Asami Ryuichi sat alone in his spacious office after sending Suoh on an early break.
It was an anniversary of sorts for Asami Ryuichi and he wanted to be alone, as if anyone could ever be more alone then what he was.
It was two years to the day since his men had last seen his young spitfire Takaba Akihito getting on a train in Shibuya.
Two years too long. Why had he treated it so lightly back then?
Not realizing what he had right in front of him was, dare he say, a mistake? Asami Ryuichi didn't make mistakes.
'Not realizing what you have till it's gone', such pathetic cliché lines didn't belong in the same universe as a man such as himself.
He remembered turning the underworld upside down and inside out in a rampage when he realized his lover wasn't coming back. Killing anyone when he didn't like the answer to his questions.
His heart clenched at the thought of the vibrant young flame being snuffed out, he quickly locked the emotion away, such thoughts were not productive, and if it wasn't productive then it didn't belong.
It didn't stop the feeling from clawing it's way back into his soul time and time again, an annoying stain on his tightly controlled emotions. The tumult of his thoughts slowly washed away with time, it was two years today.
Kirishima stood a silent vigil outside his boss's office, he knew what day it was today, though he didn't let on to his boss that he knew, and no one would disturb his boss while he still had breath.
It was a surprise that the young Takaba Akihito had ran after Hong Kong, it seemed to Kirishima that he had finally accepted that he was Asami's during their extensive time together on the island.
He had seen a new side to his boss during the Hong Kong Debacle that had shaken him to root of is being, when they found out Fei Long had Takaba.
The reining Lord of the Japanese underworld had revealed a demonic nature and had lashed out with the force of gods, he saw his boss weave a path of manic obliteration, his aura menacing, and the thunderous rage in his eyes plain for everyone to see. He still shivered at the thought.
After that, he saw his boss relieved, then content, happy even.
Finally, when he realized the boy wasn't coming back, he saw shock and an instant of loneliness before it was all swept under the cool façade that was Asami Ryuichi, and that had been the hardest to watch.
His boss quickly seemed to forget, and things went back to the way they were after the first year, after he gave the nod to stop looking for the boy, but he guessed his boss still wasn't willing to forget on this day.
Kirishima had been torn between the fact that his boss that had never wanted for anything, couldn't have something so simple, and the fact that a liability had eliminated itself, the boy was an uncontrollable variable and at first, he thought the boy had done the boss a favor by disappearing, but now he wasn't so sure.
He still had feelers out for the boy under his own orders, his boss didn't need to know that all trails had gone completely cold and had since crumbled away, but nevertheless it never hurt to keep a look out.
Stranger things have happened, like the most unshakeable crime lord in Asia, perhaps the world, being rattled by a pesky naïve boy and then left hopeless in the loss, so who was he to say anything.
Two long years huh, I wonder what he is doing now, no way the boy would die that easy, he is probably laughing and enjoying himself somewhere, that boy manages to tame everyone around him. What I wouldn't give to know.
Two months passed in Hong Kong without incident for Takaba and the others, feelings of angst had reared it's ugly head when Takaba had first arrived, seeing Baishe tattoos on other peoples hands every now and then, brought back unwanted memories and made the now faded scar on the back of his own hand itch.
He told himself that it had been two years now, and that he had nothing to worry about, but it didn't stop the emotions from welling up inside.
It was like a sleeping limb, woken up by the memories of 2 years passed, pins and needles threaded his being until the sensation faded.
Takaba and his friends had trained diligently in their new Sensei's home, Kensei, in his 60s like Yamato, he had the same unique aura, a mixture of kind old man and unforgiving teacher. Him and Yamato had been friends since teenage days, therefore having them stay was like having family stay, he said when they first arrived.
His wife, Miu, was a homely woman, salt and pepper hair tied in a neat bun at the back of her head and a smile that creased at the corners of her gentle eyes, she made you feel like you belonged.
She fussed over them like she would her own children and was always making sure they had something to eat or helped them with injuries.
They had all been welcomed into the house instantly, making the transition of leaving Yamato's that much easier.
Ibiki and Takaba shared a room, Ibiki explaining that he wouldn't be able to make the most of his time here if he shared with Mutou, which meant Mutou and Shuuhei shared another, much to Mutou's sulking discontent.
It was a large modern home, set in the middle of a generous piece of land in the suburbs, surrounded by high stucco fences and a metal electric gate at the front, a pool, spa and sauna to the side and a dojo for personal use at the back. Kensei didn't have many students so it was better for him to have a small one at home then one in town somewhere. It was enough to be considered wealthy, but not enough to be called moneybags.
Learning the basics of other styles and also how to diffuse other techniques had been difficult, and resulted in tired bodies all over again, the sauna helping them in their recoveries.
Takaba and Mutou had been caught embarrassingly a couple of times during recoveries of their own sort in the sauna, one such embarrassing time they were both so into it they didn't notice the door had been opened and Kensei waiting outside for them to finish, the only thing Kensei said was that if they still had energy to "go at it like animals in heat", then they weren't working hard enough and doubled their workload the days following until they collapsed from exhaustion, a sneer on his face as their friends helped them to their rooms.
After the first punishing month was up, Kensei had announced they were ready for some matches in the underground.
Takaba had expected a seedy scene in a low class building, but had been surprised to see the events well organized and clean, it wasn't suit and tie but it wasn't gangsters and thugs and not many Baishe thankfully, it was a place for people that genuinely loved fighting to get their fix or make some money without the hassle of the media. Cameras and recording devices were strictly forbidden.
Mutou was the current undefeated fighter in his weight class, eradicating his opponents, happy as a kid in a candy store. Watching him fight had given Akihito a sense of awe, this man was seamlessly in control, his atmosphere alone was enough to intimidate his foe. When he was fighting he was something else, he got this sadistic smirk on his face when facing particularly tough fighters, the harder the encounter the happier he was, the man was simply in a league of his own, made up by the man himself to suit only himself.
Ibiki and Shuuhei had both suffered 1 loss, but had quickly made up for it by annihilating their opponents with ruthless resolve, determined not to let their friend show them up.
Both dangerous men in their own right.
Even during their losses, they remained impassive, calmly taking it all in and analyzing the situation, and only showing their enjoyment once the final bell had sounded, Shuuhei would crack a big grin, and Ibiki would get a pleased twinkle in his eye and an ever so slight curl of his lips.
It was the transformations from before and after a fight that still stupefied Akihito, almost like split personalities, cold blooded and unfamiliar, to the warm friends he knew so well, in the blink of an eye. Takaba hadn't realized that his own transformation was almost on par with his seniors.
They were starting to run out of people to fight, as their identities became secretly known, because names weren't allowed in the arena, but names like theirs were bound to get out sooner or later.
Takaba had faired worse then the other 3, currently with 2 wins and 2 losses in the lightweight class. Both of his wins were entirely unanticipated as he had already lost twice, with bets pitted against him at astounding odds, the 3 others had bet on him for shits and giggles and had ended up making a lot of money out of it.
Whether he was winning or losing, it didn't stop the incredible feeling he had, the heart thumping, adrenaline circulating feeling that makes his soul want to erupt. Looking into the other person's eyes and predicting what they were going to do next, a constant game on the edge. It was like a drug.
Takaba supposed it had some emotional connection to him being kidnapped, he was powerless then, a kitten thrown in a pack of wolves, but there in the ring his own decisions sealed his fate, not anyone else's, the results not being catastrophic if he were to lose, he wouldn't end up with a bullet in has brain or being raped as the result, he would only go home and work harder.
This time he was a wolf in is own right. The crowd had acknowledged the cool headed young fighter.
It was the drug he hadn't had since staking out an exciting scoop and running when you finally got the shots.
It had been a fix that was a long time coming and he had to admit, he wanted more.
It was late morning after their latest round of fights, they still had another month to go till Tokyo, and the 3 older men were lazing around the living room, Shuuhei on the floor on front of the coffee table, Ibiki sitting contently on the couch and Mutou sitting against the couch on the floor. They were contemplating going for a look round town when Takaba woke up.
Takaba was still asleep in his room, they had gone out drinking after their fights, and Takaba being the lightweight he literally was, needed a little more time to rise from the dead.
"So Mutou, what's the deal with you and Akihito? If you hurt him, I'll end you, haha. Kidding….. Sort of." came a flat question from Shuuhei, staring at him over the rim of his coffee cup.
"Mmmm, I'm curious too." Ibiki chimes in, "you can't tell me it's just friends with benefits after all this time. You wouldn't normally sulk like you did at not being able to share a room." He added nonchalantly.
Mutou pauses, and then lets out a thoughtful sigh, "Dunno, we have been banging for nearly 2 years now, if that doesn't make us a thing I don't know what does. I'm just not the possessive type, if he wants a thing then yeah I'd be all for it, but if he's happier otherwise then that's what matters, I guess. I'd rather have what we have now, or dare I say it go back to nothing, then not having him round at all."
Ibiki raises one eyebrow in response to Mutou's first sentence, "Charming, no wonder you can't get women." Sarcasm dripping from his tone. "I agree with the rest though, it's like he has always been there. You do have a brain in that thick skull of yours."
"Well, you could ask him on a date! You have to get to know him first," mused Shuuhei, "we don't know much about him at all except his name, age, he comes from Tokyo and used to be a photographer. That will be a learning experience for us all. I am curious."
"Hmmm, speaking of which, did you guys notice how jumpy he was when we first got to Hong Kong, he's back to normal now, but something had him spooked big time for us to notice it." Ibiki's words had them sitting in silence for a while, contemplating.
Finally Mutou spoke, "A date! You must be kidding me, right? I don't have time for that shit. Argh, enough talk, this is too serious for me, I am gonna go wake the sissy up so we can swim or something!" with that, Mutou strides off down the hall to wake up a slumbering Takaba.
On his way down the hall he encounters a strange man, exotic looking he would call it, with long hair, that cascaded like black silk down his slender back. He is dressed in traditional Chinese cheongsam, and he knew this man knew how to fight, he could see it in his every movement, each step purposeful and confident. He was headed to Kensei's office he has at the back of the house in a spare room.
They exchanged tense glances as they passed one another up the hall.
Who's that guy!? He looks fun to fight, haha. Better not stir up Kensei's guests though, that old man would kick my ass. Ah anyway, I have gotta go wake the bastard zombie up from his slumber so we can actually do something today. Hmm, wonder how I should wake him, hehe.
Not so quietly, Mutou wraps his knuckles against the door, making it rattle in its hinges.
"Oi, you weak piece of crap, wake the hell up! Learn to handle your drink, I'm coming in!" before he could reach the handle, it turns on it's own accord, the door opening slowly, a feeling of resentment seeping out from the widening gap to reveal a very pissed off Takaba in his underwear.
His hair is a silky mess, covering his squinting eyes that are still trying to wake up, his face slightly off color and his shoulders hunched.
Takaba's tone starts off cool and calm and quickly escalates to yelling, "Mutou….. What the fuck? What the hell are you waking me up for! You asshole, it's our day off and it's still morning. MORNING! I want to sleep til the afternoon… Ugh, now I am all worked up I might as well wake up. Get me breakfast now, with a coffee."
"What, no please darling with that?"
"Ugh, piss off you dickhead. I'll beat your ass."
"Yeah yeah, you have been trying to for the past two years remember and still haven't managed once."
Liu Fei Long bit back a snicker as he listened to the exchange between the devilish looking man he encountered in the hall and the seriously irate voice that the man had just woken up.
Were those some of the people his clients had been complaining to him about?
His clients had been losing money at his fight club due to some Japanese men coming in and taking over, so he was here to talk to the man that first brought them in.
It was easy because it turned out to be his martial arts teacher for over 20 years, and he was due to pay a visit to Kensei. It was the only place Fei Long didn't need his bodyguards, so he left them waiting at the car in front of the house, the man in the hall had given him second thoughts about that, without question that man radiated martial prowess.
He risked a glance behind him as he was entering Kensei's room, the backs of two men making their way to Kensei's lounge at the front of the house.
One figure was the tall, dark haired man that he had encountered already, the other a head shorter and surprisingly, only in his boxer shorts with a layered head of silver blond hair nearly to his shoulders.
The man in boxers clasped both hands above his head in a stretch, giving an impressive display of lean muscles rippling across his shoulders, his skin looked soft and supple, and Fei Long found himself wanting to touch it.
Fei Long could tell even from looking at the back of the blond, that he was just as noteworthy as the taller man, the blond moved with a lithe grace that only came from training the mind and body to become one.
He found it hard to believe that the fuming voice he heard just before had come from this man. How interesting. I want to meet with them.
He entered his teacher of 20 years office.
His thoughtful old teacher sat on a black leather couch with a pot of tea sitting on the coffee table, staring out the window that the couch was facing.
"Ah, just in time for tea Fei Long, it's been a while. You are well I trust, if you weren't, then my teachings were a waste of time, eh. I am happy you came today, I have a favor to ask, though that can wait."
Fei Long hid his surprise as he moved to the singular couch adjacent to the one Kensei is sitting on. He cut straight to the point.
"You know why I am here Kensei, your pupils are causing too much of a ruckus in my fight club. At least make them lose a few, people are starting to take their business dealings elsewhere, and I cant have that." All said matter of factly.
"Heh, it would mean my death, asking that bunch to lose. You should meet them, they are intriguing to say the least." His tone was warm and he could see the care in his eyes. Kensei didn't take to many people like that.
Hiding his curiosity by raising his cup to his mouth, "I don't see what could be so interesting about a bunch of kids that have it easy and think fighting is only for fun." The truth is Fei Long is very interested, but the leader of Baishe couldn't be seen having interest in such unimportant things.
"Watch what you say Liu Fei Long, because you will not insult my or Yamato's pupils in my own domain. You will understand the falseness of your words when you meet them. They are all a match for you in skill, well 3 are, the youngest is still growing." Fei long knew the truth of his teacher's cold statement already, and wondered whether the dark haired figure he had met in the hall was the youngest one that he mentioned.
"The youngest one gets this look in his eyes that even you would not like to cross, only instances, but I've seen it. When he first got here, I saw him flinch a few times when he saw Baishe tattoos, I don't know his past and considering they are all from Japan I don't know how he knows the baishe mark, but he does."
"Ah, we probably killed his family years ago or something. There have been many breakouts here and in Japan over the years, so it's not a surprise really." Fei Long sighed "Anyway, just keep them from fighting at the venue for a week or two to appease my clients and we will call it even for your favour, they are only here for one more month, no? So what's this favor then, it has to do with them surely."
Kensei nodded his head in answer, the tension easing from his demeanor as the conversation turned less serious.
"Yep, one more month, so they will be out of your hair soon. Anyway, I was wondering if you could get them VIP entrance to one of your clubs. They have worked so hard so the old man Yamato wants to give them a gift of sorts before they go, and despite appearances, they love to party. So I told him I would pull some strings on his behalf, he said he wouldn't be caught dead actually giving them a gift himself, so wanted me to organize something, that cheeky old coot. Enough chit-chat here, let's go meet them and we can discuss it with them." The smile in his eyes spoke of pride. Who are these kids that can make my teacher act this way? Fei Long put down his tea cup and followed Kensei to the lounge, eager to meet Kensei's current pupils.