The Loss Of One To Gain Another

.............. @_@ I have no idea why I didnt put this up sooner. I'll explain myself next chap so please accept this small peace offering :D













There was a rather nasty rumor circulating about Hayato lately that he didn't like it. First of all, it was inaccurate. If you're going to spend time gossiping idly make sure the information was correct.

It seemed people were saying that he disliked the boss, Makoto. The nerve of some people.

This was untrue.

He didn't dislike Makoto; he in fact hated the fucking spoiled brat.

He reeked of one of those clueless lumps of flesh that were just so fortunately blessed by lady luck that good things always fell into their undeserving laps. Someone who would stumble across gold and mistake it for copper. Someone just begging for it to be stolen away from right under their nose, but so irritatingly lucky, that the thief might fall to his death before he even reached him.

Truth be told, he only tolerated Makoto. Barely. If it wasn't for Chou… let's just say the many opportunities to dispose of him would not have gone overlooked.

Chou…

Hayato sloshed his drink around, feeling a little bored by the uneventful evening. Unlike certain others – mainly everyone sitting down the table from him – gossip did not amuse him in any way or added interest in his day.

Frankly he was tired and would like nothing more than to curl up in his bed a sleep forever. But that was not an option. Evening was setting, they would soon open for business, his work needed to be done.

There were no gasps of surprise when the glass he threw across the room shattered against the wall. Some looked at him fearfully – assuming he'd grown angry because they were talking about him less that a breath away, others who knew him fairly well and were used to his behavior didn't even look his way.

Evenings unsettled him, even after so many years...

He folded his itching fingers into fists, restlessly curling and uncurling them. He needed something. What, he wasn't sure.

Something to do maybe?

There was a spot on the roof that only the agile would find. He went there often. Watch the sunset? Nah, too still.

Pay a visit to the Kuchiki, ruffle his feathers?
Sleep until opening time?

All promising ideas to push aside the one he really wanted to do.

He sighed, dragged his hands down his tired face and then picked the one that sounded most fun and thought consuming.

Picking on Kuchiki it was. He hadn't seen the little snot in weeks. He could also kill three birds with this one stone. Aggravate Kuchiki, which would in turn aggravate Makoto while simultaneously pleasing Chou.

This was a spur of the moment decision, yet he had to marvel at his luck. If he had rested as he had originally wanted to do, he would have went straight to his room – Kuchiki's was at the end – so if not for the intention to go there, he would not have heard the most curious of things being said.

His hand rested on the door, preparing to open it but stopping when he heard the voices. A tiny crack provided enough space for him to see inside.

"It is most peaceful, in the hour just before dawn. Take what you want, if anything at all. You won't have much time but I'll serve as a distraction for the most watchful."

That was Makoto.

Hayato's eyes widened, and after a minute or so, his grin followed.

He wasn't hearing things. He wasn't seeing things.

He moved away quietly. It was by pure coincidence that he heard the exchange. Or maybe it was fate finally throwing the little lamb Makoto into his waiting jaws.

He wasted no time in finding Chou, barging into his room in his haste to relay the news. Fuck. He'd become a gossiper.

This wasn't gossip!

"Hayato!"

Chou hurried to cover himself, in the progress of dressing when Hayato burst in.

Hayato turned around quickly to give him some privacy, scratching his neck in a nervous fluster. "Sorry, forgot my manners."

"You'd better have a good reason for barging in here," Chou snapped, still in a huff about being interrupted.

"I do." Hayato turned around just as Chou was tying his obi.

"And it is?" Chou sat down, ruffling his wet hair and searching through items on his crowded dresser, probably for his pipe.

"Though it pains me to tell ya this, I've just gotten a hold of a valuable piece of information," he said teasingly, folding his arms and leaning against the wall as he smiled at Chou.

"Yes, I can see your pain."

"It appears little Ma- chan is up to no good."

"Makoto?"

"I just heard 'im scheming with the Kuchiki. Seems like they're looking ta pull a fast one on ya. In short, he's planning to let him escape."

"Where did you hear such foolishness?"

"F-Foolishness?" he sputtered, blinking in disbelief.

"Do not waste my time, Hayato. If that's all you have to say you should get ready for the opening."

Yeah. It stung.

To know that Chou didn't believe him or considered his words for a second before completely reproving him. Was he not trustworthy enough? Hayato was not a man to let things bother him but he knew that if it was precious Ma-chan, there wouldn't have even been a question of the news' validity.

"That came straight from the horse's mouth. I overheard them," he said through gritted teeth.

"Makoto wouldn't do something that stupid."

"Frankly, I'm surprised that you're surprised."

"What proof do you have?"

"Only my word," Hayato said, holding Chou's gaze from in the mirror, as if challenging him to say that it wasn't enough.

"Excuse me Chou- sama?" The muffled voice came from outside the door, diffusing some of the tension in the room.

"What?"

"Makoto- sama wants to meet with you."

Hayato raised his eyebrows. Chou hesitated, looking directly past Hayato's self-satisfied smirk. "Understood."

"I don't get why you do this to yourself. Let the Kuchiki bitch go. We both know there is a simpler way to solve this."

"There isn't!" Chou swiped his hands across the cluttered surface, sending items flying.

"There is! Makoto could stop playing boss, get a room and let you take over. We both know he's capable. He can do just a good a job as Kuchiki or better!"

"Are you admitting that he's beautiful?" Chou asked smugly, looking back at him.

"I'm just admitting that he'd make a better whore."

Chou's face fell a little, taking on a miserable look. "I-I can't do that, but if you happen to be right… I'll have to take counter measures."

Hayato knew what he was saying. He also knew what Chou would say. He didn't like to see him sad but he made things so much harder than they needed to be. If only he would let go…

"How?"

Chou stood up and smiled at him – more doubt that usual causing it to be a half grimace and not the self-confident glow Hayato was used to.

Hayato did all that he was instructed to do by Chou without question.

He wrote a note to lure Kuchiki out and slipped it inside his room secretly. He then waited outside to capture him if he followed through with it.

He believed that Chou would stop them in advance but then why would he have him write the note? He asked.

"To teach them a lesson. Nothing is more devastating than hopes which are snatched away when they are at their peak."

Damn, Chou was a scary fucker.




TBC