Chapter Text
Hiroko has always enjoyed coming to Russia, especially during the summer. When she was younger and traveled more with her mate, when they had traveled all around the world, Russia was always one of her favourite places to follow Toshiya to. His work demanded his presence at ports and fine dining halls all over the globe. Hiroko had been a steady presence at his side as he bent the world to his will, created rules and laws separate from the rest of the world's view of justice. They had their own. A darker, more brutal one, perhaps, but it was their brand of justice. It still is.
Admittedly, they have to share that with others. One could not rule the world alone, and those who had gotten greedy enough to try were now cold and dead in the ground. Hiroko has never enjoyed that part of this world but it was the price they had to pay. It wasn’t as if she had gotten much say in the matter of entering this life anyway.
She didn’t travel as much anymore, though, staying home to tend to their two small pups.
Said pups are no longer so as small, which is one of the reasons Hiroko finds herself in Russia again, watching her children run around, laughing in the grass with other kids. Well, Mari is running around laughing. Yuuri is only sitting under a tree looking nervously at the other children, wringing his hands. Hiroko has been contemplating going over there for the last ten minutes, to try to coax her son into joining the other kids playing, but she’s not sure if it would be the best course of action. Yuuri might feel embarrassed or claim he’d rather sit with her instead, and that would defeat the purpose. She wants so badly for Yuuri to grow more comfortable around others. Staying locked up in their home in Hasetsu, home schooled and only surrounded by adults and his sister has made Yuuri extremely shy. At the age of seven, he has almost no friends, and Hiroko worries for her son’s well being.
When bringing it up with Toshiya, the alpha had suggested she and the pups come with him to the next meeting with the Russian bratva. They had plenty of kids running around, he had said, with a soft smile he spared only for his family directed at her, and maybe Yuuri could find a friend there. Three weeks later and here they are, Yuuri hiding under a tree as the other kids play a game of tag. Hiroko sighs. Maybe she could call Mari over and ask her to try to coax Yuuri out of hiding to play. It would probably be better coming from her—less embarrassing than mom.
She’s just about to call her thirteen-year-old daughter over when someone sits down next in the chair to hers. Hiroko turns and smiles, the presence of the pakhan’s mate, Anna, always welcome. Anna pushes a glass of sparkling white wine across the table, and Hiroko smiles gratefully as she takes it and brings it to her lips. It’s light, but dry on her tongue, the cold liquid refreshing in the summer heat.
“Thank you.” She smiles gratefully. “It’s just what I needed.”
“You were frowning. Looked like you could use a glass,” Anna replies, smirking a little.
Hiroko has always enjoyed seeing Anna, the two of them sticking together during boring dinners and having outings while their mates made treaties over ports and territories. They are friends, one of the few Hiroko can say she has outside the yakuza. She imagines it’s the same for Anna. They live secluded lives, wallowing in luxury but sometimes lonely. Seeing her friend, Hiroko realises how much she missed her in the years they’ve been apart, both of them staying in their respective mates’ territories to have pups.
“Yes, well, I’m worrying,” Hiroko confesses and Anna frowns, tilting her head slightly, her silver hair falling down her shoulder.
“About something serious? Alexia says your organisation is stable right now.”
Hiroko chuckles a little, nodding. Anna has always been more invested in their mates’ business than she has. Hiroko did not choose this life, and the talk of murders and hits and so on still makes her uncomfortable sometimes. She knows Anna is more invested in the bratva’s actual work, while Hiroko has decided she is very happy being the yakuza mom, making sure everyone is clothed, fed and has band aids over their gunshot wounds.
“No, it’s nothing like that. It’s more of a mother problem,” she admits, taking another sip of the cool wine.
“Hm, yes, those are always harder,” Anna agrees, turning for a second towards the lawn where the kids are still running around playing. “Sometimes I feel like everything I’m doing is wrong, but I have no idea how to make it better. It only gets harder too. “
“Yes, no one warned me about all the self doubt,” Hiroko agrees.
“Anything you’re willing to share?” Anna asks as she turns back, a soft smile on her face.
“I’m worried about Yuuri,” Hiroko admits with a sigh. “He’s lived a very isolated life, and I’m afraid it’s made him quite shy and nervous.”
Anna hums, turning back to the kids, probably to try to spot Yuuri. Hiroko really should call Mari over to try to get her to coax her brother to join in the games. She’s sure if he just tried, he would have a lot of fun. She turns towards the tree, expecting to still see Yuuri there, only to find him gone. Panic rises in her throat, heart pounding as she starts looking around.
“He seems to be doing alright now, I think,” Anna says and Hiroko turns to her, seeing a wide, heart-shaped smile spread on the other omega’s lips. Hiroko follows her gaze out to the grass and spots her youngest pup on the back of Anna’s son, Victor. They are both laughing, and Victor seems to be pretending to be some sort of horse. He bucks and paws at the ground, seemingly trying to kick Yuuri off but still holding him tight against his back. Yuuri is shrieking with laughter, smile wide, bringing out the dimples in his chubby cheeks as he holds on tightly to the other boy’s shoulders.
Hiroko can hardly believe her eyes. Her shy little Yuuri, hanging of the back of someone he only met a few hours ago.
“Is your son magic?” Hiroko asks and Anna laughs, eyes glittering as she takes a sip of her own wine.
“Sometimes I think he is, and sometimes I’m sure he’s a devil, placed in my life to drive me mad. Yesterday, he managed to convince one of the guards to buy him a dog. A dog, Hiroko.”
Hiroko laughs, shaking her head, the tension she’s been feeling bleeding out of her as she watches the silver haired boy let Yuuri down on the ground, bending down slightly as Yuuri speaks, cheeks bright pink. She so wishes to hear what they are saying but they’re too far away. Yuuri’s blush intensifies and Victor laughs, nodding as he listens. It’s adorable.
“They seem to be having fun. I’m glad,” Anna remarks.
Hiroko is more than glad. Other than Mari and Yuuko, Yuuri’s friend from dance class, she’s barely seen him interact with another child. For him to feel so comfortable around someone fills her with joy.
The omega mothers sit in silence for a while, watching as the kids continue to play. There are several other children besides their own. Some of the other omegas are sitting in groups around the small park outside the pakhan’s estate, talking and sipping wine. The alphas are in a meeting but will join them later. For what Hiroko gathers, it’s more of a social meeting, keeping relations strong, introducing new members and reporting any issues they might have that may affect the other organisation. They are all on good terms; Toshiya would never have brought his family otherwise.
“Have you speculated anything about what they will present as? Mari must be nearing that age now?” Anna asks, and Hiroko turns her head from the children to look at her friend, sipping the sweet wine again.
“Yes, it’s all speculation of course, but Toshiya and I are both fairly certain she’ll present as an alpha. She’s already started showing some tendencies.”
“Already? Might be an early presentation then. What is she, thirteen?” Anna asks as Hiroko hums.
“Yes, fourteen soon. It will be good, I think. Mari is tough and smart. She’ll be a good successor when Toshiya decides to step back.”
Hiroko tries not to think too much about it. She knows her children will be given the best tools to handle the organisation. Still, she can’t help but worry. It’s a world filled with danger and malice. One needs to know who to trust and who to keep at arm's length. It’s not always easy. She knows Mari can handle it, will excel even, but she still worries.
“And Yuuri?” Anna asks, bringing her out of her thoughts.
“It’s harder to be sure with Yuuri, since he’s still so small,” Hiroko says. “But he’s much like me, both in looks and behaviour. He’s smart, too, but kind and caring. Emotional. I would be surprised if he presented as something other than omega but I could be wrong. He has a tendency to surprise me.”
Out of her children, Yuuri is the one that makes her head spin the most, pushes her to think outside the box. Mari has been easy to raise, strong willed but unafraid, not attached to emotion the way Yuuri is. Not cold, but very sure. Mari knows how she feels and has no doubts about it. Yuuri, on the other hand, is a ball of emotions, darting every which way, sometimes all of them at the same time. He still hasn’t been able to control them, excitement and fear sometimes mixing. He’s hard to read, even if Hiroko tries her hardest. He’s still spectacular, sees the world in new ways, making Hiroko see them too. Yuuri pushes her to grow and be a better parent every day.
“One of each—that’s lucky in our world,” Anna comments and Hiroko hums in acknowledgement. They have been lucky. Incredibly lucky to have two healthy, mostly happy pups who fill their lives with joy every day.
“What about you? Have you thought about Victor?” she asks, looking over at the boys playing again. Victor still has a child's figure, thin and gangly, long silver hair trailing after him in a ponytail as he runs. It’s hard to say by looks alone what dynamic he’s leaning towards, and such speculations are rarely anything more that just that.
“Ah, yes. Alexia desperately wants Victor to be an alpha, of course. Someone to continue on as the pakhan. I think he could be good at it. He is softer than I think Alexia was when she was younger, but so smart. Alexia is already having him sit in on meetings from time to time. It’s good—I think he’ll understand the workings of the organisation completely when he’s older. It’s good she let him stay outside today, though. He’s only ten, still a child. I would like for him to stay one as long as he can. God knows he won't have the opportunity when he grows up, being in this life.”
Hiroko knows. She often wonders if it was right to bring children into this world, where they can’t completely choose their path in this life. Not like she had much choice either. She wouldn’t trade it for the world, though, if that meant being without Toshiya.
“You ever wish things were different?” she asks Anna, smiling as she looks over at Yuuri and Victor, who have sat themselves down, talking as they pull grass from the ground.
“Sometimes,” Anna says. “I doubt I would have had any other path than this though. Unlike you, I was born into this as much as mated, with my family being part of the bratva. I was always going to be arranged to an alpha in a crime organisation. I’m just happy it was Alexia.” Anna smiles at the mention of her mate, and Hiroko’s eyes dart down to her mating bite on her neck.
“I feel the same way. I wasn’t very pleased about being arranged to be married with someone I didn’t know at all, and when I realised what he works with, I almost ran away. I was sure he was going to be monster. Luckily, he wasn’t,” Hiroko says, remembering the tears and the fear. How she had asked, begged not to have to mate him.
“You’re happy together now.” Anna says, confidence in her voice.
Hiroko smiles, thinking about Toshiya and how he had kissed her cheek before leaving her as he headed into the meeting. “Yes, very.”
“Good. Alexia and I too.” Anna says with a wide smile, fingers playing with the wine glass. “Still, the arrangements our parents made for us could have been handled in a better way.”
“You’re absolutely right. As much as I love Toshiya, getting arranged to be married at sixteen to someone you had only seen a photo of was terrifying,” Hiroko agrees.
“Yes, I locked myself in my room and refused to even look at the photo. Hopefully we’ll be able to do better by our kids.” Anna laughs, shaking her head.
“Yes, I hope so too,” Hiroko agrees. She and Toshiya haven’t even started talking about it yet but it’s only a matter of time. When Mari presents, Hiroko is sure the offers will come as soon as the news gets out.
“Have you planned anything for them yet?” Anna asks, as if thinking the same thing.
“No, nothing yet. I can’t say I know how these things usually go. I stay out of their dealings. You know that.”
Hiroko is satisfied with it too. She enjoys being the yakuza mom, taking care of rowdy alphas who need someone to make sure they stay safe. Those who come to them with nothing, no one. She can be their mom, too. She’s not a negotiator or an assassin. She can take care of and protect herself and the family—that’s what matters the most.
“Well, things are usually not set into motion with arranged matings until presentation, since there is really no point in it, in case the guesses are wrong. Still, I can’t help but think...” Anna trails off looking out towards the children again, a puzzled look on her face.
“What?”
Anna continues to look for a while, index finger tapping against her lips, and when she turns back to Hiroko she has a gleam in her eyes, sparkling with an idea. “So,” she starts and Hiroko leans forward, intrigued. “Say Mari presents as an alpha, and Victor does as well, but Yuuri presents as an omega. Would you be willing to arrange for them to mate?” Anna asks, smile breaking out in earnest on her face as she does.
“Victor and Yuuri? Now?” Hiroko’s eyebrows shoot up, looking out into the park at her son and the other boy sitting cross-legged next to each other. Yuuri is looking so intensely at Victor, brown eyes following every movement as Victor talks, waving his hands for emphasise. They are so small still. Hiroko can’t imagine Yuuri leaving home to come live here in Russia, grown up, mated. But that would be years in the future, at least a decade away.
“Yes. We would have to discuss it with the alphas first, of course, but imagine them being able to know each other,” Anna says, something like longing and hope in her voice. Perhaps she’s thinking something similar to Hiroko’s thoughts, how one day, far too soon, they will be grown up, and all they can hope is that the decisions they make now will make them happy in the long run.
Perhaps it’s not such a crazy idea.
“We could have them meet regularly, be friends before they present or mate,” Hiroko says slowly as she thinks it, heart rate speeding up a little at the prospect of Yuuri having a security that she never had. For him to grow into a mateship, not have just a month to process it before having to enter it.
“Yes! And even if Victor would present as something else or Yuuri would, they would still be friends, and that would strengthen the ties with the organisations for whoever takes over, be it Mari or Yuuri.”
They both turn to look at their sons, now standing and seemingly making their way towards them, Victor still talking while Yuuri looks at him like he hung the moon and the stars in the sky.
“This is actually a really good idea,” she agrees. If Yuuri, with his fragile heart and strong mind is to be mated, Hiroko would want it to be to someone he knows, someone he trusts. She doesn’t want him to go through an arrangement the way she did. For her, as a parent, to know the alpha’s parents, be friends with them even, is more than she ever thought she would get when it came to arranging her children’s matships. She would know Victor personally as well, if they were to meet regularly. It’s perfect, especially with the way her son is looking at the other boy. Yuuri has such a delicate heart and this might help him find happiness.
The boys reach them, half running the last steps. Victor is a flurry of motion and Hiroko almost has a hard time looking at him as he bounces around them, Yuuri with a wide smile on his face beside him.
“Mom, Victor has a dog!” Yuuri says, smiling that cute smile that brings out the dimples in his chubby cheeks. “Can I please go pet it?”
“Can we, Mama? Pleaaaaaaseee?” Victor begs, still bouncing around, silver hair swishing in the air as he does.
“You have to be careful, Vitenka. Makka is still a puppy and you have to make sure she doesn’t hurt Yuuri. It will be your responsibility,” Anna says calmly, seemingly having no trouble looking at the bouncing ball of her son. This must be normal behaviour then.
“Mama, I promise!” Victor exclaims, stopping to spread his arms wide to press his point. “I’m super big and strong; I know I can do it. I’ll take care of Yuuri. You can count on me.”
With the conversation they just had, Hiroko can’t help but smile, hoping for it to be true for the rest of their lives if this arrangement holds.
“Alright, since you promise,” Anna agrees. “You know how important it is that you keep your promises, right?”
“Yes! I promise, promise, promise!” Victor says, heart-shaped smile on his face. He looks so much like Anna, a miniature down to the lashes. The only difference is Anna’s dark green eyes, where Victor’s are strikingly blue, just like Alexia's.
“Can I, Mom? Please?” Yuuri asks, much more timid than his older friend.
“Of course, Yuuri, just be careful. Listen to Victor; it’s his dog and he knows her best.”
“Yes! Thank you!” Yuuri smiles, eyes bright with joy.
Hiroko can’t remember the last time she saw him this happy, if she ever has. It brings warmth to her heart. Maybe this agreement could be perfect.
“Come, Yuuri!” Victor shouts, wrapping a hand around Yuuri’s and tugging him towards the house where the puppy must be.
“She’s a very nice dog. I’m sure they’ll be completely safe,” Anna says as they watch them go. “I just want to make sure he learns responsibility.”
“Anna, I think your idea might be genius,” Hiroko says and Anna smiles widely, raising her glass for a toast.
The boys break into a sprint and as they do, they meet the alphas coming out of the house, meeting hopefully over.
Toshiya looks just as surprised as Hiroko feels, eyebrows raised as Yuuri shouts a greeting to his father before disappearing into the house. He and Alexia come over together with two more alphas Hiroko knows, their next in command, Morooka for Toshiya, Nikolai for Alexia. Toshiya still looks like he’s in disbelief as he kisses Hiroko’s cheek, hand softly caressing the bond mark on her neck as he sits.
“Was that our son running in with Victor?” he asks, looking to where the boys disappeared into the house. “Playing?”
“It was,” Hiroko confirms, smiling widely. “It seems he’s made a friend.”
“How was the meeting?” Anna asks, turning towards her mate.
Alexia smiles, shaking her head. “Nothing major, certainly nothing big enough to bore you with. How have things been out here?” Alexia replies, borrowing Anna’s half-full wine glass to take a sip.
“Well, it seems out sons have become friends,” Anna says, looking conspiritorily at Hiroko before continuing. “And Hiroko and I have an idea about it.”
“Oh, really?” Alexia asks, leaning forward with a gleam in her eyes. “I love all of your ideas. Lay it on me.”
“How would you feel about an arrangement between the two top families of the yakuza and the bratva?” Anna asks, and beside Alexia, Nikolai snorts.
“We have several arrangements, what’s your point?” he asks teasingly.
“Hiroko?” Toshiya asks and she smiles, a little nervous all of a sudden.
If it was just them it wouldn't matter, but Hiroko isn’t sure about the others. She doesn’t know Alexia and Nikolai very well, and Morooka is not always as positive towards the Russians as her mate is.
“We were thinking that maybe Victor could be a good mate,” she says, looking into her alphas eyes. “For Yuuri.”
“For Yuuri?” Toshiya and Morooka both echo, eyes wide.
“Isn’t it too early for that? He’s only seven?” Morooka questions, a slight strain in his voice.
“I don’t think so,” Anna starts, and from the corner of her eye, Hiroko can see Morooka srcowl. “We were talking about how nice it would be if they had a chance to get to know each other, compared to how we entered our mateships. Maybe they could benefit from being friends before mates.”
“They haven't even presented yet,” Morooka points out, but Toshiya holds up a hand to silence him, still looking straight at her.
“Tell me how you feel, Hiroko,” he asks, eyes warm and filled with love. He always makes her feel completely safe, loved.
“Our Yuuri seems to have taken a liking to Victor, in a way I haven’t seen before,” Hiroko starts. “Victor really took his time to play with Yuuri and they seem to enjoy each other's company. I can’t say what they’ll present as, but would it be the worst things for them to spend more time together? To build a relationship to continue when you and Alexi decide to step back? If they turn out to be a good match with their dynamics, the arrangement will be beneficial for all parts; otherwise, they can remain friends.”
Toshiya smiles widely, wrapping a hand around her neck and leaning up to give her a kiss on the forehead.
“Perfect. Who knew you were such plotters,” he says, turning towards the rest of the table.
“What do you say, Alexia?”
“I think it’s the best thing I’ve heard all day,” Alexia agrees. “How do we make this happen?”
_______________________________________________________________________
Two days later, Hiroko is sitting in the comfort of their private plane on the way home. The trip had been enjoyable for all of them, and as the plane evens out in the air, nose pointing towards Japan, she lets her eyes wander over the passengers on the plane. Toshiya, Morooka and four other members of the yakuza are sitting at a table near the front, talking. They had only had one more meeting while in Russia, about the mating arrangement. The rest of the time, they had all just enjoyed themselves. Mari had played with some of the older kids, also from within the bratva, while Yuuri kept to Victor’s side. Victor had been extremely kind to Yuuri the entire time, and Hiroko feels light, smiling as she thinks about the life Yuuri might have with the silver-haired boy, if everything falls into place.
Yuuri is still sniffling a little beside her, devastated to leave his new friend. Not even promises of katsudon had stopped the big fat tears that started rolling down Yuuri’s cheeks as soon as they waved goodbye to the Nikiforov family.
“Yuuri?” Hiroko calls softly, making the boy turn his red rimmed eyes behind blue framed glasses towards her, blinking slowly. The sight breaks her heart, and she can’t help but lean forward to wipe the dampness from his cheeks. Yuuri takes a stuttering breath and Hiroko tries to smile encouragingly, hoping to calm Yuuri’s sadness.
“I know you feel sad about leaving Victor, but we’ll see him soon.”
Yuuri sniffles again, breath stuttering, lower lip pouting. “How soon?”
“Next summer,” Hiroko says softly.
Yuuri’s lower lip starts to tremble again, eyes filling with tears.“That so long,” he sniffles and Hiroko smiles, heart clenching at the sight of her son so upset. She pulls him into a hug, hand caressing down his dark hair. “I know, Yuuri.”
“That’s almost a year!” Yuuri protests, and Hiroko nods, Yuuri hiccuping against her shoulder.
“I know, Yuuri. But then Victor will come to Hasetsu, and you can show him all of your favourite places. You can go dancing and to the beach.”
“How long will he stay?” Yuuri asks, leaning away from her embrace to look up into her eyes.
“Three weeks.”
Yuuri’s eyes widen, eyebrows raised as the tears stop falling down his round cheeks. His eyes light up instead, a wobbly smile spreading across his face.
“Three weeks? Really? I can play with Victor every day for three weeks?”
“Yes, really.” Hiroko says, plucking the glasses from his face, wiping the tears away. “Every summer from now on you will see Victor for at least three weeks.”
Yuuri smiles widely for a moment before he starts frowning, eyebrows pinching as she places the glasses back on his nose. “Why?”
This is the hard part. They had all decided that by next summer, both boys should know why they were going to be seeing more of each other. It didn’t make it easier to explain though. She wonders how Anna and Alexia would be doing it, if Victor already knew.
“You know how your father and I are mates?” Hiroko starts, hoping to be able to find the words to explain to her son about the arrangement, and hoping he won't be too upset.
“Yes?” Yuuri says, eyes focused on her face, gaze intense.
“Do you know what that means?” she asks as Yuuri sits back into his seat. He’s in one of those soft hoodies he loves, has more than she can count in his wardrobe at home.
“Being mates?” Yuuri asks, scrunching up his nose as he thinks.
“Yes.”
“Uhm, that you love each other?” he starts, looking over at where his father is sitting with his subordinates. ”Live together? Have pups?”
“Yeah, sort of.” Hiroko agrees. It’s so hard to explain this. She has no idea how her own parents did it. She had been older, though, and it had not gone that well. “It’s like you’re best friends and you take care of each other.”
At least that’s what she’s hoping Yuuri and Victor’s mating would be.
“Okay,” Yuuri says, dragging the word out, clearly not sure where she’s going with this.
“If Victor presents as an alpha and you as an omega, we want you and Victor to be mates,” she explains, heart beating rapidly in her chest as she judges her son’s reaction.
Yuuri’s eyes widen, mouth falling open. “Really?” he whispers, eyes still blinking widely but a smile spreading on his lips, dimples showing in his cheeks.
“Yes.”
“I would spend everyday with Victor?” Yuuri asks, shifting in his seat but keeping his eyes on her, as if trying to decide if she’s joking.
“Yes, almost. Is that something you would like?”
“Yes!” Yuuri shouts, throwing his arms around her neck. “Yes, more than anything, Mom!”
