Seonghwa stepped out of the elevator in an expensive blue velvet suit. He smoothed his lapels down and made sure his bowtie sat perfectly before making his way down the corridor. He looked classy, his hair was smoothed back safe for one comma strand, and he was wearing an expensive wristwatch on the hand he had loosely put in his pocket.

Stepping inside the building without any weapon at all felt all kinds of weird, but he would not go to a fancy cocktail party with a shotgun on his back.

For now, he was just collecting intel. This place was not the one a fight was supposed to happen in.

"Yongguk's waiting for you in his lounge. Terada has not arrived yet."

With long steps, Seonghwa crossed the corridor over to the two circular staircases leading down into the main room. There was some funky music coming from there, and a few colourful lights flickered over the fancy walls and expensive interior. Seonghwa took a moment to overlook the situation.

There was much secret stuff going on under the table. People were swaying to the music with glasses in their hands while their lips whispered of illegal drugs, weapons or whatever they dealt. The barkeeper at the left corner was giving out information to individual customers, too.

There was a door leading to the right, into another direction that Seonghwa knew Yongguk's office was in. He had to be careful. Terada's men had to be here already, and he could not disclose his affiliation with the man.

With elegant steps, Seonghwa went down the staircase, pulling multiple curious gazes to his form. His presence alerted them of the dominant alpha in the room with them, and as he scented the air, he could not detect a single omega. They were mostly alphas, and the few betas in the place had to be bodyguards. It seemed their hierarchy was essential to them.

Seonghwa greeted a few of them with a polite nod as he received a glass of champagne from one of the waiters. He didn't stay to mingle, trying to get right to Yongguk. However, before he managed to get through, another dark-haired waiter crossed his path. He seemed to freeze right in Seonghwa's way, making his eyebrow quirk at the confused-looking boy.

He did not dwell on it for too long, though, instead rounding him smoothly.

However, the man spoke right when Seonghwa passed him.

"You don't look too bad today, Park," he snickered in a much too familiar voice.

Fucking Kim Hongjoong.

Seonghwa abruptly whipped his head around, but the man had already disappeared between the people again. Cautious, Seonghwa continued his path.

Hongjoong was here already. How did he get in? Did he have his connections, too? Seonghwa had to be faster than him at all costs.

With the glass in his hand, Seonghwa wandered up until Yongguk's office. His two guards checked Seonghwa's fingerprint before letting him in. They closed the door behind him.

Inside the spacious office, Yongguk was already waiting for him. He rose from behind his heavy mahogany table to join Seonghwa for a hug.

"Welcome to Japan, Seonghwa."

"Thanks again for letting me in here. I know my presence causes a risk to your customers."

Japan was Yongguk's main country of dealing. They had met here too, a long time ago, when Yongguk had shown interest in the artefacts Seonghwa had stolen for the first time. Yongguk was working hand in hand with the yakuza, yet, Terada did not seem to know of his connection to Seonghwa.

"It's fine; you're a friend. Terada said to meet you soon outside. I have something for you." With that, he presented Seonghwa with a heavy black suitcase. The contents were apparent from its weight, and Seonghwa smirked wryly at the other man.

"Try not to kill any guest out there. Those are important to me." Yongguk's smile was bright in the dark twilight of the room. The colourful lights from the streets far beneath them did not reach into the darkest corners.

"I'll try. There is a rat outside, too. But no worries, I have experience with those. I'll remove it for you."

Seonghwa wondered if Yongguk was even aware.

Yet, the man just blinked mildly surprised and then gave an appreciative nod.

"Do as you please." Yongguk lifted his own glass to toast with Seonghwa, and they drank before Seonghwa went out again. He strutted through the doors confidently, and without minding the two guards that had been replaced by tattoed men with guns.

When he rounded the corner, he got to see the last woman in a fancy dress just scrambling up the stairs. The room was devoid of any party guests, and the disco mood had been exchanged with a constant, bright light that appeared cold.

The yakuza was standing right in the middle of the room, waiting for Seonghwa with crossed arms. Eight of his men surrounded them.

Seonghwa straightened a bit when he met the man's eyes, a confident smirk coming to play on his lips. Slowly, he stepped closer without minding the men with guns around him.

"Be brief, Mister Park. I have many demands on my time, you understand?" The young man spoke in Japanese, scrutinising Seonghwa sharply. Seonghwa effortlessly switched languages, his posture casual. The suitcase dangled from his fingers inconspicuously.

"Of course, Terada-san. I am looking for a piece - an amulet fragment - in the care of Waseda University. Or it was until you stole it," Seonghwa got right to the point. He smiled when the other man gave a disbelieving laugh.

"I am not a thief, and you would be wise to avoid such accusations." His scent was threatening, challenging Seonghwa's own alpha to fight, and show him who was stronger. Again, he practised patience.

"Then I suggest we skip to the negotiations."

Terada narrowed his eyes at Seonghwa.

"I don't have any idea what you're talking about." A last warning. His men tensed in preparation.

"Of course you do. Just name a price." Seonghwa smiled again, deliberately getting on the man's nerves.

"Mister Park, are you deaf?" It was the last moment for Seonghwa to back out. Yet, he didn't.

"I don't know; let's see. Try begging for your life like a good boy," Seonghwa grinned boldly, his eyes sliding over to the counter the barkeeper had abandoned. Terada's sudden order cut through the air like a whip.

"Kill him! Kill him now!" With that, he turned on the spot and ran, while the fire was opened on Seonghwa.

Having foreseen that, Seonghwa managed to leap over the counter in the right moment, crashing down on the floor behind in the expectation of gaining a few bruises.

However, instead of the cold hard marble floor, he landed softly.

"What-"

"Oh, aren't you such a dear? Coming sprawling right into my lap when I most need it."

His voice alone ticked Seonghwa off, so he made a point to glare at Hongjoong witheringly before pushing himself up on the floor. He tried to ignore how he had indeed fallen right onto the other man.

"Bad moment." Seonghwa turned to snap the suitcase open, blinking at the two shiny silver pistols inside. He just wanted to comment on it, when behind him, Hongjoong moved, and a shot sounded.

Hongjoong dropped down behind Seonghwa again then, using the second of peace they had to exchange the shotgun in his hands with Seonghwa's suitcase.

"Here. That sly bastard mixed up our weapons intentionally." Hongjoong gave a scoff before he jumped out of their hiding spot to fight. Perplexed, Seonghwa hurried to strip his jacket and bowtie off, throwing it on the pile of clothes Hongjoong had left behind. Then, he kicked the suitcase off and followed behind his nemesis.

Seonghwa fearlessly entered the battle and shot down the man at the end of the room, who was just calling for backup first. Hongjoong was dangerously dodging bullets on the stairs as he hunted the men down that had taken cover up there.

In the next moment, Seonghwa was grabbed from behind and pulled back. He had to twist in his enemies' arms to kick up into his stomach, elbowing him in the face twice. The burly man still didn't go down, and again pressed up against Seonghwa, sending heat travelling through his body.

This was a bad moment for one on one fighting like this.

Seonghwa got nearly crushed by the other man's grip alone, yet, he managed to fend him off by hitting him with the butt of his weapon. With the man tumbling down on Seonghwa, he gave a little surprised whine when his sensitive middle was brushed by the other man's spasming leg.

Seonghwa shot him quickly and scrambled away to shoot the last one in his field of sight.

The few men were gone soon, but they had left destruction everywhere. There were bullet holes in the walls and bar counter, the TV above was shattered, and emitting pitiful sparks, and most of the expensive drinks were shattered, and emptied out on the floor.

Seonghwa felt kind of sorry. Still, he hurried to check if everybody was entirely dead while doing his best to conceal the hardness in his pants.

Fighting with a gun worked so well for him, why did they have to get so close today of all times?

"Hwa, are you alright? He didn't trigger your rut, right?"

Seonghwa did an inward check of his body. He felt aroused, yes, and the itch of his late circle was also still there, but there were no signals of him going wild yet.

"I'm alright. It just has to wait now," he murmured under his breath and adjusted his angry arousal before facing Hongjoong on top of the stairs. When their eyes met, the omega saluted him mockingly before he bolted.

Seonghwa just moved to run after him when he heard steps coming down the corridor. Alerted, he waited, but it was just Yongguk, who risked a careful peek into the room. At the sight of the mess, he sighed.

"Terada has no doubt returned to his penthouse. Do not follow him, Seonghwa. His men will be waiting." Yongguk moved to kneel down next to some corpse, nudging it carefully. Seonghwa opened the first three buttons of his white shirt, feeling overheated.

"His lobby's a death trap. I know you're into those, but it's not really a winning option. You should find another way," San agreed via the headset. Seonghwa looked around to see if he could spot Hongjoong anywhere. It had been great seeing him in an actual suit for once, and not that damn catsuit. It made it easier for Seonghwa to try and kill him without distractions.

However, when there was no trace of the man, Seonghwa turned to look out through the high windows, and into the lightened skyscrapers around them that loomed into the sky like teeth.

"If I can't go down, I'll go up. How do I get to the roof?"

Yongguk looked mildly alarmed, but he handed a key card over without complaining. Seonghwa pocketed it with a nod.

"The roof? There is an elevator. Be cautious; there is construction above. I don't want you falling to your death right in front of my window." Yongguk rolled his eyes hard enough it just had to hurt, making Seonghwa giggle.

"Do you have an all-around view? I'll try to fall down on the other side, no worries."

With that, he wandered off, right towards the elevator Yongguk had pointed him to. It was only when he stepped in that he remembered having forgotten to ask Yongguk about the curious incident with his and Hongjoong's weapons. So it had been his pistols in Peru. How had Seonghwa not recognised them?

"You sure you don't want to take a bathroom break? Your scent might gather some unwanted attention."

Seonghwa looked down on his body and decided it was not too apparent while he was standing. Which he wouldn't do for a lot of time, but that would be to no bother to him.

"I call it means of distraction. Who knows, I might even confuse Hongjoong enough to have him stumble into a door or something."

San gave a snort at that, not commenting further.

"Yeah, good luck trying that. That is if you don't fall off the fucking building first because his bodyline distracts you."

Seonghwa shushed him with an indignant blush decorating his cheeks.