Author note.
Hi all, this is my first fanfic, I never knew about fanfics until a few weeks ago and I was surprised at the quality and how addicted I got to them, really helps keep the real story alive until you get another update!
It makes perfect sense, now that I think about it, as I often find myself thinking up different scenarios with the characters as I lay in bed at night, and sometimes I think "dam this would make a good story, someone should write about it". Well who better to write about it then the person who thought it up.
I haven't written anything since high school, it has been a few years since I have tried anything of the sort, for all I know I could be absolutely crap, so please bear with me as I slowly take my trainee wheels off and get my balance.
I got some ideas for the stories from the Manga KARATE SHOUKOUSHI KOHINATA MINORU so credit for the Author Baba Yasushi where it's due, I have used a few similar names from the manga and others also, only because I can't think up japanese names, but the characters are more my own creation other then names.
Finder characters obviously belong to the great Yamane Ayano :)
07May: edited thoughts to italics, thanks Lidsworth for pointing out how it could be confusing otherwise :)
"I'm hooooooo… Uwaaaah! What is this!? Where is my stuff?" Elation warps into panic on Akihito's face, he stands there dumbstruck in the middle of his desolate apartment, the smell of fixer and developer nearly non existent, it has been empty for a while. Kou and Takoto entering after him wince at their friends' misfortune. Takaba falls to his knees with a dull thud, thoughts beating through his mind, smashing through every coherent thought. Where is his camera gear, portfolio, prints, negatives, where is everything he has worked so hard for?
Gone. All gone.
"Well, you were away for a while you know, it's no surprise if you were evicted or whatever they do now days" exclaims Kou as he scratches his head in thought.
"Hey! Takaba, what's this? Whose Asami?" Standing by the door, Takoto peels off a strip of tape that is holding a key to the wall, there is a tag dangling off, and it says one word on it.
Asami. That self-righteous, arrogant bastard. Invading my life already and I am not even back on home soil for 24hours!
"Gah! I have no idea who that prick is, Kou, can I stay at your place until I get my shit together? If my stuff is where I think it is, it will take some time until I get what I need."
"Yeah sure, take as long as you need, it's only me so I don't mind having a roomie, you owe me though, I want to know why you disappeared for a month without a word after some creepy long haired dude was looking for you, then suddenly we get a call to pick you up from the airport! What the hell man. You had us worried sick. Your parents too."
"Okay, okay, man you sound like a nagging girlfriend! Sheesh."
"We'll get the whole story with a few drinks right Aki, welcome back from whatever adventure it was that you were on, you will bounce back, you're famous for it!" Kou slaps an encouraging hand on Akihito's back and ushers him out of the apartment all the while explaining the exact reasons that Akihito should get drunk with them and spill the story.
"My friend, you're all ways getting into trouble, that long haired dude was freaky you know! I hope it didn't have anything to do with that guy….. No way! It did, didn't it! Your face never lies Aki! That, plus it's been way to long, we have a months worth of drinking to catch up on, so you better be prepared."
Takoto pockets the key for his Akihito, follows his friends down the stairs and prepares for an interesting night. His friend looks well enough, he has a great tan which he finds odd, he has lost a few pounds, his demeanor is somewhat the same, but he is concerned about the look in his friends eyes that is making him look like a shadow of himself, those eyes that aren't sparkling, those eyes that look tense and alert. Putting a dull glaze over his friends' vibrancy. This is going to be one hell of a story, he confided to himself.
Later on in the evening, the three friends are sitting around a table at their favorite drinking spot, the drinks are going down fast and questions are flying faster.
"No way! So that guy Fei Long kidnapped you and you were in Hong Kong? All because you were in the wrong place for a stake out, how did he know who you were? How did you get back here then?!" Kou slams his glass down on the table, splashing beer on himself and his friends and stares Akihito in the face expectantly, hungry for answers.
"Well, no matter how you got back, the main thing is, that you ARE back and in one piece, welcome home Akihito, drink up, I'll pay for your share tonight." Takoto gets up, a little unsteady, and heads to the bar for the next round of drinks.
Akihito explains to his friends that he bit off a little more then he could chew with the scoop he was after and Fei Long had caught wind of him snooping, he pulled a few strings to get his identity at the magazine office and then used his friends to lure him out the night they met Fei Long. After that we was drugged and brought to Hong Kong while they decided if he was a threat or not. Of course that's not how high end criminal organizations worked, he would have just been shot dead before then, forget about keeping someone useless alive for a month. He couldn't tell his friends that though, and they seemed to buy it easily enough.
From there he told how he somehow escaped and fled to the Japanese Embassy and had to spend a few days on an island for personal security before making the last leg home to Japan.
He added a gunfight as he made his escape to explain the bullet wound in his shoulder, both of his friends' eyes widening in disbelief when he revealed the fact that he had shot someone, seeing their friend in a new light.
"He didn't die though! I just got him in the arm and the shoulder I think, it all happened too fast but he definitely wasn't dead, because the sadistic prick still managed to chase me and get a shot off at me as well, no way am I a killer!" The thought of shooting and potentially killing someone still weighing heavy in Akihitos mind. Man, I need to get over myself, not like I could help it. It was shoot or be shot. That's how it works in that world Akihito, if you want to survive a then you gotta shoot. Shit, how did my life turn out this way.
All because of that bastard Asami fucking Ryuichi. Asami….
"We know, we know. Aki, you gotta do what you gotta do to survive. Now enough of this depressing conversation! Look, drink up, Takotos back with more drinks. Cheers Takoto!"
Welcoming the interruption of his downward train of thoughts, Akihito accepts the drink from his friend's hand and skulls the lot.
Determined to drown his pitiful musings in his cup.
It's 3am and when Kou stumbles through the door of his unit, supporting a half conscious Akihito, his murmurings unintelligible. He will pass out any minute now, he smirked to himself, it's good to have his childhood friend back. Drinking without him hadn't felt right for the past month. They had definitely made up for the month tonight, though.
He flops his friend on the couch and fumbles his way to the cupboard for a blanket.
"….shoot. Don't shoot. Fei…. Stop. Please….."
His breath stuck in his throat, he looks at his friend curled up on the couch. The look of desperation on his innocent friends face sends his heart to his stomach, and he shivers unconsciously.
"You'll be right Aki, we'll have you back to your old self in no time."
Shit, Akihito you poor bastard.
Akihito opens his eyes, crusty with sleep, his mouth dry and tasting of stale beer. He smiles in spite of his headache. It was just past lunch time.
"Ugh, what a night. It's good to be in Tokyo again."
He shuffles his way to the kitchen for water, all the while pondering his plan of attack to get his valuables from Asami's place. He finds a note on the table from Kou, scrawled that he had gone to get coffee and something greasy to eat. Next to it was the key Asami had left at his place. Takoto must have given it to Kou last night before they left.
Man I am not ready to see that man again, I'll give it a few days then go and get my gear and get to work again. I need to go and visit my parents first, and find some work while I am at it.
The day passes without incident, he borrows some money and clothes off Kou in order to get around, and he is visiting work and his parents the next day to explain his absence. This is going to be fun, not.
It's early the next morning and he decides to head to Yokohama to see his parents first, he could make the excuse that he needs to go to the office if he visits them first and they try to make him stay. Perfect Akihito, you're a genius, he already knows his Mom is going to be overbearing so he's quite smug with his valid excuse.
It's his first time out again in the Tokyo public, alone, surrounded.
Is that guy following him? What about that guy? What was that noise?
Gunshot? No, just a car backfiring. So much noise. He rushes to the train station, his thoughts in turmoil. What is happening to me?
He slumps down on the first seat he can find and waits the ride out to Yokohama. Stay calm Akihito, you are safe in Japan. He takes long shallow breaths, holding his face in his hands.
The visit to his parents went as expected, Mom stressed, Dad just happy to see his son safe and unharmed. The visit to work also went as expected, his boss wondering if he got caught up with some girl to go so off the rail.
Hmph, if only you knew. He cringed to himself. Not that anyone would believe he was tied up in Asami Ryuichi's business anyway.
There were big fish, and then there were fish ate the big fish for breakfast. Asami was that fish.
His skittish thoughts have somewhat settled by the time he was about to get on the train and back to Kou's.
Phew, started to think I was losing my marbles for a bit there. Of course it's going to take a few days to get your bearings Akihito, it's not everyday people go through an ordeal like that and come out unscathed.
He is rushing for the train and rounds the corner, and he catches a flash of someone as he dashes for the door.
Heart in his mouth, and sweat forming on his brow, he takes another peak at the person as the train moves off the platform. That guy is definitely following me, I saw him this morning in Yokohama! Fuck, what do I do? He didn't get on the train. So I should be ok, right? I should have known this wouldn't just blow over all because I am back in Japan. Think Akihito, think. Asami will help… No! I am just a toy to that bastard, it would be digging my own grave to ask that man. I can't believe I just thought that! I must be worse then I thought, considering that guy in this situation, anyone would think I loved him or something. What a joke.
The days on the island had been surreal, surely that was shock talking though, wasn't it? He had to admit, there were a few feelings there for that man, respect, admiration, trust, apprehension, along with a few others, and embarrassingly lust was one of them. Definitely not love, he didn't even know what love left like, so how was he supposed to know anyway. He wasn't gonna let some arrogant crime lord get under his skin, no chance in hell. Calm down Akihito, calm.
A plan comes together on train, his mind made up by the time he walks in Kou's front door. His hand tightens on the key in his pocket, the one with Asami's name on it. His trademark look of determination glinting in his eyes.
He'd called Takoto over to the Kou's unit to explain to his friends that he was going to take a vacation and travel Japan for a couple of months, which he was, but after he cancelled all his accounts and frozen all methods of contact, he needed to drop off the radar for a few months. So he left out that part, although it left him with a pang of guilt, it was safer if they didn't know.
He had enough money to get by for a while, and he just needed to clear his head of a few thoughts before his life went back to normal. Can't tell them how I jump at every loud noise and feel like running for my life every time I see someone in a suit. I already feel like a baby, I don't need my friends thinking of me that way too. When I come back, I will be the man I was, an improved model even, let's see Asami smirk at me then.
As he said goodbye to Takoto, lying that he would keep in touch, he turned to Kou as the door shut and asked if he could use his phone and call his parents to explain.
He really should go see them, but he didn't want to waste another day. He had to execute his plan quickly, not the usual rushed Takaba quick, but calm and quick, his first steps to a new Takaba Akihito.
"I don't know what you're planning man, but please just stay out of trouble and come back alive, and email us every few days. You seem out of sorts, but I wont ask, cos I know you don't wanna talk, but you know we are always here to listen"
"Thanks Kou, but really I do just need to clear my head, taking photos across Japan is the perfect way to do it."
Across town in Shinjuku, Asami sits in his office with a cigarette lazily hanging in his mouth. His desk and chair dominating the room, as befits a man of Asami's presence.
He thought maybe the boy would have come by now, but it wasn't outside the parameters of his expectations (as there is rarely anything that is), give it a few more days. He smirked as he thought of the boys reaction to finding his house key in his apartment, he should have had cameras set up to record the moment.
A crisp knock at the door and Kirishima steps through.
"Asami sama, just reporting in on Takaba as you requested, he has spent last night at his friend Kou's after consuming a large quantity of beer at the local bar, today he spent some time in Yokohama at his parents address and went to his employers office in town. He is back at his friends for the night, by reports he appears fine."
"Good, just as expected, anything else?"
"No sir, everything else is as expected considering the trip, I will have reports on your desk shortly for you to look over."
"Very well, you may go."
With a slight bow Kirishima left to gather reports, the next few days would be bothersome, there was a bit of a pile up due the excursion in Hong Kong, but it had all been worth it.
He was fond of the boy for sure, he was fun to play with and the sex was electric, like nothing he had had before, the days after Hong Kong on the island had confirmed unexpected feelings for the boy, however surely a brat like that shouldn't ruffle his feathers so much? So why had he rushed to Hong? He was an unpredictable variable, and that was exactly what he needed.
Today was the day to execute his plan, he had been up most of the night working out fine details, something Akihito rarely did, rushing in head first and going with the flow was more his style, but if he wanted this to work, and if he wanted to change, then he had to do it this way.
In the space of the morning, he had bid his friend farewell, withdrew all his money, closed his accounts, surprisingly had gotten into Asami's condo unnoticed and retrieved his camera gear along with some clothes and other things. Next came the hardest part, he had to shake the dogs that were following him which he knew would take a while. Calm, don't rush Akihito.
He took a few train routes, catching one after another and ending up in Shibuya before he was confident he had lost them. Phew.
Last on the list, stop by a few shops to pick up some vital things for his plan, and then stop into a hotel for the night.
Wow I did it. Akihito toweled dry his new black hair in the cozy suite, with a look of self-satisfaction plastering his face. A cut and colour really did make a difference to his appearance, especially when added with glasses or coloured contacts, which he had picked up earlier on. Black hair and hazel eyes stood out too much, so brown contacts helped make him look more ordinary, and glasses were another option. It was good to have options.
Happy with his days achievements, he turned in early, he needed a good sleep. Tomorrow, Takaba Akihito would disappear for a while.
Meanwhile in Shinjuku.
"Asami sama, just reporting in that our team lost Takaba this afternoon and haven't been able to get a tab on him since, what's our course of action sir?"
"Leave it for now Kirishima, I know where he will end up soon enough." Asami chucked, he felt a prickly sense of pride that the brat could give one of his best teams the slip. Entertaining indeed.
"Sir?"
"Never mind it, I was just recalling something that amused me."
Asami is smirking a little more then usual as he recalls this mornings report on how the boy was in and out of his condo in a flash, picking up his camera gear and clothing. He probably thought no one had seen him. Predictable. He should have hidden his cameras in a safe for an extra laugh. He hasn't had this much entertainment in a while. He will come back to me soon.
It's late afternoon the next day when Takaba gets off the train in a little town outside Nagoya, it's famous for traditional culture and serenity. Almost like a different world. There would be no gangsters or gunfights here.
It was a perfect first stop on his journey.
Today went off without a hitch, there was definitely no one following me, so I'm off scott free until I return to Tokyo. Maybe I overreacted a bit by changing my look? No, it was the right thing to do, new start, new look.
Akihito trudged out of the train station hitching his bag over his shoulder and makes his way into the small quiet town, town map in hand.
"Oho, what do we have here, a pretty boy tourist with a bright smile, how cute."
Akihito swiftly turned to face the sinister voice, and his vision was overshadowed with a fist rapidly closing in on his face.
Shit, what's the point of even fighting, thought Akihito as he felt more then one pair of fists reign down on his person.
No matter where I go, or how far I run, I am always going to end up like this.
So much for a new Takaba Akihito.
Unconsciousness overtook his thoughts.
"Hey old man, what are we gonna do with this one? I know saved his sorry arse from those thieves and all, but there's gotta be someway to contact his family for him to get picked up." Mutou Ryuhei poured his Sensei a cup of tea while waiting for an answer. A paper door separating them and the brat he has just dragged back unconscious.
Gramps looks pensive, what is he thinking?
Sorry arse was an understatement, he had just rounded the corner when he saw the first punch connect on the guys face, he had never even fought back, he just sunk to the ground and let the thugs beat him unconscious and take his stuff.
He just didn't understand how you could let yourself get beat without even putting up a fight, the concept was alien to him. A good fight was just too much fun, the more opponents the better.
"Not everyone has an easy life Ryuhei, you might not have noticed it when we were checking him, but there was a scar on his shoulder that looked a lot like a bullet wound and his ankles and wrists have shackle scars. Hmm, something tells me this one has a few stories to tell."
Dam that old man, how could he sense my thoughts like that.
A stirring on the other side of the door interrupts their conversation.
Who's voice was that? Where was he? Had he been captured yet again? Takaba sits up slowly and rubs his sore head as he recalled what happened just after he left the train station. Dammit, so people were still following him.
He heard noises to his right, followed by the sound of a door sliding open.
"You're up. How's your head, it better be sore after the shameful beating you took, you didn't even fight back."
A tall man entered the room, he looked slightly older then Takaba, his hair was black and shaggy like his friend Kou's and he was wearing Gi with a black belt tied around his waist. ( a Gi is the white robe martial artists wear). The gi revealed the thickness of the mans chest and the power that the mans body possesses, there was hardly an ounce of fat, all the mans movements purposeful and without wasted effort as he came to stand by Takabas side. His presence filled the room.
He stared at Takaba for a few moments, his brown eyes almost black, he could feel himself being weighed and measured under the scrutiny of his gaze, and Takaba had to turn away to avoid the intense pressure the gaze put on him.
This man was dangerous, a real dark horse.
"Hey old man, he's up, come take a look, he seems fine, we can send him on his way and get back to my training."
In the space of a few words the tension in the room had dissipated, the man in front of him seemed to transform from a deadly mass of strength into that of a guy more Akihitos age and disposition.
They must be trying to trick me.
"Send me on my way? You mean you're not gonna keep me prisoner and point a gun at my head everytime you wanna shut me up? This must be my lucky day! Seriously, who are you people, and where am I, what do you want with me this time?" The sarcasm in his voice cracks into desperation as Akihitos rant goes on. This can't be happening again.
"Ohoho, so you do have a little fighing spirit left, even it is only with your mouth, I don't know what you are talking about son, but my student here rescued you from some thieves in the alley on the way to town, the same can't be said about your belongings however. He brought you back here instead of just leaving you on the street." The new voice came from an old man that had entered just after the first guy, dressed in informal yukata, each movement light and graceful, he didn't look like someone involved with yakuza or baishe. He looked warm and trustworthy, but he still had the same deadly feel as what the younger man had.
Who are these people?
"I, uh… thanks" muttered Akihito.
Damn, what was he going to do without his stuff, all his camera gear gone, all his money, he would have no choice but to go back home. He couldn't stop the feeling of despair from welling up inside.
"I don't know what you're running from boy, but I know that look on your face that says I don't wanna go home. I also know that spark in your eye that says I'm not done yet. You are more then welcome to stay here until your mind is in order, though you will have to work for your keep. What's it gonna be?"
How had this old man laid his soul bare just by looking at him and speaking a few words? Did he really have any choice, with all his stuff gone it was either take the offer or go home. Sure his cameras meant a lot to him, but so did his life, and he found himself wanting to trust in the old mans words. Dam I can't believe I really just gave up like that.
Akihito stares up at the two strangers and inhales a thoughtful breath.
This could be perfect, he thought to himself.
"I'll stay."
"Very well, what's your name?" Inquires the old man.
"My name is Akishi Teppei."
Yes, this was perfect.