AN: Hello there to all you who have been waiting for me to update this fic, I want to say I am sorry to keep you waiting for so long. I have fallen in love with another of my fics and have been thinking about it constantly and kind of neglected this one in doing so. I already started chapter 8 and provided I can get my shit together I will be posting it soon. Thank you for the comments, faves, follows, etc. please continue to support me with your lively reviews and pointers. While you wait for the manga to be updated and other fics to be posted I encouraged you to check my other stuff, Lord knows I have already gone through 96% of the Finder Series fics in and about 80% of the ones in AO3. If there is a particularly interesting/entertaining fic out there please feel free to suggest it to me so I can read it because I'm running out of stuff to read. Pardon the grammar and spelling mistakes, all my work is self betaed.

I do not own Finder Series

On with the story

******VF*****

Chapter Seven – Life's Sick Joke

This had to be a sick joke, it had to be, there is no way life could be so cruel… Then again in his life, when have things actually gone the way he hoped? Still there he was, Asami, most likely closing a deal with a man marked for death. As much as he hated to admit it even to himself, he cared for the arrogant bastard and after coming to terms with the screwed up 'relationship' they had there was no way he would let the man die, not when he could do something about it.

How ridiculous is it that every time shit happens in Tokyo Asami has to be involved somehow? Though now he thinks about it he is no better and has caused plethora of conundrums himself, but still it did not change the fact that now he had to figure out a way to prevent a good friend and his lov –ehem- Asami from killing each other.

He needed to stall the deal somehow without betraying either of them, nevertheless and as much as it pained him to admit it, if in the end it came to it he would side with Asami. Is not that he did not care for Mina, is just that his feelings for Asami went deeper that what he could ever feel for her. He would try to save them both from killing each other but in the end his loyalty does not ultimately lay with her.

It was one of those moments in which you know you have to do something and whatever you could do had to be done fast but to tell the truth at this moment his panicking mind was drawing up a blank. How to stall? How to prevent Asami from entering a game to dangerous even for him? If he asked him to, would Asami drop the seal? If he asked would Asami trust him enough to buy him some time?

From what Akihito could gather Tsumebara Yukuta must want Asami's connections in the weapons trade and his permission to operate within his territory, but what was Asami getting from this deal? Maybe he wanted to use the import/export branch of Shirou investments to smuggle his 'goods'? Did Asami really need this man so much that he would go forward with the deal even if Akihito asked him not to do it? He hoped and prayed to every deity in heaven that Asami trusted him enough to back off even if he couldn't tell him why, he really did not want to betray Mina's trust unless it was absolutely necessary.

'Think Aki think, there has to be something you can do to stall this deal, but what?'

A briefcase made its appearance on Tsumebara's hands and the man pulled out some documents. Akihito took some pictures from an angle in which Asami's face was shaded by the darkness of the night.

Kirishima stepped forward and took the documents from Tsumebara and examined them over before handing them to his boss. The man was always cautious and Asami going down because of a substance being placed on the paper was something that he would never let happen.

Asami was reading the documents and Akihito knew he had to do something that instant of he would have missed the chance to prevent Asami from falling into a very deep pit. A light bulb went on in his mind and the thought about the only thing he could do at the moment without revealing to Tsumebara's men that he was watching them. He only hoped Asami trusted him with his life as he trusted Asami with his.

Akihito took out his phone and sent a text to the older man followed by a text to both Suoh and Kirishima just to be on the safe side. If Asami did not look at his phone because he thought whatever the message was could wait, at least he knew that Kirishima and Suoh will always look at their phone so they could relate information to Asami as soon as necessary.

To: Asami

If you trust me as much as I trust you, please do not make that deal.

To: Suoh; Kirishima

No matter what, for the sake of his life do not let this deal happen.

***VF***

Three phones vibrated at almost the same time and Asami almost dismissed it. He glanced quickly at his secretary and went back to read the documents in his hands. Kirishima pulled his phone out of his pocked and glanced at the screen, it was a text from Takaba, normally the brat did not text him unless it was something important and whatever it was he had a bad feeling about it. He opened the message and a frown appeared on his frown.

From: Takaba Akihito

No matter what, for the sake of his life do not let this deal happen.

The secretary looked quickly at Suoh who also had his phone out and was checking a message. From the look on the man's face Kirishima could guess he had received the same message. He could only assume the kid knew something they didn't; after all finding information was his thing and if whatever information Takaba had made him think Asami-sama was at risk if he made the deal right now with Tsumebara, then it would be best to be safe and postpone a decision until he could investigate matters further.

Kirishima walked to Asami and handed him the phone so his boss could look at the message, he handed the phone back to his secretary and pulled his out glancing quickly at the message in it before putting the phone away as if the message had not been of importance.

From: Kitten

If you trust me as much as I trust you, please do not make that deal.

Asami Ryuichi was not a man who had gotten as far as he had by not being careful or by trusting everyone he made acquaintances with. However when one of the few people he trusted said that his life was at risk if he took a certain course of action he tended to listen at least until he had more information on the situation at hand. Especially when that person was someone who in normal circumstances would not use the word 'please' when talking to him. since they had come to term with whatever it was that was between them and had found a way to compromise Akihito had never meddled in his business, for him to ask Asami to trust him as much as he trusted the older man something big had to be going on and Asami was not one to be caught unaware, besides this contracts would have to be re-written before he agreed to anything in them.

'He must be watching them from somewhere and crossing his fingers hoping that I trust him and back off. Just this once I will not seal a deal with such little information on why he thinks I should. But when I have him in front of he will have to tell me what is going on.'

"Tsumebara-san before I agree to anything I need to consider the deal carefully, you must understand in this line of business one must be careful and see things from all angles. I am sure you understand that."

Tsumebara grinded his teeth at the idea of having to wait for a response from Asami but he was certain he needed the man more than the man needed him. He was sure Asami had found out the couple of loopholes he buried among legal jargon in the contract and wanted to revise it further before beginning a partnership with him.

He needed Asami if he wanted to enter the weapon's trade business and if he had to give up the advantage he could gain from the loopholes to gain more power and money then he would just have to deal with it. He just had to bid his time before he was strong enough to get rid of Asami and take Tokyo for himself, the man had been on top for far too long and it was time this prosperous territory ran under new management… patience was the name of the game and he was a really good player.

"Certainly Asami-san, if you consider it necessary."

Asami gave the documents back to Kirishima who put them on a briefcase, gave a short nod to Tsumebara and walked to the door Suoh had already opened for him and slid into the car.

Suoh shut the door to the car and walked to the driver's seat while Kirishima sat on the passenger seat. Both men look at each other questioningly and after the car had been at a good distance away from Tsumebara and his men Kirishima decided to ask the question they were both thinking about.

"Asami-sama, did Takaba say his reasons for wanting you to stop the deal in the message hi sent you?"

"No, mine was as vague as yours but something about it made me feel like I needed to take his advice, moreover this contracts have to be revised and re-written, they are filled with loopholes and none of them are in my favor."

"I noticed that too, all loopholes were meant to give him advantage and power over the trade routes. I think he might be aiming for the top."

"That Tsumebara is a slippery snake and might be thinking that taking advantage of me is a plausible thing. Investigate him and his business to more detail, I want a thorough check, there is something more fishy than usual in this situation and I need to know what. If this deal does go through I want him dead as soon as I get what I need."

"Understood, what about Takaba?"

"I will deal with that tonight, if he knows something I need to know there are fun ways I can get the information."

The glint in Asami's eyes as he said 'fun ways' was not lost on Kirishima and he promptly prevented his mind from imagining the different scenarios that could mean because when things involved Takaba and his boss there is only one kind of scenarios that came to mind and to be hones he did not want to put images to things he already knew of had heard, to tell the truth he had already seen more than he ever wanted to and he tried to keep it that way.

***VF***

Tsumebara watched the vehicle drive away and punched the closest man to him in a fit of anger kicking the man repeatedly when he fell on the ground.

'Asami, that condescending ass, how dare him treat me like he is better than me. The man did not even noticing I had extended my hand to him and walking away after just a nod. A nod, a fucking nod! And not even at me but at my general direction. I will show that man that I am not someone to take lightly when I take everything right from under his nose.'

When he finally calmed down he wandered briefly about the message Asami received during their meeting but when he recalled Asami's look of indifference and he looked at it and how he put the phone away like nothing important had happened he decided not to give it much thought. He had things to plan and people to buy to get information out of Sion and that was a more pressing matter. Asami could have the small victory of catching petty loopholes in a deal but ultimately the winner will be him. Patience was the name of the game and Tsumebara was a very patient man.

He walked to the vehicle waiting for him and though about his plan to take Tokyo for himself and all the ways he would make Asami suffer as it drove away into the night.

***VF***

Akihito let out a sigh he did not even know he had been holding as he witnessed the scene before him through his viewfinder. From what he could tell, and he hoped he was right, Asami had not made the deal. In the back of his mind a small voice tried to make known a fact he did not want to look at too closely – Asami will want answers and he will do anything to get them – in favor of a much welcomed revelation Asami trusted him with his life. Asami trusted him and at this moment that was all that mattered.

He watched as Asami got into the car which drove away, Tsumebara seem to be pissed at something and took it out on one of his own men. The man was crazy walking around in circles practically pulling his own hair until suddenly he stopped and laughed maniacally. Whatever the man was thinking about was definitely not a good thing. Akihito had a feeling that things just got more complicated than they already were and the feeling made him more than uneasy.

He wished he didn't have to go home, trying to let Asami know what was going on without actually telling him what is going on was going to be difficult.

'This really has to be a very sick joke. Why did Asami have to get involved in this? Was there not one underground business in all of Tokyo that the man was not involved in? I am a fool for even hoping it was not him to begin with, but I will keep him safe even if he is a bastard… because he is my bastard.'

No use in delaying the unavoidable he thought as he put his equipment away and left his hiding spot after Tsumebara left the meeting place. Tonight he had to brave Asami's interrogation, tomorrow he had to convince Mina that the man meeting with Tsumebara today was not important enough to bother with him.

Why did he always find himself in the middle of complicated situations? He had a feeling a shit storm was heading his way and everyone he cared about was going to end up covered in it. He only hoped he could do enough damage prevention that they all came out of it alive.

The ride home was the shortest he could ever remember, on a day in which he wished time flowed slower it felt like he arrived at the penthouse at record speed. His mind had been so preoccupied that the journey home had barely registered.

His hands were sweaty with nervousness as he opened the door and walked into the spacious penthouse, he toed his shoes off and walked into the living room where two tall figures stood at either side of Asami who casually sipped from a tumbler as he read some documents while sitting on the couch.

Golden eyes lifted from the paper and set themselves on him and he could not help but swallow rather audibly.

"Akihito, explain to me why I had to walk away from a deal. Is there something you know about Tsumebara that I should be informed about?"

Akihito looked at Kirishima and Suoh as his mouth opened but then an idea crossed his mind and he shut his mouth before the words could escape. Asami realized immediately that he did not want to speak in front of the two men and gave a short command looking at no one in particular.

"Leave" The bodyguard and secretary understood their boss' command and quietly left the penthouse. They were glad their apartments were on the floor below, that way they could come back promptly if Asami needed them.

"Well... I'm waiting."

"Asami, how long have Kirishima and Suoh been working for you?"

"Why do you need to know that?"

"I can't give you details without involving you in things I rather you stayed away from. So just trust me and tell me, in return I will tell you as much as I can."

"I will play your game for now but if I feel unsatisfied with your answers I will make you tell me everything."

"Deal"

"Very well, they have been working for me since I created Sion about fifteen years ago."

"Ok, then they can be trusted. You may have a mole in your organization, do not trust anyone who has been working for you less than ten years. No information about Sion should reach anyone other than you, Suoh and Kirishima. Do not make it seem like you know someone might be a spy either or they will attack and kill you."

Asami did not like where this conversation was going and the idea of having people spying from within Sion was something he was not comfortable with. Indeed by the end of the night Akihito will talk even if he has to use every trick on the book to make it so.

***VF***

Two men walked silently to the elevator and rode it to the lower floor. The walk to their doors was a short one, with a silent nod Kirishima invited Suoh into his apartment and the bodyguard followed him in.

"What do you think is going on?" Asked Suoh

"Whatever it is must be complicated if the brat thinks he can't talk in front of us."

"I have a bad feeling about this."

"Me too"

***VF***

This is it for now; I hope I did not disappoint you with this chapter. Once again I am sorry for taking so long to update and beg for your forgiveness as I thank you for your patience. Please leave your reviews and let me know your opinion.

Setsuna