Takaba couldn't help looking over his shoulder after getting off at the platform at Toya. He was certain Asami knew where he was by now, but he doubted the yakuza would interfere. He was probably too busy controlling the universe and taking money baths.
"Takaba-kun?" He turned around. A man emerged from the crowd on the platform and shook his hand.
"Shino-san?" Takaba winced as his hand was enthusiastically squeezed by the larger man. The other blinded him with a grin from under a three-day-old beard.
"Welcome to Hokkaido, are you ready?"
"Yes, sir!" Shino-san's grin was contagious. "Please take care of me." He stepped back and bowed formally. Shino-san just laughed and slapped Takaba on the back.
He was in his office between meetings when, Kirishima, after setting down his fourth cup of coffee of day, spoke, "Asami-sama?"
"Hm?" he grunted as he looked over a file on his desk.
"I've heard Hokkaido is nice this time of year." Asami looked up. Akihito.
"Indeed?"
"Perhaps while Takaba Akihito is there, you would find it beneficial to take a short vacation in the same place?" Asami rubbed his face wearily. God knows he wanted to.
"Did you find him?"
"He's working near Lake Toya taking pictures for this travel agency's new guidebook." He slid the file on the company onto Asami's desk. "He's staying near Mt. Usu in the home of one of the agency's guides, Shino Ren." Asami looked up at him. "Married. One child." Kirishima answered the unasked question while holding back a grimace. He didn't understand how such an irritating brat like Takaba Akihito made his boss so . . . crazy.
"What time does he leave?"
"Eight, day after tomorrow."
"Available flights between now and then?" Asami was suddenly very sick of work.
"The best option puts you at the Shin-Chitose airport by seven pm on his last day."
"Book the necessary tickets."
"Of course, Asami-sama." The brat did come in handy, though; he was a good way to distract the boss when he was in a foul mood or making them work long hours. Kirishima called these "Brat Breaks," and he was fond of them.
Asami went to bed as soon as he got home. Without Takaba around, there was no point in remaining awake. He'd been pushing himself at a brutal pace for the past two months, ever since he'd gotten Takaba back, and it was getting to him. Spending far too much time having sex and arguments, with not nearly enough sleep, may have contributed to the constant state of exhaustion he'd found himself in. Reopening his wounds in Hong Kong hadn't helped matters either. Then emotionally . . . he was at a loss. Watching Takaba get shot on the deck of that ship had done bad things to him, things that just wouldn't go away. It wasn't like he could talk to anyone about it, either. Yakuza are supposed to be nightmares, not have them.
His alarm clocked beeped obnoxiously. Hadn't he just shut his eyes? He glared at the glowing blue numbers: it was another day (well, night) for him. Asami groaned and rolled out of bed. He stumbled into the bathroom and stared at the single toothbrush forlornly leaning against the toothpaste in the cup. He shook himself. It won't be long before you drag him back.