Disclaimer: As always I own nothing but the original characters and the situations I put them in. Everything else belongs to somebody else so just keep t hat in mind. Thanks to all my loyal readers out there and please review because I'd love to hear from you! Enjoy and have an awesome day.

A Telling Gesture

Hearing the sound of someone running down the hallway at a speed that was close to beating the sound barrier Umeda didn't even have to look up to know who was headed for him at break neck speed. There was really only one person who was ever that enthusiastic to come see him. Of course, she didn't exactly have anyone else to come blabbing to when she needed to talk either. Getting to his feet Umeda watched in amusement as his door was thrown open then closed with a loud slam as she rushed over, her face red as she panted in front of him, leaning on his desk for support. "You do know that I'm stuck here until four, right?" Umeda drawled out, smirking down at her. She really was a cute kid, if a tad spacey and troublesome. Or to be more correct, she found trouble like bees found honey.

Nodding her head rapidly Mizuki concentrated on her breathing as she pulled a piece of paper from her pocket and held it out to him. "Minami..asked me..to give this to you. Am..watching Sano...training..today. Wouldn't...have time..."

"And why didn't my nephew just come deliver it himself?" Umeda wanted to know, though he knew as soon as he saw his name written on the envelope. "Io." He hissed, recognizing his older sister's handwriting right away. "Dammit, what does she want now? Isn't it enough that she's almost put me through three decades of hell on earth? Haven't I suffered enough?"

"I'm sure..it's can't be that bad." Mizuki protested, even as Umeda sent her a dark look that said that she had no idea what she was talking about. And to be fair, she didn't really. She got along with Io great but the same could definitely not be said for Io and the doctor's relationship. Then again, Io acted just like Umeda only more violent when she was around her little brother which was saying something. Probably the only person who could come close to getting Io that riled up was Nakatsu.

Reading it over Umeda sighed, knowing that he'd end up giving into his sister's request, just like he always did. It was less painful that way. He had summer vacation to look forward to soon and he sure as hell didn't want to spend it in a body cast. The witch demon. "Well message delivered."

"Yup. Oh, and hey..." Mizuki began slowly, her face hesitant as she shuffled her feet slightly. He was not going to like this topic at all. "Has Akiha been by lately?"

"No, thank God. Why, isn't he on a shoot somewhere?" That was usually the only reason Akiha didn't come to visit him at least twice a week. The annoying pain in the ass.

Shaking her head Mizuki sighed, her face easily giving away that she was concerned about something. "Oh, okay."

"What's wrong with the idiot, now? Besides the fact that he's an idiot I mean." Resigned to hearing whatever was on her mind Umeda sat on the edge of his desk, crossing his long legs in front of him. He couldn't really care less about what Akiha was up to but apparently the idea that he hadn't been visiting him was a bad sign as far as Mizuki was concerned. The question was, why was it bothering her so much?

"Well it's just..." Before she knew it she was spilling her guts, just like she always did. After all, she'd just promised Akiha not to tell Ebi, he hadn't said anything about talking to Doctor Umeda and she really wanted to know if he thought there was anything she could do to help her boss who was also a very good friend. "Akiha's mother came to visit him last Saturday and she asked him for money!"

"So?" Thankfully his parents were well off so they never had to come to him for money. It was a good thing to, since he sure as hell wasn't making much working in this place. His monthly paychecks barely covered his shoe bills.

"So she abandoned him and his father when he was a kid and the last time he saw her he was ten and she slammed the door in his face! Now she comes and visits him and asks for a bunch of money because she says her husband's business is failing and she needs the money for his half siblings, which he didn't even know he had!" Getting angry all over again there were flames practically bursting off her as she imagined the scene all over again. "She acted all sorry and stuff for the way she'd treated him but I could tell she was lying through her teeth and that it's really all about the money. Akiha knows it too but I think he's going to pay her and I don't want him to but he says that if it's for his brothers, how can he refuse. But I think there's more to it then that and I could see how upset he was but he wouldn't let me tell Ebi and I..I don't know what to do!" Mizuki finished with a wail, tears brimming in her brown eyes. "She said she'd be coming to this Sunday's shoot to get the check from him and I just know he's going to give it to her!"

Blinking, Umeda didn't know quite what to say either. He couldn't remember Akiha mentioning either of his parents in all the time he'd known him. He'd never stopped to think about it before but after what Mizuki had said, that made a lot of sense. Who would want to talk about a mother that had abandoned you as a child? "It doesn't sound like there's anything you can do." Umeda said carefully, after he'd taken the time to process what she'd said. "It's his choice to make."

"But what if she keeps coming for more money? She looks like the type!"

"Then if he's smart he'll make it clear he has no intention of being her piggy bank." Personally, if he'd been in Akiha's shoes he would have kicked the bitch to the curb with pleasure. She'd chosen to hook herself up with a loser after all and if she was having money problems, well that was just too bad. But not Akiha, no, that idiot would let himself be bled dry before he cut that leech off. The siblings was a nice touch, he wondered if they actually existed. After all, Akiha hadn't known about them and why would a woman who'd abandoned one kid want a couple more?

"I just wish there was something I could do."

"Well there isn't. Now go to class before you end up in detention." Shooing her off Umeda closed the door behind her with a sigh, turning to give it a sharp kick as he raked a hand through his tousled hair. "Dammit. Dammit!" Walking back over to his desk Umeda quickly booted his computer up and access the old school files soon had the necessary information to find a Mrs. Akane Tenge, Akiha's mother. She'd been listed as being contacted only in the event that none of the other names listed could be reached and there was quite a list. Obviously Akiha's father had had the brains to know that his ex wasn't all that interested in seeing her son, even if the situation called for a parent presence. Writing down the information on a pad he got out of the school files and was soon on the web, accessing the information that would give him the identity of Akiha's step father so that he could get a sense of just who Akiha was dealing with. The world wide web was a beautiful thing, Umeda thought with a dark grin as the information he needed popped up. Thankfully, she hadn't moved from the house she'd occupied when Akiha had attended Osaka. And wasn't that interesting, Umeda thought, his eyes sharpening as he read the information. He not only knew of Akiha's step father, but he knew the company he owned as well. And last time he'd checked, there was nothing wrong with that business's finances. Twirling his pen around between his fingers Umeda debated and debated then with a curse used the end of the pen to dial the home number of his mother. Damn Mizuki, she was worse than Jimmeny Cricket sometimes. He'd always hated that movie too. "Mama? It's Hokuto, I have a favor to ask."

Looking down at his watch Akiha winced, knowing that he was completely off his game. Nothing he'd taken tonight was any good and it was pointless to pretend otherwise. "Okay, everyone, wrap it up. We'll pick up where we left off tomorrow." Hopefully by then he wouldn't feel like the weight of the world was on his shoulders as a herd of elephants ran back and forth in his head. He hadn't felt this lousy since..since his mother had shut that damn door in his face so long ago. It was fitting, he supposed, that she be the cause of both of those moments.

"Are you coming down with something?" Ebi asked, walking over to lay a cool hand against his forehead. There was obviously something very wrong with her ex husband, though he wouldn't tell her what was wrong, even as he shook his head in reply to her question. But that was nothing new, he never wanted to talk about his real emotions or feelings, just the ones he allowed others to see.

"I'm fine, don't worry about it."

"Akiha, that lady from last week is waiting in the hallway for you." Takato, one of the men in charge of lighting called over to his boss. He didn't know who the woman was, but he didn't like the look of her at all. She sorta looked like Akiha, unless you really looked at her. Then it was really apparent, that she was nothing like Akiha at all.

"Show her in." Akiha sighed, wanting to just get this over with. He'd hand her the check and then she'd be gone, out of his life again. He hoped.

Coming in wearing a designer suit, her make up and hair perfect, you'd never think she had a care in the world, Akiha thought as his mother walked into the room, making a beeline for him as she ignored everyone else. Or perhaps sauntered over would be a better word. Perhaps the thing that hurt most though, was how much they resembled each other. He hated that from now on, when he looked in a mirror, he'd see those similarities.

"There you are." There was a wide smile on her face but Akiha sensed that it wasn't a happy, glad to see her son sort of happy. No, it was an I'm going to get what I want and know it smile. The fact that she was right sickened him.

"Hello." He couldn't call her his mother, he didn't want to even think about her that way.

"So have you made your decision? I don't want to pressure you, darling, but the sooner the better."

Her calling him darling was almost as bad as thinking of her as his mother. Nodding his head he gave her his back as he walked over to where he'd left his jacket and bag. Pulling out his wallet he retrieved the check he'd written earlier and clutching it tightly in his hand closed his eyes for a moment, the muscles in his face working furiously before he got himself under control. Turning around he walked back over to her and handed the check out to her.

"Thank you so much, I knew you'd come through for me, Akiha." Reaching out to take her check Akiha's mother froze as she heard her name being called from behind her, the voice quiet, low, and threatening. Whirling around her face went pale as though she'd seen a ghost. "Tai..Taichi! What are you doing here?"

"I think that's the question I should be asking, Akane. Then again, I guess I already know the answer." The man replied as he walked over, and plucking the check from Akiha's startled hand tore it into shreds. Dropping them to the floor the man finally met Akiha's gaze, the man looking to be almost as upset as Akiha was. "Akiha, I apologize for what she just tried to do. I didn't want to believe it of her, that's why I came here. I knew I had to see it to believe it. She doesn't need your money. Or at least not for the reasons she gave you."

"I don't understand." Akiha said slowly, staring at the floor then back at the man in front of him. "Who are you anyway?"

"My name is Taichi Tenge, I'm your step father. A month ago I took away your mother's credit cards because of her spending habits, I should have known she was up to something when she took it so well after the first week." Shaking his head the older man sent a bitter, dark look in his wife's direction. "Needless to say I was quite surprised to learn that my wife had contacted her eldest son and fed him a bunch of lies about my company being in such bad shape that I'd need her to go to you for money. The fact that this is the first time we've met...she said you hated her, that your father had brainwashed you into thinking she was this horrible person. I was so..I wanted to believe that instead of the truth."

"How...how did you find out?" Akiha's mother whispered, looking like she could collapse any moment.

"When you decided to scam Akiha, you didn't bother to find out just who you were dealing with, did you? You just saw the dollar signs and rushed in to take your pound of flesh. Well if you had, you'd know that a close friend of Akiha's happens to be the only grandson of Takashi Hinami, you remember who that is, don't you, Akane? His family has been doing business with mine for years, a lot of our clients hire us because the Hinami family recommends us to their business associates. So you can imagine how I felt, having his daughter, Seira Umeda, show up at my office, demanding to know why my wife was emotionally blackmailing her son's "precious" friend, as she put it. Do you have any idea what position that put me in, having her come out of the blue like that to tear strips off my hide about you? To have her stand there and accuse you of all these horrible things and to know, in my gut, that when I came here tonight she was going to be right? For God sakes, Akane, haven't you put this boy through enough!" He added as he pointed in Akiha's direction. "She told me you know. She told me exactly how you treated him in the past and yet here you are, hitting him up for money because I wouldn't let you blow all that money on a face lift. A god damn face lift! You came here, doing lord only knows how much more damage, so that you could look a couple friggin years older for a little while longer! For Christ sakes, he was going to give you the money too. This man, who has ever reason to hate you, was going to give you money, thinking to do the right thing for his mother. My God, do you have no conscience at all!"

Everyone was dead silent as they stared at this woman, everyone now knowing exactly what was going on here. Ebi, who'd been too shocked to speak before finally found the strength to walk quickly over to her ex husband's side, getting between him and the woman that had done so much damage. "My name is Ebi." She said slowly, her eyes cold as ice as she stared into those eyes that showed no remorse, only fury and fear. "Akiha is my ex husband and I've been waiting years to do this." That being said, she drew back her fist and plowed it into Akiha's mother's face. "You wanted a face lift, there you go. It's on the house."

Staring down at his unconscious wife there was a visible struggle on his face before he bent down and lifted her into his arms. "She won't be bothering you again." He said softly, looking over at Akiha who had been surrounded by his employees and friends, all silently lending their support along with Ebi, who stood proudly at Akiha's side. "Once she wakes up, I'll be passing along a warning I promised to relay from Mrs. Umeda. There's very little Akane values more than her social status, and she wont risk losing it by making Seira a enemy. As it is, I think she's in for a world of hurt in that area. The Umeda/Hinami dynasty is quite a powerful one, especially in our circles."

"Umeda..Hokuto..Hokuto Umeda's..mother?" Akiha asked slowly, knowing of no other Umeda. But it couldn't be because Umeda would never do this for him. Would never care enough to do something like this for him. Besides, how could he possibly know unless... Unless the only person who'd known about this, Mizuki, had done what she always did in a jam and had gone straight to the sexy doctor for advice. Oh God, had Umeda really done this for him?

"Didn't know just how powerful he was, huh?" Taichi said with a knowing look on his face, managing a weak smile. "It did create quite a stir in our circles when his sister was announced as her mother's successor in the family business rather than him, as the only male heir. But he had his heart set on being a doctor and from what I've heard..he's not the type to settle for less then what he wants."

"This is the doctor Mizuki is always talking about?" Ebi asked, seeing the shock, bafflement and pleasure in Akiha's eyes as he nodded his head. She'd heard quite a lot from Mizuki about Akiha's obsession with the good doctor at Mizuki's school but she'd been under the impression that the doctor had rebuked all of Akiha's advances. But apparently, the doctor had heard somehow about what was going on and had stepped in to protect Akiha from the bitch.

"I'm very sorry...and..the children in the picture she showed you are her nephews..not your brothers." Sighing Taichi looked down at his wife then back at Akiha, his eyes strong and determined. "Her soon to be ex nephews in fact. If she comes to see you again...give her what she deserves, Akiha. She's not worth that look on your face." That being said he bowed his head slightly and walked out of the silent room.

"Akiha?" Ebi began softly, looking up at him questioningly.

"Take care of things here. There's...there's something I need to do." Walking through his friends as if they weren't even there Akiha walked over and grabbing his stuff quickly slid his coat on and his bag over his shoulder, hurrying out of the room without a backward glance. Pulling his cell phone out of his pocket he used the speed dial to call the only person who would have the answer to his questions. "Mizuki? It's Akiha."