Chapter Text
Bangkok, Thailand
Present Day (2023)
Kimhant Theerapanyakun stretched on his chair as his theory of music class ended. Honestly, he loved his course but sometimes, he needs to take a break and just breathe. He was just glad that semester two is ending and that he has managed to submit all the projects required of him before the deadline.
He cracked his neck again before finally fixing his laptop to his bag. The sun hit the ring on his right hand and he can’t help but smile fondly at it. It has been months since they last met, yet this time, his tiger… his beloved Chay and him are in constant communication. The yakuza insist that they text each other whenever they are free, and he promises to reply as soon as he can so that Kimhant won’t miss him that much.
The mafia prince sighed at the thought of his beloved tiger. It has been three days since the man informed him that he will be flying to Russia to meet the newly anointed Pakhan of the Bratva that they have good friendly relations to, and since his brother has been busy with the Theerapanyakun mafia, it was up to the new wakagashira to represent the Shimizu-gumi.
Kimhant checked his phone and gave another sigh. Still no message from his beloved and he can’t help but worry as to what is happening with the older yakuza. Chay was not answering his calls or his texts for three days and when Kim asked Ayame, the secretary merely told him that his boss was just too busy with everything that he was supposed to be doing as an envoy and it is better to let the young yakuza be focused on his tasks.
The thing is, Kimhant understands that his Taiga is busy with work, knows how crucial it is to have the pact of a bratva family as it will strengthen the power of the Shimizu-gumi and by extension, the Theerapanyakun family. Their hold in the mafia world will be unparalleled yet having such a pact will be delicate as people are volatile and promises are either sealed by ink or blood.
He knows he was not as exposed as his two older brothers as his mother had him as a miracle baby and his two overprotective brothers don"t want their baby brother to be exposed with the family business, but he insisted on being an active member by training with the bodyguards.
‘We know that you could end someone’s life with a pencil but you’re still our baby brother.’ Kinn said to him whilst he and Tankhun are hanging out in the latter’s room to do their weekly brotherly bonding that Kimhant insisted because he feels sad when his brothers are off to work.
And Kimhant knows that whatever it was, it is very important, which made Kimhant sad because it was his 19th birthday and the whole family will be celebrating, even Yukiyo will be joining them. The young heir feels like his soon to be husband is prioritising work rather than him.
‘Oh come off it Kimhant! Don’t be such a baby.’ he scolded himself as he made his way to the awaiting car. He paused when he saw Pete instead of Big, who is usually the one who picks him from school.
“Kimhant-sama.” Pete bowed at the young mafioso who returned the formal gesture with a wai “I am here to escort you to Hinotori-sama.”
“Hia Po?”
Kim was confused as he doesn’t recall ever setting a meeting with his brother-in-law. Did he miss something? Big was not there to confirm his schedule with the family so he was not sure if something was set when he was in class.
“Pete-san, where is P’Big?” Kimhant asked, giving his bag to the awaiting arms of Pete.
“Big-san was summoned by Anakinn-sama.” Pete replied whilst opening the door for Kim and letting the young heir slide in before promptly closing the back door of the car and making his way to the driver’s seat.
Kim was quiet on the car ride, thinking that his brothers might be planning another surprise party for him when he politely demanded that they shouldn’t be bothered with such trivial things. He prefers that they only have family dinner but with the arrival of the ex-ona-oyabun, Kimhant was sure that it would be something grandiose.
Surprisingly… or rather unsurprisingly, Pete drove Kimhant into a boutique that made bespoke suits. The youngest heir can’t help but sigh at the notion that he is indeed correct and that he would be fitted with a pre-made suit for his birthday party. He’s going to kill his family after the party but he was secretly glad that they are doing this much effort for his 19th birthday.
‘If only my tiger is here. ’ he mused as Pete opened the door for him.
“This way, Kim-sama.” Pete led him to the store, greeting all the attendants with a polite wai before entering the exclusive dressing room at the back of the store.
There, he found his Tori-nii being fitted with a nice burgundy suit that compliments his golden skin.
“Ah, Kimmy!”
Kimhant smiled at the nickname. Only his hia Po can call him that because it was said with utmost adoration unlike his cousin Vegas who uses it to tease him. That fucker. He’s lucky that he loves him and he won’t kill him in his sleep… yet.
“Hia.” he greeted “Why did you ask for me?”
Porsche nodded at the seamstress, taking a step away from the platform that he was currently in to approach his younger brother.
“Well darling boy, I am here to give you my gift.” a loving smile painted the older man’s lips “I fought tooth and nail to be the first one to give you your gift and your hia Kinn pouted when he lost.”
Kimhant chuckled at the thought and nodded, waiting for his hia to give him his gift. His hia Po always gives him meaningful gifts like his first guitar, a book about songwriting, a blade made by the swordsmith that came from a line that made the Shimizu-gumi katanas exclusively since its inception and a kimono that has a note to only wear it when the time comes. And so far, the last gift is still on its box, waiting for the day its master will wear it.
“Jom, can you get the thing that I asked of you?”
The seamstress, Jom, nodded and made his way to another door where Kim supposed is the way to the sewing area. It only took him a couple of seconds before he came back with a white box.
“Khun Kimhant, if you please.” Jom motioned at the platform where his hia was standing before and with an encouraging nod from the man, Kimhant made his way to the said platform.
“Kindly take off your uniform sir, so we can fit the clothes properly.”
Kimhant looked at his older brother who merely smiled and motioned for him to go try his gift. With an affirmation from Porsche, the younger mafioso removed his clothes until there was nothing left but his underwear. He was not conscious of his body, never was, but the hands that are helping him to dress up are still foreign to him that he can’t help but flinch sometimes. Jom, who is probably Porsche’s personal seamstress, gave him an understanding smile and proceeded to do his job as professionally as he can, which Kimhant was grateful for.
After some fiddling, Kimhant is now wearing a tuxedo made of soft suede and trousers that fits perfectly to his legs. The whole ensemble was in black except for the light pink, almost powdery pink bow tie that was on his neck. The color reminds him of the same shade of the yukata Chay was wearing when they first met.
‘ When I thought that he was a girl. ’
“Do you like it, nong?” Porsche asked as he stood beside the young mafioso
“Yes phi, thank you very much!” He hugged his older brother as tightly as he could, always the best at giving him gifts, but don’t tell his P’Khun that, otherwise the man would feel so offended that he would buy anything and everything just to prove you otherwise.
“I’m glad.” the older yakuza looked at his little nong, and smiled as he fixed the now crooked bowtie “Now, let’s fix this bowtie. It’s made from a very special material that I have to ship from Japan.”
“I will take good care of it.”
“すみませんが、次の約束に移らなければなりません。(Excuse me sir, but we need to go to our next appointment.)” Pete politely said and Porsche nodded at his secretary.
“Let’s go nong, we have places to be before your party.”
xxx
The whole day, Porsche as well as Pete who has become their designated driver, took Kimhant to different places where such as the spa, a shoe store where he was fitted with another boots, a hairdresser hand picked by Porsche that cut his hair short and stylish, as well a boutique that exclusively sells perfumes that makes one of a kind perfumes that is suited to the person wearing it.
Kimhant was tired yet happy as Porsche pampers him on his birthday, the older yakuza not holding back at the expense. So happy that he almost forgot that his beloved Chay has not texted him the whole day, not even to greet him a happy birthday. But Kim hid his sadness as he was currently enjoying a day with his beloved hia Porsche who wants nothing but to make his nong happy on his special day.
‘ After today… then I can be sad .’ he told himself.
It was almost seven in the evening when they returned to the main Theerapanyakun compound and before Kimhant could get out of the car, now wearing his suit, his hair styled and smelling like the perfume that they bought, Porsche held his little brother’s wrist, stopping him.
“Yes Tori-nii?”
“One last gift from me, little kitty.” Porsche said fondly “Pete, please.”
The loyal secretary held a small blue box with the Shimizu-gumi seal incorporated by the personal seal of Porsche embroidered on it. The older yakuza opened the box and Kimhant’s breath hitched at the golden cufflinks with ebony stone sitting nicely. The stone has a sigil that Kimhant was not familiar with as he knows the seals that his family had, even the minor family’s weird seal that his P’Vegas has changed is familiar. But what looks like a mockingbird with sakura petals falling that was inscribed on the small ebony stone is not familiar.
Noticing this, Porsche chuckled as he removed the earlier cufflinks that he bought for his nong earlier.
“This was specially made for you, dear Kimhant.” Porsche said softly as he replaced the cufflinks Kimhant was wearing into the new one “A gift that actually didn’t come from me. It’s from someone special so I will leave that person to explain what it means… hmm?”
Confused, intrigued and hopeful. That’s what Kim was feeling right now as the heavy weight of the cufflink settles into his wrist. Once his brother has finished putting on the cufflinks, he can’t help but stare at them, though the light from the car that Pete has opened does not do justice to the beauty of the accessory.
“Is it from…” no, it can’t be right? Otherwise, he will be the one to give the beautiful gift to him personally.
The oyabun smiled at his little nong.
“Come Kimhant, everyone is waiting.”
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“HAPPY BIRTHDAY KIMHANT!”
Kim was shocked at the amount of people that are currently in their ballroom. He wasn’t expecting the amount of people, and he most certainly was not expecting who attended his birthday celebration. Childhood friends, his friends from middle school and high school, fuck even his seniors that he became friends with in college and some of his classmates, who are just with him earlier are present.
Several gifts are given and were received by Big who is now thankfully by his side. Kimhant’s face was already aching from the huge smile he was giving and finally he managed to reach his family who were waiting for him at the very end of the ballroom, where a quartet was performing.
“Hello little brother.” Tankhun greeted him, wearing the most ridiculous colored suit ever created by men “Having fun?”
“Phi~!” Kimhant can’t help but sigh “Why are there so many people?”
“Well, to celebrate your birthday of course!” his oldest brother said and ushered him towards the dining area “Now come, dinner is about to be served.”
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Kimhant was having a blast, dancing with his friends and cousins, and surprisingly, dancing with the ex-ona-oyabun who arrived just in time for dinner and his candle blowing, the cake being a three foot tall one courtesy of course by Tankhun. Yukiyo gave the Kimhant a cuff bracelet made with white gold, the seal of the Shimizu clan engraved in the middle of it.
“You are part of the Shimizu family, little one, a son of mine and a brother to Hinotori. It is proper that you wear something that bears our sign.” and Kimhant wants to cry at that.
He may have not grown with a father to guide him, but he grew up with two women, strong as their own, to make him someone worthy of the Theerapanyakun name. There are also his brothers and cousins who love him dearly though sometimes they are irritating (except Macau, he will always be Kim’s baby).
Speaking of his youngest cousin, the boy was by his side the whole night, chatting with him and trying to get his attention every time he gets a chance, which he finds really suspicious.
“Say Cau, are you hiding something from me?” Kim asked as Macau led him to the gardens with a shitty excuse that he wanted some air and there were too many people inside.
“Nothing phi, why?” Macau answered immediately, making Kimhant much more suspicious. “So, what did you get from the fam?” the younger boy asked, trying to change the subject.
“Hmm.” Kim sat on the swing, moving his legs as he did so “Well I assume that the party and the planning is from P’Khun and Mae, the clothes and more came from hia Po… P’Kinn gave me keys to what I assume to be a car, though I haven’t seen it. P’Vegas gave me a switch knife.”
“And Yukiyo-sama gave me this bracelet.” Kimhant raised his left hand showing off the lovely bracelet that he was wearing.
“Typical of hia.” Macau snickered.
“So what did you get for me?”
Macau gasped at the realisation, standing up from the swing where he was seated.
“Oh shit Phi! Let me get it for you.” but before Kimhant could tell him that he could give it to him later, the littlest Theerapanyakun was already gone.
Sighing, Kimhant continued to swing, humming some random melody that was stuck on his head for quite some time and he was planning on developing the said melody into a song. It’s just that the lyrics are not flowing to him yet, which frustrated Kimhant as usually it was easy for him to write the lyrics.
He doesn’t know how long he has been on the swing, too lost in his thoughts, eyes closed, as he composed the music to his mind. This often happens to him whenever a tune is stuck on his head, and when he suddenly hits a mood where he lets the music flow into him, time and place doesn’t matter as his world pauses until the music has ebbed away from his body. Just like now, when he completely forgot that it has been ten minutes since Macau ran to the house to get his gift for him.
“What a lovely melody, Kimhant.”
The mafioso suddenly stopped from swinging, his bubble suddenly shattered by a familiar voice that he was dying to hear for days. It can’t be right? He’s still in Russia and the last time he checked with Ayame-san, her boss is still in the middle of negotiations with the bratva.
Kim was too scared to look behind him, too afraid that it just might be some figment of his longing imagination. Too frightened to be heartbroken.
But the shifting sound of the grass grounded him and in an instant, the man he was waiting for appeared in front of him, dressed in a similar black tuxedo, only this time, wearing a white clean shirt and a burgundy bowtie that is quite a contrast on what Kimhant was wearing.
“Hello little star.”
There, in front of him is his beloved yakuza, Yamamoto Taiga or as his Thai name goes, Porchay Pichaya Kittisawat, holding a small Strawberry Shortcake with a single lit candle, its wik already burned at half.
“My favorite.” Kimhant whispered.
Smiling, Chay kneeled down in front of Kimhant who was still sitting on the swing, offering the treat to the birthday boy.
“Make a wish my little 流れ星 (Shooting Star).”
Closing his eyes, Kimhant wished that this day would never end, that the happy feeling that he was holding along with the happiness of his family. That no matter what happens, they will all be safe and sound.
Once done, Kimhant opened his eyes and blew on to the candle, smiling widely, feeling giddy at the same time.
“P’Chay…” Kimhant whispered before throwing himself at the man, who managed to save the cake and maintain his balance. “I missed you. I thought…”
“Darling, what kind of a fiancè will I be if I miss your birthday?”
“But…”
“But nothing. I am here holding you in my arms. That’s enough.”
“Yeah… that’s enough.”
xxx
Kim and Chay stayed at the swing for a couple more minutes, Macau arriving a few minutes after the two love birds reunited, winking at his P’Kim who just started gapingly at him.
“This is your gift, Cau?”
“Yep! P’Chay called me earlier.” the teenager said, smug at what he did “I’m a very good wingman, no?”
“Of course Macau.” replied Chay who gave a fist bump to the youngest Theerapanyakun. “Now, can you please take this to the kitchen and ask the staff to save it for Kimhant?”
“Okay. I’m heading back now, bye!” Macau said, taking the treat from Chay’s hand before running towards the compound.
And he is gone once again.
Once again, Porchay’s attention was back to Kimhant who is blushing as he the older yakuza takes in the vision of his star. His hand reached on the bowtie and smiled wistfully before taking the youngest heir of the main family’s hand and stared at both the cufflinks and the bracelet, humming softly. He gave each accessory a kiss, making the younger mafioso’s breath hitch.
“ 美しい (beautiful) .” Chay can’t help but murmur, staring at the accessories before looking straight into Kimhant"s eyes. “I hope you like my presents.”
“The bowtie and the cufflinks were from you?”
“Yes.” the yakuza affirms “The cufflinks bear my seal while the bowtie…” a ghost of a touch from the mafioso “The bowtie was made from the yukata I was wearing when we met.”
“It’s made from a very special material that I have to ship from Japan.”
Very special material indeed.
“Thank you.” Kimhant whispered, hand gripping on to the older man.
A nod, before the yakuza stood up and offered his hand to Kimhant which the latter took.
“Come, we don’t want to be late to our engagement party.” Chay started to walk but was stopped when his companion didn’t follow him. The yakuza looked behind and saw a startled looking face of the baby mafioso, and he couldn"t help but give the man a peck on the cheek, which made Kimhant look even more like a tomato.
“Phi!”
“What seems to be the problem, little star?”
“Why wasn"t I aware that this is our engagement party?!”
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“Tori-nii!”
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Inside the ballroom, Porsche accidentally bit his lip.
“Are you alright?” Kinn asked his partner as he touched the swollen lip.
“Yeah, I think I must’ve forgotten something.”