*Thanks to all who are reading this story. Please let me know what you think. Thanks!

Asami woke up after his morning nap in the spare bedroom designed specifically for him many years before. He had not had any sleep since leaving the club the night before after the commissioner had called so knowing that Rykou was in school all day, he decided he needed to rest for what could turn out to be a very long day.

He wasn't surprised to wake up and find soft eyes studying him curiously as she sat on the edge of the bed. He had sensed Maki's presence even before she knew that he was awake. When their eyes met, she smiled warmly at the yakuza.

"Like what you see?" Asami smirked.

"Seeing is enough for me," She replied confidently.

"Though you slept, it wasn't restful," She stated.

"No." Asami said curtly.

"Come on," Maki stood, "I made you something to eat."

"Ryu?" Maki asked as she set down the bowls, "What is it? What's troubling you?"

Asami chuckled, "Is it that obvious?"

"Well, not to just anyone but we did live together for the first five years of our marriage. I know you better than anyone." She paused as they continued with their meal. "So? Is it work?"

Asami's chuckle was bitter sounding, "I wish it were. That would be easier to deal with."

Maki dropped her chopsticks and gasped, "Ryuichi! Someone has finally stolen your heart!" It was a statement not a question.

Asami just staredat the inquisitive woman. As much as he wanted to deny it and pretend otherwise, she was one hundred percent correct. Asami didn't want to believe it because that would mean having to deal with those feelings that he tried so hard to keep locked away.

He didn't get where he was today by having feelings for people. Of course he had feelings toward Maki and Rykou but that was different. Admitting his feelings for Takaba meant a certain kind of vulnerability that Asami had always prevented in the past. The person you love is the person you give yourself up to and even though Asami was as powerful as he was, a small part of him was actually scared to do that.

"Ryu, what's wrong?" Maki pursued.

"I think your right." His golden eyes flashed with clarity. "He did steal my heart….and ran." Saying it, saying the words out loud made it final. He could no longer deny his true feelings for Takaba.

It was like a floodgate opening, wanting him, missing him, loving him. All these things that Asami had to now face head on without excuses or rationalizations to explain them away.

"He?" Maki said in disbelief.

Asami looked up and their gazes locked. "Yes….he."

"I see." She paused to grasp the concept completely. Being so far away from Asami for so long and not being privy to his work, Makin didn't know the extent of his ability to get information or threaten, no matter who it was that he was dealing with. She had no idea he would use any means to get it, even sex.

"So he left you." Maki's voice softer now.

"Yes he did without any explanation." Asami offered.

"Well, maybe he is scared?" Maki suggested.

Yes, the kid was probably scared, but of what? Was it a.) Natasumi cutting off the money for Akisha, b.) fear of what Natasumi would do to him if he left her, c.) fear of his life and career vanishing if he stayed with Asami, or d.) all of the above?

There was a knock at the door. Maki answered it allowing the guard to enter. Kirishima came up to Asami and handed him a file.

"Is it that urgent?" Asami asked, then immediately snatched the file out of the man's hand when he saw the visibly concerned look on the man's face. After quickly reading through the few pages, Asami stood, threw the folder and stormed out the door into Maki's garden.

"What? What was in it?" Maki asked nervously, having never seen such a look from her husband before. He had been stricken with terrible news.

Kirishima was well aware that he could lose his head if he said too much but maybe, just maybe, Maki could help. She was the only one, aside from himself, that Asami would listen to.

"It seems that his love affair as all a set up so that Takaba could get inside and get information for someone else."

"So it was all a lie?" Maki asked.

Kirishima gave the woman a serious look, "No. Takaba can't hide his feelings. He was definitely in love with Asami. Of that I have no doubt."

Maki glanced at the door Asami vacated and sighed. The thirty-five year old man had finally found love and had been played for a fool. Asami Ryuichi would not take that lightly.

"How long are you going to stand there without saying anything?" Asami asked Maki, taking a long drag of his cigarette.

"Here," She handed him a glass of bourbon that Kirishima had poured, knowing Asami needed it.

Asami downed the drink and threw the glass, watching it shatter into a million pieces, just like Takaba did with his stolen heart.

Maki cupped Asami's face with her small smooth hands, "Kirishima insists that this Takaba was in fact in love with you."

The fact that he always came back made Asami think so too but now….was Takaba that good? Hadn't he also kept his daughter a secret? Asami was….well….he didn't know? Was it anger, pain, sadness, rage? His mind was spiraling out of control and that was precisely why he had never allowed himself to feel before.

Staring into Maki's eyes reminded him of why he came there to begin with. Takaba had showed him how much he missed his son that day at the zoo. When he went back to Tokyo, he would have to deal with the Takaba issue, but now, here, he needed to regain his focus….Rykou.

Changing the subject, Asami asked, "When does he get home from school?"

"Rykou will probably go to the dojo to practice his archery before coming home so not for a while." Maki offered.

"I'll go pick him up." Asami said and turned to head into the house.

Maki sighed. With all that Asami had going on, Rykou would just add salt on the wound. The boy was fickle at the age of fifteen and Maki was sure their meeting would not go well.