Hello, everyone :)
Sorry for making you wait. But I was caught in problems. I was so scared when my eyes were starting to feel very weird and I decided to take a break + I had fever. So, yeah, you got the picture-I am sickly.
I wanted to put all my dearest reviewers name here but I couldn't (Spare my eyes) (T-T)
Thank you for everyone who had been so kind in giving responses and you don't know how useful they were for me to develop the plot. A big heart for you!
loveroftheyaoi, once again thank you for your very meticulous review. Please don't worry, all your points will be answered in future chapters.
As for the vote in the last chapter, I have decided that Yoh will be Feilong's partner. BUT, I will write an extra chapter (an AU) where Tetsuya ended up with Feilong. Thank you for the response!
10.00 PM
Akihito's hazel orbs widen in panic as his mind struggled to process what Yoh had just told him. Yoh, the stoic guard, was still on his knees with his head hanging low.
"Wha-what did Feilong say about this?"
He was scared, he was really scared to the point that he could literally feel a wave of nausea about to crash on him. Did Feilong agreed?
"Feilong-sama will never allow it to happen, Takaba-san. That is why I'm asking you to do this or he will really get himself killed along with everyone under him," Yoh's head fell even further as he continued in a desperate voice ,"Please, Takaba-san. I know what I'm asking of you is not easy but there is no one other than you can prevent the war."
"Is there no other way?"
Finally, Yoh met Akihito's eyes. "Yes, there is no other way."
If it was a nightmare, there was nothing he wanted other than waking up from it. But his trembling body was evident enough that it wasn't a dream. It was his reality that he thought he had escape from.
Earlier that day...
While Asami was in the cafe with the twins, Kirishima had his hands full with two men-they were Feilong's men and had been assigned to watch the twins- at the secluded alley not far from the school. He and Asami were already aware that they were around but decided to do nothing until the day when the twins were approached by the stranger. That day, the bodyguards went for a short break after they were convinced that nothing would happen and due to that irresponsible act, Asami deemed that they were not needed anymore.
Kirishima had yet broken a sweat when the men finally fell on the ground with broken bones.
"Useless. Feilong ought to pick better ones in the future." Kirishima commented dryly.
"You bastard! Feilong-sama will make you pay for this!" One of them shouted.
"I doubt he will. For low-lives like you two, at least." Kirishima said.
The men opened their mouth to shout more but were cut off by Kirishima.
"Tell your boss that Asami will be waiting for him later tonight at Club Sion." Kirishima tossed a business card to the men. "It's about a certain thing that he had hidden in Hong Kong." With that, Kirishima returned to the limo.
Through the large glass of the small cafe, Kirishima could see how his employer interacted with the twins. It was awkward but not unwelcomed to see Asami being care-free. When he saw Asami laughed, he couldn't help but feel touched. He couldn't really recall when was the last time he had seen Asami laughing openly.
A snort escaped Kirishima when he realized how sappy he was being at the moment.
But it was nostalgic seeing how responsive the younger twin was at Asami. Tetsuya's scowl was just like Akihito's.
Watching the serene-in his opinion, although Tetsuya wasn't exactly in a peaceful state- situation his employer was in eased him a bit. Bringing Asami's family home wouldn't be easy but Asami would succeed sooner or later. It was only a matter of time.
The calm before the storm... Kirishima grimly thought.
Feilong wouldn't be able to stop Asami. At the thought of the Chinese mafia, Kirishima half smirked and half tensed. Feilong could never guess what Asami had in store for him.
9.00PM
The ice in the glass clinked a little as Asami put the glass down on the table in front him. There was no other patron there; he had closed the club for the night. Inwardly, Asami smirked as he waited patiently for his 'guest'. He knew Feilong had no other choice but come. It was just a matter of time and he had all night to waste, anyways; the time he spent with his sons earlier had him in a good mood and he had a rare urge to take a breather. Kirishima was silently ecstatic with his sudden short break-he could practically sense it.
Reminiscing his afternoon, his thought wandered to his boys. They were fascinating and he could see that Akihito had raised them well. A pang of jealousy hit him hard.
The fact that he had missed seeing the growth of both Akihito and his sons didn't sit well with him. He didn't get to be the first that know about Akihito's pregnancy, not when Akihito's body slowly changed during the nine months, and also not when Akihito gave birth.
Feilong was the lucky son of a b*tch who was there with his Akihito the whole time.
Subconsciously, Asami's eyes narrowed into slits but when his sight landed on the duralumin case next to his glass of whiskey, his eyes eased up in vileness. Feilong was surprisingly careless this time.
Asami was snapped back into his surrounding when Kirishima walked in with Feilong and Yoh tagging behind him.
Asami greeted Feilong's impassive face with a smirk as the Chinese took his seat across from him while Yoh dutifully stood next to Feilong.
"Feilong, welcome to my club." Asami said leisurely as he poured a glass of whiskey in to the empty glass in front of Feilong.
"Spare me the greetings, Asami. We are not here to have a nice chat." Feilong replied as he eyed the liquor that Asami had handed him.
However, when Feilong's eyes landed on the duralumin case, his face visibly tensed up for a fraction of a second. Seeing Feilong's subtle reaction, Asami smirked again.
"Saw something familiar?" Asami asked with a laid-back tone, intending to infuriate Feilong further.
"Playing dumb, are we?" Feilong said sarcastically.
The case was the same duralumin case that his father had given to him. He wasn't sharp this round, he admitted it. When the two guards that he had assigned for the twins reported about what happened at the school alley, he wasted no time to call the bank that was supposed to keep the deed.
But when he did, all he received from the personnel was a very puzzled "But, Feilong-sama, you were the one who retrieved the item."
"How did you know where I kept it?"
"It wasn't easy, I must say. But my best man is not the best for nothing."
By then, Feilong's composed mask was about to crumble in rage that he had to ground his teeth together.
"Then, what are you expecting from this? A full-blown war?"
"I can wipe out your organisation even without the deed, Feilong. I have a greater interest in something else than Baishe."
"And pray tell me ,Asami, what is it?"
Asami focused his golden orbs onto Feilong's and said, "My family."
Feilong's lean fingers automatically curled into tight balls as he tried to calm himself.
"I don't know what you are talking about."
That earned Feilong another cynical smirk from Asami.
"Who is the one playing dumb now, Feilong? You know exactly what I'm talking about."
The dismay smote Feilong. He could only glare Asami with icy stare. He had always feared that this would happen. How foolish had he been all this while to wish that Asami would never know about the children.
Asami also had dropped his facade and met Feilong's glare with his anger.
"You hid them from me, Feilong. Twelve f*cking years, Feilong. That is more than enough reason for me to kill you."
Kirishima, who had been watching them winced as he heard Asami swearing. It was never a good thing whenever Asami cussed.
"Correction; Akihito came to me. You have no one to blame but yourself for this whole ordeal."
"It still doesn't change the fact that you hid them."
"Yes, I hid them. Guess, why I did?"
Both Kirishima and Yoh fought shivers along their spines as the conversation between Asami and Feilong intensified.
"They belong to me." Asami said menacingly.
"They are not objects."
"No, they are not. But that is the least of your concern, Feilong. You should worry about yourself. This deed," Asami picked the deed up "will surely attract many attentions. I heard the Russians and many other groups are fighting over your territory in Hong Kong."
Feilong shot another glare towards Asami who remained unfazed by it.
"What do you want?" Feilong asked without bothering to cover his fury.
"Hand over Akihito and my sons and leave Japan. Your place are never with them or here. You have seventy-two hours or I will spread news about this deed and watch everyone hunt you like hounds."
Unexpectedly, Feilong let out a sickening chuckle. Asami raised an eyebrow questioningly.
"Your confidence is impressive as ever, Asami. But what makes you think that I can be easily defeated?"
"Feilong, the fact that I managed to get the deed is the proof that Baishe is weakening. You abandoned your subordinates in Hong Kong by coming here, Feilong. Your attention was diverted."
Indeed, Asami was right. Feilong tasted numbness, leaving him pale at the realization. His stay in Japan was inordinate, making his hold in Hong Kong unsecured. Yoh had been saying the same thing; his attention was diverted.
"That is why I said, your place is never with Akihito, nor Japan. Return to Hong Kong and I will give you back this deed."
Without tearing his sight from Feilong, Asami reached for his glass and took a gulp.
Victory was on his side, all that matters now was time.
10.30PM
Ryu rarely scold Tetsuya whenever he did mistakes since he didn't like seeing Tetsuya feeling down so, he mostly let Tetsuya off the hook-because Tetsuya could never do anything wrong on purpose, being the soft-hearted child he was. But today, Tetsuya's action was something that he couldn't let slide.
He had his own share in it; he knew that not telling his Papa about Asami was wrong. But making deal with Asami was on another level of wrongness.
Without as much as a knock to announce his presence, Ryu opened the door of Tetsuya's room and slammed it close.
"Ryu-chan?" Tetsuya's voice was a mixture of intimidation and confusion.
Ryu locked his sharp gaze on Tetsuya who was sitting on the bed. Seeing the patented look on his twin, Tetsuya immediately could deduce that he was in a trouble.
"Tetsuya, you'd better explain yourself why you agreed to Asami's deal or I will tell everything to Papa."
Tetsuya's eyes widened in alarm.
"B-but, Ryu-chan- you wouldn't! Papa will also be mad at you if you do."
"Tetsuya, explain. Now." Ryu's eyes narrowed.
Tetsuya lowered his eyes onto the sheets. A few seconds passed by before Tetsuya could bring himself to answer Ryu.
"I...I was curious." Tetsuya mumbled.
Ryu kept silent and waited patiently for Tetsuya to continue.
"Ryu-chan, have you never wondered about mom? Papa never talked about her and when I asked Uncle Fei about it, he also won't tell me anything. It's as if she doesn't exist at all."
Ryu unconsciously curled his fingers into fists to hide his shock at the mention of their 'mom'.
"I really want to know who she is...I want to know why she is not here with us," Tetsuya's voice lowered at the last part "Asami looked so much like you, Ryu-chan. What if he is related to our mom? He might be able to bring us to mom."
Tetsuya's eyes turned hot and before he knew it, tears were already rolling down his cheeks.
"I know I was stupid to make the deal with him. But I couldn't help it. I-I'm sorry."
Then, Tetsuya couldn't control his sobs and he brought his hands onto his face. Ryu could no longer be upset towards Tetsuya. Ryu walked to the bed and sat next to Tetsuya before he pulled Tetsuya into a hug. He patted Tetsuya's back soothingly.
"I'm sorry, Tetsuya. I didn't mean to make you cry." Ryu said softly.
Tetsuya hugged his twin back, his frame shaking as he cried. They stayed like that until Tetsuya's sobs died down.
"Ryu-chan, what are you going to do now?" Tetsuya asked hesitantly.
Ryu found himself indecisive at Tetsuya's question. Then again, bigger problem might occur later if he relented. But...maybe he could tell everything without mentioning Tetsuya's involvement; he could just say that he was the one who agreed with the deal. Just this once, he would lie.
"I won't tell Papa."
I'm sorry, Ryu apologized.
Ryu stayed until Tetsuya was asleep. With one final glance, Ryu exited Tetsuya's room and walked towards their father's room. The silence along the short journey was eerie, Ryu could almost see himself getting scolded really bad-maybe even getting punished. He convinced himself that he shouldn't be surprised if it did happen later.
Standing outside Akihito's door, Ryu took one long breath before he knocked.
"Y-yeah?" Akihito's voice was muffled by the door, but it didn't conceal how badly it shook.
"Papa, it's me. May I come in?" Ryu said as he frowned.
For several moments, Akihito didn't respond and Ryu was becoming more nervous and worried. But when the door creaked open, revealing a very stressed-looking Akihito, Ryu could no longer remember the reason he was there. Akihito's eyes were puffy from crying and his breathe was slightly hitched.
"Papa? What is wrong?"
"I'll tell you later. Come in first." Akihito opened the door wider, letting his son in.
Inside the room, Ryu's face turned unreadable as he took in the sight of the rummaged closet and drawers. A suitcase was lying on top of the bed.
"P-Papa?" Ryu stuttered.
Ryu was spun around by a pair of hands on his shoulders. Akihito got on one of his knees and bored his eyes onto Ryu's.
"Ryu, listen. We don't have much time," Akihito felt his eyes began to turn teary again but he pushed it down "we have to run."
"Run?"
"Yes. I can't explain it now. We have to move now before it's too late."
"But why?" Ryu asked with a hint of sadness.
Akihito bit on his bottom lip.
"I'm sorry, Ryu. Like I said, there is no time to explain. Please, just-trust me, okay? Now, I want you to go to your room and pack some clothes. I'll go get Tetsuya."
However, Ryu remained where he was. His face contorted in confusion and reluctance. The terror in Akihito's eyes was enough to make his insides churn.
"Go. Now." Akihito said with a stern voice.
It made Ryu obeyed him in an instant and left for his room. Akihito had to give in to his fears by then. He let a few drops of tears escape his eyes as he walked towards the nightstand. There was a small note book there with a pen-which he was staring at when Ryu knocked.
Wiping the tears on his cheeks, Akihito took the pen and wrote down on a piece of paper that he had ripped off the book.
His fingers were shaking as he tried to jot down that could be his last words to Feilong. It hurt so much that he almost couldn't continue. It had been so quick. He thought he didn't have to run anymore.
But by some miracle, he managed to finish the note. Snatching the suitcase on the bed, Akihito spared one last glance to the note on the night stand before he shut the door.
In record time, Akihito managed to get the three of them out of the house. He knew the movement of the guards, the time when they change positions and the time when they take ten minutes break.
Tetsuya was still asleep on Akihito's shoulder, dead to the world in his fatigue while Ryu was pale as ghost as he clenched the hem of Akihito's shirt in a very tight grip. They were very lucky to get a taxi a few minutes after that.
Even while fighting with his drowsiness, Ryu's grip on Akihito's shirt remained tight.
"Papa, where are we going?" He asked.
Akihito nearly broke down at the question. He, himself, didn't know where to go. But he would be damned if he would show how weak he was to his son. Coaxing an assuring smile on his lips, he turned to Ryu and said, "Somewhere safe."
Despite the lack of light in the cab, Ryu could see how his father's lower lip quivered as he smiled. He nodded and spoke no more.
Not far behind the taxi they were in, a black car was tagging along. There in the driver seat, was a man in a hoody.
Review, pretty please? Thank you :)