Time Off for Bad Behavior

[madimpossibledreamer]

Happy Christmas if you celebrate it, and if not I hope you're having a great day and a great holiday season anyway!

Cast of Characters (and Groups) (listed the Japanese way of surname first): Hayama Nijiha (Aura), Captain of the Miyamoto-gumi, a Direct Subsidiary of the Amaya-kai
Inoue Yuu (Andrew), Captain of the Miyamoto-gumi, a Direct Subsidiary of the Amaya-kai
Miyamoto Suna or Sunao (Xander), Matriarch of the Miyamoto-gumi, a direct subsidiary of the Amaya-kai
Miyamoto Cordy, Ani-san ("husband") of the Miyamoto-gumi, a direct subsidiary of the Amaya-kai, as herself

Author's Notes: In this universe, Japan is run by the women. As usual Miyamoto's dialogue is kinda in slangy Kansai-ben, though that falters slightly.  Miyamoto is also genderfluid but has been suppressing the male side (Sunao) probably due to enbyphobia/nonbinaryphobia (possibly also internalized).
Terms: Captain & Chief of Headquarters are roughly equivalent, but one of them is more "in the field" and one is more logistics.
gokudou-another term for yakuza
More author's notes: background notes

Main Points:
Buffy/Yakuza AU (Bloody Petals)
Chapter Summary: Hayama and Inoue seek Cordy's help to make Christmas better.
Word Count: 610
Rating: Teen
Warnings: Entirely offscreen, but there is a hint that Miyamoto's dealing with enbyphobia/nonbinaryphobia as mentioned above.

 

        Hayama-chan’s bow is a whole lot deeper than Cordy suspects it should be for a mere Ani-san, but it might be meant as persuasion, getting her to go along with this. “Please, you have to help us.”
        “You’re our only hope,” Inoue-chan adds. Cordy vaguely recognizes it as a quote from one of the lieutenant’s favorite movies. It does nothing to clear up her assumption that, actually, this may be the prelude to mutiny.
        She checks the dagger in her sleeve, readies what little she knows of her own aura manipulation. She is under no illusion that she will accomplish much against two gokudou. Much less the two Captains of the Family—well, Captain and Chief of Headquarters, not that anyone uses the titles. In any other Family, even if their duties are technically separate, there would be some sort of fighting over supremacy anyway. Here they work suspiciously well together—but then, there’s a whole lot less of ambition to rise through the ranks than to get in a good fight or impress Miyamoto. “What do you need?”
        Hayama-chan lays it out matter-of-factly. “Well, in past years, the Boss has been content to leave all the planning up to us, and we like it that way. Honestly, we kind of prefer it. Miyamoto-sama is far better at busting heads than all the logistics. This year, she’s commandeered the whole thing, and it’s causing havoc. She’s very exacting, but has no idea what she’s doing, and Christmas will be a disaster if we don’t do something.”
        It appears her earlier assumption may not have been entirely off the mark, but it might be mutiny for a good cause, too. She’s noticed that Suna has been highly strung, ready to snap at any moment. She always apologizes, but even that leaves Cordy feeling isolated and alone. “And what do you expect me to do about it?” she asks, raising an eyebrow.
        Inoue fidgets. “It’s...been a while. Since anyone’s seen Sunao. So we’re wondering if maybe that’s what’s wrong.”
        Cordy had technically noticed, but they’d been busy enough she hadn’t fully consciously realized. And given that this is out of concern for Miyamoto’s well-being, rather than an unexpected Family takeover, it’d be irresponsible not to lend a hand. “I can ask.”

        “What, am I not good enough for you anymore?” Suna snaps, accent wavering, and Cordy crosses her arms, because yes, this is part of what she’d been worried about, but also it was coming here sooner or latter regardless.
        “I fell in love with him too,” she states firmly, and watches Suna deflate instantly, anger and violence no longer covering up vulnerability and hurt.
        “So ya did.” If anything, she looks a little bit scared. Or resigned, maybe. Either way, this isn’t the intended effect.
        So she uses what she has. Gets in close, puts a hand on Suna’s arm and watches her swallow. “I want Sunao all dolled up for me,” she begins, voice low and intimate. “One of his best suits. I want him to give me a traditional Japanese Christmas Eve date, pull out all the stops. Don’t I deserve that?”
        Suna leans in for a kiss. Gentle, softer. “They put you up to this.”
        “They miss him too,” Cordy tells her.
        “Only because he’s softer on them.” Sunao’s peeking through at the edges.
        “Not only.” Cordy punctuates that with another kiss. “We all want you to be happy, Miyamoto, and if bossing you around helps you relax a little, I’m happy to do it.”
        Sunao grins, eye crinkling up with genuine amusement. “We need to get you a hobby, dear. Fine, fine. Get ready to be wowed.”