Akihito was so ready to start his newly discovered hobby, that he forgot that his Jr. High did not in fact have a photography club. At least Akihito was able to buy his own camera with the money that he had saved. It was the type that still used film compared to the newer digital models, at least now Akihito knew how to tinker with it. He opted out of going to a professional to have the film strip developed, scared that the developer would see and spread rumors about it. So back he went to his daily Jr. high life, nothing of importance happened but through the rest of his school years the strip of film and his parents lingered at the back of his mind.

==0==

Monday morning came bright and early for Akihito, but he did not mind in the least. His reason? First day of high school. Which means he could now join a photography club and finally have some clue about the pictures. Meeting up with Kou and Takato at the front gates, they walked along the lanais of the school, searching for the photography club booth. It was finally located right in between the newspaper club and the gardening club. It was not as popular as others, but there were student lingering, listening to one of the club members talking about some of the pictures that were propped up on the booth table. Akihito quickly took an application form and wrote in the details as the same club member talked about a dark room that the club had where they themselves could develop pictures. Akihito perked up at the details as he submitted the form to another club member with a grin.

The three left the booth so that Takato and Kou could both choose what club they would join. As they took in the choices, Kou decided against joining one while Takato chose to enter a literary club. Apparently he was quite well read, who knew?

The day passed quickly for Akihito, most teachers were laid back on the first day, only giving out the syllabus and asked for advance reading while others like math and chemistry started the introductory chapter. It was the end of classes and the start of club meetings. Akihito was not surprised to find that the newspaper club and the photography club were next to each other, but he was surprised at the size of the room itself when he entered. He was quick to notice that a group of students were already there. A tall female stood by a desk that was front of a window arranging what appeared to be application forms. A rather short male stood next to her leafing through a booklet of sorts. A group of three girls were off to the right side of the room where a sofa set was situated talking to each other and drinking tea. On the left side of the room, 2 boys were admiring a shelf where numerous old models of cameras were displayed.

Akihito tried to closed the door behind him quietly but the tall girl arranging the papers still heard the door snap close. She turned around towards him and smiled brightly. "Hello, first year yes? My name is Azumiya Rei and I am the president of the photography club, beside me is Azumiya Kei the vice president."

Stepping forward and bowing in greeting. "Hello, my name is Takeda Akihito, it is a pleasure to meet you both."

"Well Takeda-kun, welcome to the club, lets sit at the sofa so we can all introduce ourselves." Rei quickly got the other 2 boys attention to go to the sofas.

Once he had sat on the opposite couch of the three girls, tea was offered by one with dark black hair in a bob cut. Nodding his head in answer she poured him a cup of steaming jasmine tea. Azumiya Kei sat down beside him on the sofa and also received a cup of tea while the 2 boys took the love seat that was perpendicularly in between the two sofas. Azumiya Rei however took the single armchair that faced them all.

Introductions were short and to the point. The two boys were 1st years just like Akihito while the three girls were 2nd years. Rei then began the function of the photography club for their school. Apparently they worked together with the newspaper club and the yearbook committee. She then went on about how they have their own darkroom because one of the former club presidents was a child of the school director. Akihito perked up she said that they will be taught how to develop film and that they could use the darkroom anytime they wished.

Smirking internally Akihito felt hope bubble in his chest to finally finding out what had cause his parents deaths. At Last. . .

==0==

Shock would be an understatement to how Akihito felt at the moment. He had finally managed to develop the photos after two months into the school year. It was Saturday and Akihito had managed to have the club room and darkroom all to himself for the whole day. Akihito looked at the 5 photos he managed to develop. All could be used as evidence against said person in the photos and Akihito did not know what to do. He felt equal parts fear and shock as he stared at the picture of Diet member Sakamoto Eiji looking on as his bodyguard shoot a kneeling man behind the head. Further inspection showed that the diet member was standing beside a tall and lean blonde man in what looked to be an expensive Armani suit. More bodyguards surrounded them in a location which looked like the lake where Akihito's father frequented when capturing nature shots. If the situation were not as serious as it had, Akihito would have laughed at the ridiculous image of Sakamoto in gaudy fishing attire.

Akihito leaned back in his chair as he thought of his options on the matter. He could turn these in to the police but he didn't know if Sakamoto had contacts within the force and it could put himself in danger. He could continue his father's thought process and send it to this Ryuunosuke person, but he had no address whatsoever. Or he could continue to gather more incriminating evidence on Sakamoto and somehow turn the evidence in without getting in danger. With deep sigh and set jaw, Akihito finally made his decision. Looks like he would be needing better camera equipment.

==0==

Lets go back a few years: 3 days after the death of Akihito's parents

==0==

An indistinguishable sound left the man's mouth as he read an email sent to him by his lawyer. Asami Ryuunosuke dropped his face into his hands and breathed deeply. One of his childhood friend and his wife were dead and their wake was in three days while their cremation and burial would be the day after. Their child Akihito was in the care of his aunt and in witness protection so he had no legal rights to him. He pinched his nose and let out a sigh, he needed to tell his other childhood friends about the news.

Picking up the phone and dialing the number, he was glad that the recipient was quick to answer. "Asami-sama?"

"Kirishima, bring yourself and Suoh to my office, I have some news you both need to know"

"Right away sir."

Putting the phone down, he leaned back gazed out the window wondering how young Akihito was faring.

A few minutes later a knock was heard and two men in their early 50's walked quietly into the room. With a wave of Ryuunosuke's hand at the chairs infront of his desk, the two sat.

With a grave face, he looked at his two friends faces who looked back at him in curiosity. "We are all invited to a wake and cremation ceremony of a friend of ours. We were notified because it seems all of us were named in his will."

Both shocked at the revelation, Kirishima Ichirou asked with wide eyes, "Who was it?"

Leaning back in his chair Ryuunosuke looked at them sadly. "It was Hiroki who died. My lawyer said that is a robbery gone wrong, but what he read about the site of the bullet wound made him not so sure about it. He said that was almost like execution style."

Suoh Kensuke spoke up then. "Do you think it was one of our enemies Asami-sama?"

"I'm not certain without any evidence, but Hiroki has left that lifestyle years ago. But I am not certain of what he has been during this past weeks. Anyway is the wake, it is being held at their home. His sister is in charge of it. It seems they decided that young Akihito was not fit to attend and is under witness protection services."

Kirishima quirked a brow at that. "Sir if it really was a robbery gone wrong, why has Akihito-kun even in witness protection?"

"A good question, but I do not have the details and it was the aunt's decision, a precaution perhaps."

"Sir, would you like me to look into it with our contact?"

With a thoughtful frown Ryuunosuke stayed quiet thinking about it. "Alright Kirishima, have our contact look into it and try to look for any inconsistencies or any connections it might have with our competitors or enemies. If this was actually a hit, I want that bastard's head on a plate."

Suoh gave a nod with a frown on his face while Kirishima simply stood with a "Yes sir."

"Alright, both of you are dismissed."

==0==

The elder Asami, Suoh and Kirishima stood before the Takaba couple's grave, all with grave looks on their faces. They had not anticipated this to happen to them. But what was done was done and they no longer do anything about it. The elder Asami wanted to take custody of Akihito but he knew he had no legal ground and the thought of the child growing up in his world were disconcerning. It was better for Akihito to stay with his relatives. Maybe secret check ups (read:spying) can be scheduled in the future. After one last prayer to the couple, Ryuunosuke sent a look towards his two childhood friends, they left the cemetary. It was back to business like always.

==0==

Back to present time with Akihito

==0==

He didn't know how he got into this mess, but he was now in it and he didn't know what to do. Currently, Akihito was hiding behind a few stacked crates in an alley downtown. He was on his way back from his internship when he heard a scuffle in an alley. Now here he was listening about a guy called Marui not paying back his debts. With a quick sneak in their direction, Akihito turned the flash of his camera off and quickly snapped a series of pictures of the situation. With a pounding heart, Akihito quickly fled the scene and made his way home. He would just develope the pictures the next day if he had time. With grin on his face he pocketed his camera and thought:

That was exhilarating!

==0==

hey guys, sorry for the long wait but short chapter, kinda busy at the moment. hopefully i'll be able to post more soon.

-HaLo