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Shades of the Past
By: shad0wg8
Being the illegitimate son of a high ranking member of the Diet had its ups: A nice home, food on the table; not having to worry about money. His mother had been paid off; told to keep quiet or else. He'd been sent to the best schools, attended Tokyo University, studied abroad for a few years. He'd had what some might call a privileged life.
It also had its downs: A mother who had bouts of depression, no friends, and the most obvious, no father. At an early age he'd learned to be self-sufficient. Trust was never given easily, loyalty had to be absolute. He'd grown up faster than most, had a maturity that was far beyond his years. He studied hard, made top ranks, and used every resource at his disposal to climb to the top. If he trampled a few people underfoot on his climb up, it was their own fault for being too weak.
He'd watched his mother slowly deteriorate, all alone in the sterile hospital room. Bone cancer was a nasty disease, one he wouldn't wish on even his worst enemies; being eaten alive from the inside out. He was always told how much he looked like her. He had the same eyes they said; eyes that could see into your soul. He had her nose, her hair.
His bastard of a father never even bothered to visit her once on her deathbed, didn't even attend the small funeral service. He'd never met the man. His mother had no pictures of him, and every time the subject was brought up she would shut down. The man had hurt her, in what way he never knew, but he could guess. The hush money and silence spoke volumes.
After the funeral he'd done some digging and found out who the man was. He was retired now, divorced and living alone. And then the bill collectors started knocking on his door. He found himself tied to a chair in an empty parking garage one evening, blood matted in his hair and running down the side of his face. More blood dribbled from his cut lip as a fist connected with his face. Yakuza did not deal nicely with clients who were behind on their payments. The leader of that particular gang was an imposing man, even by Asami's standards. He was taller, broader, and most definitely topped him in physical strength.
He'd learned the hard way not to go against Izanagi. If he paid his bills on time, he'd avoid a beating, or worse. Over the years, Izanagi became the closest thing Asami had to family after his mother passed away. He was like a brother. He opened Asami's eyes to the underworld and all it had to offer. The clean-cut, top student found his dark side, and bent it to his will.
Later came betrayal and death. He killed Izanagi with his own two hands. Hunted the man down for what he had done and put a bullet between his eyes. He vowed never again and closed off his heart. He rose swiftly to the top, eliminating everything and everyone that stood in his way. Loyalty or death, there was no middle ground.
Suoh was one of Izanagi's. The man was capable, if a bit clumsy. He followed orders well though, and proved to be a valuable asset in Asami's rise to the top. He'd met Kirishima during the hostile takeover of a rival company. The man was competent, proficient at any task given to him. Asami never trusted easily, but the man's actions spoke louder than words. Kirishima was his man. Time and again over the following years Kirishima proved himself to be loyal to a fault; dependable and efficient, Asami's right-hand-man.
Sharp eyes caught on a familiar name as he scanned the obituaries. He tossed the daily down onto the table and looked at it with disgust. So his father was dead. He looped an arm around his lover's trim waist and pulled him close against his side.
Asami Ryuichi had made something of himself.