash Lynx is lurking at the end of the aisle in case I try anything”
The blond comes into view glaring at Yut Lung.
“ Shall we all check out?” Eiji said to relieve tension after they check out.
Ash insists on following Yut Lung and Eiji to his car. “It's just around the corner”
Then a woman in furs rushes up and slaps Yut Lung across the face.
Then hurries off before his bodyguards can react.
“ Do you want us to go after her Mr. Lee?” one of them asked him
“ No, she was lashing out for a slight paid, I don’t blame her,” Yut Lung said.
“ Did you kidnap her too?”Ash said with a scowl
“ I slept with her husband,” Yut Lung said bluntly. “ I bed a lot of husbands and lovers,” he says the way a child might tell its parent they did steal all the dumplings. A defiant pride barely covering the secret shame.
Eiji put his hands on his hips and gave Yut Lung his sternest look. The one he used to give his younger sister. “ Why did you do that to the poor women?”
“ You can go now, I’m done with you” Yut Lung informs him and climbs into his limbo.
“ Yut Lung hey Yue don’t you drive away! That boy has no respect!” Eiji ranted…
It's two days later when the two of them frequent a little hand-me-down shop that Eiji tentatively suggests. They pass a restaurant and three grown men dressed in tailored-made suits exit followed by a bunch of rough-looking men. Beside him, Yut Lung looks briefly nervous and tries to sneak by.
“ Hey I recognize that ass!” said one of the men loudly in an Italian accent
“ Mr. Belini” Yut Lung greets his eyes darting from side to side.
“ Is your brother finally going to let you keep us company again?” asked the second man his eyes roved Yut Lung’s form hungrily.
“ You can keep your money and your gifts, I’m off the market” Yut Lung drops all friendly pretenses.
“ Come on we had some good times” the third man coaxed.
“ You mean when you broke my fingers? Or hit me because I wasn’t moving fast enough?” Yut Lung said coldly
“ What did you expect roses and hearts? You're a whore sweetheart”
“ And your delusional if you think I actually liked any of you” Yut Lung spat “ Every touch made my blood run cold, every kiss caused me to bite back bile” he paused “ I lied Belini you do look like the back end of a dog. Martin your a violent psychopath and props to your wife for escaping to witness protection. And you, I don’t care about you enough to even remember your name.” Yut Lung informed the last man “ You can all go fuck yourselves”
“ He certainly won’t be doing it” said Eiji because he couldn’t resist.
Martin lunges for Yut Lung, Yut Lung's men draw their guns but the rough-looking men aim weapons at their heads.
“ So you get a piece of something from papa Dino and suddenly you think you can disrespect the top families!” Berlini smirked “ You’ll never be one of us, you're just a little slut”
“ Get back!” Eiji pushes Yut Lung behind him and pulls out his gun.
“ You gotta be fucking kidding me!” Belini says with contempt
Eiji shoots the guy in the shoulder. “ Ouch!”
Yut Lung gapes at him.
“ Call off your guys!”Eiji said very calmly
Belini does and Yut Lung's men get into a fierce fight while Wu hurries Yut Lung and Eiji to the safety of the limbo.
“ You just saved me,” Yut Lung said stiffly.
“ If I don’t get to hurt you, neither do some guys with limp wieners” Eiji declared.
The younger boy starts crying and Eiji pulls him into his arms. At first, Yut Lung is stiff but then he relaxes curling up against him. He was frightened, Eiji realized he knew those guys were going to hurt him. Even when he sneered at them he knew, they weren’t going to take no for an answer. Eiji thinks back to his words that night at Dino’s house he never wanted it just like Ash. Maybe these deranged shopping trips were Yut Lung trying to feel normal. The younger boy lays on him the whole way back to his home. Then the moment the manor comes into view he pulls away sharply as if remembering who he is.
“ Thank you for your services,” Yut Lung tells Eiji “ Same time next week” he orders…
Eiji falls into the pattern of fussing over the Mafia heir it starts innocently enough when the weather gets colder, Eiji brings over a warm coat. When Yut Lung’s stomach starts growling during one of their outings Eiji makes him stop for lunch and eat more than the minuscule portion he tries to consume. He scolds him when he tracks mud into Eiji’s home. “ Take your filthy boots off before you set foot in this house!”
The odd thing is Yut Lung does take his shoes off, he complains about the style but still wears the coat on their outings.
The other gang members watch Yut Lung pace the halls waiting for Eiji with a mixture of fear and awe...
“ I’m very worried how does that Snake keep finding you?” Ash demanded at dinner.
“It's fine,” Said Eiji casually.
“ What is the guy’s deal?” Ash said shaking his head.
“ He wants me to get rid of my bird shirt,” Eiji said cheerfully as he scrubbed the dinner dishes. “ When he’s with me he’s not chasing you down” he observed.
“ I’d rather Yut Lung chase me than harm you,” Ash said
“ But if you try to stop him, he may get mad” Eiji argues “ He’s not hurting me”
Then the phone rings Eiji answers it: Hello?”
“ Eiji, appointment tomorrow manicures at 3” it's Yut Lung.
““ Ok, it's in the low fifties tomorrow bring a sc….” Eiji replied.
Yut Lung hangs up on him, Eiji sighed. “ Ash! Do we have any scarves?” he asked
“ You're getting manicures with your kidnapper?” Ash said looking concerned
“ He’s lonely,” Eiji said. “ And he’s not very good at taking care of himself”...
Eiji never arrives at his appointment; a bunch of guys show up at the hideout and snatch him while Ash and Max are out doing surveillance at Club cod. He’s shoved into the back of a jeep, tied up, and eventually blindfolded and led to a compound.
The blindfold is ripped off and Eiji feels ice-cold as he gazes upon Dino Golzine and Arthur Fredrick.
“ Hello samurai boy” his hands lingers a bit too long on his shoulder as he shoves a phone at Eiji. “ Call Ash”
Eiji dials a number and switches to Japanese “ Yut Lung, I’ve been captured by Dino! You can't let him do this appointment at three remember!”
Yut Lung curses “ Hold on where are you!” Eiji tells him then he hangs up.
“ Hold on Ash doesn’t speak Japanese that fluently, who did you call” Arthur demanded.
“ Fuck you!” Eiji spits the other boy throws him to the ground roughly.
Then the doors burst open and Yut Lung comes in leading a whole battalion of men pointing a gun at Dino and Arthur“ I’m going to ask you to please give me back the Japanese boy. I arranged an appointment with the manicurist at three, and I want Dragon stickers on my nails!”
“ I’ll get dragon stickers too?” Eiji asked feeling relieved to see him
“ As long as you get a different color, I’m not matching with you,” Yut Lung said.
“ Is that any way to talk to your shopping partner?” Eiji complained.
“ Shut up!” Yut Lung grumbled
“ Its true you are running around with Ash’s Japanese boy!” Dino Golzine said furiously “ You neglected my Lunch invitations for him?”
“ They tend to stick to their own kind” Arthur spoke up.
Yut Lung shoots him.
“ Yut Lung how would you like it if someone shot you” Eiji sighed.
“ That’s exactly why I shot, him,” Yut Lung said bluntly.
“ I was trying to be a gentleman should have been more direct about what buying you dinner meant” Golzine grumbled.
“ Dino, I’m never going out with you, your fifty!” Yut Lung informed him.
“ I was thinking more of friends with benefits arrangement,” Golzine responded.
Eiji kicks him in the shin “ You creepy perverted asshole!” months of frustration toward this piece of shit who has raped, murdered, and terrorized that Eiji cares about bubbled to the surface and he started kicking Dino in the ribs.
“ So Feisty!” Arthur leered, Yut Lung, shot him again “ Don’t disrespect my emotional support Japanese boy!”
Then Ash bursts in with a gun.
“It's ok Ash I’ve got this” Yut Lung tells him casually.
“ Is Eiji beating the shit out of Golzine!” the blond gapes “ Do something”
“ Go Eiji chan kick his ass!” Yut Lung cheers
“ You think is funny, his innocence is at risk!” Ash laments
“ Ash, he had Shorter’s blood drip on him,” Yut Lung said.
Eiji points a gun at Golzine, Yut Lung goes wide-eyed.
Arthur tries to dive at Ash, The younger boy wraps his legs around the older boy's neck and squeezes. “ Go talk Eiji out of his justified rage”
“ Eiji this isn’t you, I know Dino’s a piece of shit but you’d never kill an unarmed person” Ash coaxes.
“ Eiji its almost 3” Yut Lung interjects, there's a loud snap as Arthur’s neck gives way under his long legs.
“ Right manicures, with cute dragon stickers,” Eiji said throwing down the gun happily but first he takes a scarf out of his pocket.
“ Eiiiji!” Yut Lung complains
“It's fifty degrees out, your going to get sick” Eiji scolded him while wrapping the younger boy up...
Three minutes later Eiji and Yut Lung sit back in their chairs as their nails are worked on.
“ We’re still not friends” the younger boy informs him.
“ Would you like dragon nails as well sir?” The woman asked Ash who sits in the chair across from them covered in blood.
“ Nah give me some cool eagle wings!” the blond said
“ Couldn’t we drop him off?” Yut Lung complained
“ You need to learn to coexist with others,” Eiji informed him.
“ I suppose all three of us could take a spa day,” Yut Lung said.
Eiji gives the fifteen-year-old an affectionate head rub, he gets a little smile. It's strange these relationships he’s build but honestly, he wouldn’t have them any other way. Now if only Dino would hurry up and die everything would be perfect.