Author's Note: There were a lot of mixed feeling for the previous chapter, and I'm sorry if it wasn't too your liking. However, I'm glad that this story does have a lot of different opinions, rather than everyone liking it and feeling the same. I like that it attracts various audiences, and that well…I have a diverse crowd of readers! And as harsh as some honest opinions are, they help! So for those of you who are honest, and who don't flame, thank you very much. And thank you for the people who like it as well. Thank you so much for everyone, for staying with me this far, and I apologize because I realize that the characters may be OOC, but thank you for sticking with me.

On this chapter…well, because of the nature of last chapter, this will be completely and solely focused on Takaba and Asami.

Let's get to the chapter then!

Warning: Even though I don't think so, this chapter may contain mature content. I don't see a reason to change the overall rating, but if you're offended then you shouldn't read until a couple of page breaks.

What punishment could fit the crime of freedom? What action could be taken to penalize a tortured soul who had already been beaten down to a pulp?

Was it a sin to want freedom? Takaba didn't think so, as he felt it was the right of every human being. Humans weren't meant to be caged, and kept captive. They were met to be free, to achieve their goals, to live their lives in accordance to their own will. Human beings weren't animals, made to please their master's and bend to their wills. Human beings weren't meant nor were they made to be caged.

Many understood that, it was simple science, human nature. So why couldn't Asami understand? Why couldn't he see that Takaba wanted nothing but his freedom, his own life?

That night, these thoughts plagued Takaba's mind as he was so senselessly forced to comply to Asami's rapid will. The older man was like an animal forcing itself upon its injured prey. Slowly and painfully, taking every bit of life until there was nothing left, just a hallow show waiting to die. He felt the foreign yet familiar substance enter his body, he felt the sting of the tears rolling down his cheeks. The pain in his throat almost sufficed the pain in his lower abdomen as he screamed and begged Asami to stop. By now, his voice had become hoarse and he gave in, finally silencing himself, after all, Asami had stopped listening a while ago.

Asami took him, for hours and hours into the night. The less Takaba struggled, the angrier Asami got. He eventually ended up forcing Takaba to struggle, and having little hope that Asami would stop, Takaba complied. He broke from his silence, he screamed he cried until his life was completely drawn out of him. A few droplets of blood caused him to lose himself, as he watched them stain the sheets in a dark crimson color. His heart sped up and eventually, Takaba lost his breath. He became unaware of the overpowering situation that had previously taken him and before too long, he blacked out.

The pain upon falling unconscious still throbbed, and it was unimaginable. His body was stained with bruises, blood and other bodily fluids. He felt dirty, used and incompetent.

OoOoOoO

Asami sat up, staring at his naked prize. Takaba Akihito lay silently breathing, his grip on the sheets had now loosened nevertheless his knuckles were still pale. His body was riddled with bruises and other imperfections, from his reddened bottom that had fallen to the mercy of Asami's hand, to the rest of his body that still trembled with bite marks and the aftermath of sex.

Asami turned on the lamp light to get a better view of the younger man and a smile curled on his lips when the image became clearer. Never had Takaba Akihito looked as beautiful as the lamplight exposed his angelic, porcelain skin. Despite the scars and bruises, he still looked like an angel to Asami…an angel he had to guard.

Asami trailed his finger up and down Takaba's spine stopping just above his still swollen bottom. Takaba stirred a bit, but other than that, remained still and quiet. Asami continued to stroke him until finally, he stood and made way to the bathroom where he cleaned himself. He dressed and gelled his hair back in a fashionable manner. He entered the bedroom one final time to make sure his possession still remained asleep. Takaba hadn't moved an inch, he still remained in his stable position. Asami quietly made his way over to the night stand where Takaba's phone sat idly.

He found himself checking through the texts, each one reading the same name over and over again. 'Ryuisuke Asami' and whether or not this named prompted jealousy or a past anger, he didn't know. His body began to inwardly shake. After every message he read , his hatred for his brother began to slowly boil over. To think that Takaba might have so easily given himself to someone else, Asami's brother at that…

A grin made way to Asami's lips, a tragic one almost. It was a shame, Asami thought, that Takaba had lost his innocence to someone other than himself and because of that, Asami would make sure Takaba paid, dearly.

Asami had continued to scroll through the messages until finally, he stopped at one that peaked his interest, slightly.

The bullet missed Eiyo's vital points. While the shock it had to his body left a great amount of damage, Eiyo was able to pull through. I know I've told you all of this before….

It went on until Asami placed it back on the desk. He didn't know what to feel, just an odd amount of satisfaction that welled in his chest. He walked over to the bed where Takaba still lay quietly. He bent over slowly and placed hips lips on the surface of Takaba's pale shoulder. Leaving his chaste mark, he stood and left the room, eventually leaving the penthouse.

OoOoOoO

It was the painful dryness in Takaba's throat that woke him that morning. Without even considering his current situation, he ran to the kitchen and quickly fetched himself a glass of water. One glass, and his throat still burned, after another three glasses, he realized that his thirst was finally quenched. He took various deep breaths before taking a look at his surroundings.

He knew he was in Asami's company as the affairs of the previous night left a heavy imprint on his heart, mind, body and soul…but was Asami even at the penthouse? Could it be possible that Asami was still there, stalking Takaba and eying his every move?

The more Takaba thought about that, the more unlikely it seemed. Despite the fact he was away from the older man for months, he still had vivid memory of Asami's routine. He would certainly be at work by now. That meant Takaba was alone, free to do as he pleased. But what advantage did he have? As he thought, the pain from last night was already creeping up on him, he had to lean on to the counter for support to prevent himself from falling and even then, his legs began to buckle underneath him.

The AC had turned on, blowing cool air through the house vents. Takaba found himself blushing when the cold air caressed his exposed skin. Every bruise, scar and other injury rang for a moment in temporary pain. Takaba winced as he slowly wobbled back to the bed room.

The first thing he did was crashed down on the king sized bed. The sheets were still dirty, filled with blood and other liquids. The smell was pungent, causing Takaba's nostrils to flare and his stomach to grow nauseas. He flipped himself over on his back and remained still for a few moments, just attempting to recall the things that had happened to him last night .For one, the bare skin on his rear end was rough and burning. He vaguely remembered Asami hitting or spanking him roughly, reddening his bottom as a sick form of his 'first stage of punishment'. Recalling the events that occurred afterwards made Takaba sick to his stomach.

He grunted, in an awkward way, almost like a child who had been punished by a parent would. Denied his rights and freedom, all he could do was pout. Escape was pointless in his situation, after all, how far was he willing to go only to be captured again?

Takaba had fought, he had fought harder than he ever had before but he lost, and he had lost everything, despite the fact that he had waged nothing. Yes he had Eiyo, and his freedom on one hand, but those were never things he thought he'd ever wage, and now, whether he had or not, they were gone.

Takaba stood and with a challenge, limped to the bathroom. He was in far too much pain to stand and take a shower so immediately, he filled up the marble tub with steaming hot water. As far as soap went, Asami had various kinds, expensive kinds. Takaba took advantage of them, placing them in the water as it filled the tub.

Since he was already naked, he didn't waste time undressing. Takaba quickly turned off the faucet and sank inside the steaming water. At first contact, submerging his whole body in the liquid, his scars throbbed with pain. However, upon settling down and allowing the soaps and ointments to do their job, Takaba felt an overwhelming calm take over him.

For the first time, in a long time, Takaba could ironically, relax. Despite this twisted circumstance he was thrown into, Takaba felt calmer than he had in months.

OoOoOoOo

Asami continued his day as planned, this time with a greater calm about himself. Takaba was secure in his clutches, and his son had surprisingly survived the wound inflicted on him by Keiko. While Asami had no intention of meeting or seeing the boy, the fact that he survived put him at ease. He had hoped for it inwardly, upon hearing that Keiko had shot him. Now he would be alright, and that's all Asami cared about. He wouldn't visit him, or attempt to make up for his lack of positive parental guidance, he didn't really care about that part, he didn't feel it necessary. He didn't see Eiyo as a son, he would never see him as a son, but he would in fact, acknowledge him as a 'fighter', so to speak, an Asami.

Thinking all these things through, Asami supposed he would leave it at that. He had, after all, obtained his goal, and that was getting Takaba.

He would be surprised to see if the photographer had any fight left in him, if he was as brave as he had been months ago, daring to take his freedom.

If he had any fight in him, any will to escape, Asami would surely break him. He would not let his prized possession escape him again.

OoOoOoOo

Takaba had eventually changed into some pants and a T-Shirt. Surprisingly, his clothes still sat neatly folded in one of the room drawers, as if he had never left. A lot of Takaba's things actually stayed the same, and looking around the penthouse, seeing how sacred his things were to Asami, Takaba began to feel sorry for the older man. It was like Takaba was a memory he couldn't let go.

Takaba's phone had remained silent for a few moments on the night stand, not once did he attempt to use it. He saw this as a test, perhaps Asami wanted to know just how far he'd go to obtain his freedom yet again.

Takaba spent most of his free time making routine meals for himself and regretfully, washing the bed sheets. He didn't want to resolve to cleaning however he really had nothing to do to pass time.

OoOoOoO

Asami came home late that night and from the living room, he could already see the bedroom light shining down the hallway which meant Takaba was awake. Without wasting too much time, Asami quickly walked in the room. Takaba sat there on the bed adding some final touches to the sheets. He seemed rather surprised when Asami entered the dimly lit room, there was even an ounce of fear in his eyes.

Asami only greeted him with a smile.

"And how is my kitten?" He asked in a mocking tone.

Takaba didn't say anything, he only had his back turned towards Asami as he continued to put the pillow cases on the pillows. Asami grunted before roughly yanking Takaba up by the arm forcing their eyes to meet. "I asked you a question Akihito. Was your punishment from last night not enough to teach you respect?"

And at that comment, Takaba paled a bit. "I'm just tired…" His voice was quite shaky and his eyes were pleading. Asami's smile broadened.

"Tired?" He repeated, using his free hand to stroke the side of Takaba's cheek. The photographer found himself attempting to look away, only to be forced to stare in the eyes of his captor.

"Are you afraid of me, Akihito?" The question added a terrible amount of tension to the moment as both men stared contempt in each other's eyes.

"No." Takaba lied and had no idea why he had said that. It even seemed as if Asami was surprised by his answer. "I'm not afraid of you." There was obvious fear in his voice yet he tried to retain that assertiveness he held just months ago. All Asami could do was laugh, his attempt was so feeble it was pathetic.

He bent down and roughly smashed his lips upon Takaba's and much to his pleasure, the younger man tried to resist immediately. A grin formed on his lips as he broke the kiss quickly bringing his teeth towards Takaba's ear. When he bit down, the photographer yelped but he didn't dare try to push Asami away, he waited until he was finally released. Asami still didn't let him go, in fact, he held a firm grip on his shoulders, his lips still hovered by Takaba's ear.

"You will fear me." He whispered in an insidious tone. "Do not forget that you have disobeyed me, you have shamed me…your punishment is far from over." And within seconds, he had knocked Takaba backwards and pinned him on the bed.

"Asami…please…not again!" Last night flashed through Takaba's mind and that same sickening feeling returned to his stomach.

"Did it hurt, Akihito?" Asami asked, squeezing his thin wrists. "Did it scare you that your screams, cries and pleas meant nothing to me?"

Takaba stared up at him with large watery, pleading eyes. "Asami…" He whispered. "Please…this isn't you…" The words had fixed themselves upon Takaba's lips automatically as he let another part of his body take over him. He had given up a long time ago, he was done fighting, but apparently, there was something still pushing him, something that wouldn't let him give up so easily. He looked into Asami's golden eyes, remembering all those years ago, the man he loved, the man whom actually grew to love him back. Before this mess, before Keiko…the times when it was just the two of them. Takaba felt his heart warm.

Asami stared down at Takaba, with a new expression on his face. Neither anger nor malice, just pure confusion.

"I…I've missed you Asami….the old you…" Takaba's eyes were sealed shut as tears streamed down his cheeks. He didn't want to look at Asami at the moment as he had no idea what he was doing. "Please…please…please…come back to me, the real you!" He begged silently. "We can work this out…I loved you…and I still do_"

"Shut the hell up." Asami's deep voice crushed Takaba's soul like a cleaver to meat. His eyes instantly shot open as he looked into the golden eyes of his lover. "Do you think I'd believe you for a second? You'd spit out any lies to save your own ass wouldn't you?" And then, he came down upon Takaba, his lips brushing the photographer's delicate neck. "But you didn't beg like this when my brother fucked you, did you?"

"That's not what happened_"

"Save your voice…" Asami sneered. "I don't want to hear another word from you tonight_"

"Then please just listen to me_"

"Akihito." There was fury radiating from those words, fury that caused Takaba to lose any wit he previously had. He remained silent that night as again, Asami pounded him and like a dog in heat, Takaba took it without a word or resistance. That night, Asami didn't force Takaba to struggle or to scream, in fact, the whole intercourse was rather silent.

The two just made quiet eye contact with each other. Takaba bit his lip to avoid yelping, he only stared into the bright golden orbs of his estranged lover. There were many things he could've thought of that night but the only thing that riddled his mind was the fact that Asami looked so much like Eiyo. Unsurprisingly, that brought a great amount of comfort to him.

OoOoOo

Takaba figured Asami didn't have work the next morning because when he woke, he was in the arms of the older man. Takaba sat up slowly, silently awaiting the shock of pain from last night to hit him. When it did, Takaba only found himself gritting his teeth. It left pretty soon after. He then sat in the bed quietly, feeling himself tenderly around his body, as not to irritate his damages any further.

Next to him, Asami still remained asleep almost as if Takaba wasn't there. For the first time in a long time, Takaba found himself looming over Asami as he slept. He took in Asami's beautifully chiseled features, and watched as his bare chest went up and down with every breath that he took. He still looked as godlike as ever, and it wasn't a surprise that age hadn't touched him. Takaba found his fingers slowly hovering above Asami's pale skin.

With this strange new curiosity set in, he couldn't stop himself from caressing that skin he had grown to miss so much with the tip of his fingers. Asami was a tough sleeper, so he didn't stir as Takaba touched him. He moved his fingers to Asami's face, and then undoubtingly, to Asami's soft brown hair. With his fingers intertwined in the dark brunette locks, Takaba paused.

He wore a face of sympathy as he gazed over his beautiful lover, almost yearning for their relationship to be different. But Asami was Asami and when he had his mind set on something he most likely achieved it.

Takaba knew that his life in hell was far from over but perhaps he could make his time somewhat bearable.

OoOoOo

When Asami woke up to clean himself, he noticed that Takaba was gone.

Hauling himself to the bathroom, Asami stepped in the shower and turned on the water. Despite the warm water that poured down upon his back, he felt unnaturally cold, he almost felt sick. He thought of what Takaba said the night before, how serious and desperate he was. At the time, Asami allowed his vision to be clouded with anger and pointless jealousy, but now as he reflected on the incident, Asami slowly began to feel guilty.

He knew his love for Takaba would only result in a negative outcome but never, as he looked at the situation from his own logical perspective, did he want it to go this far. He fell in love with Takaba for his wit and bravery, and now, he was fucking those very things out of his kitten. He smiled at the sickening irony of the situation as the water ran down his face like warm tears.

Perfect, divine, flawless Asami had made a mistake, the biggest mistake of his life and now, he had gone too far to even attempt to fix it.

OoOoOoOo

Asami came downstairs fully dressed.

He nearly had a heart attack when he saw a plate sitting on the table. "Breakfast is ready…" Takaba called from the sitting room quickly standing up. He walked towards Asami. "It's probably cold so you might want to heat it up_"

"I can't eat. I have somewhere to be." Asami's response was quick as he stared down at Takaba. What is he trying to play at? He thought, crossing his arms.

"I never slept with your brother." Takaba approached Asami and then looked up at him with stern eyes. "I just wanted to clear that up."

Asami didn't say anything, he only grunted and turned around. Before too long, he had left Akihito standing there in the penthouse alone.

OoOoOo

Takaba saw Asami that morning before he left. He saw how troubled he looked, as if something was bothering him, he almost looked sick.

Takaba had the sudden urge to chase him and demand an explanation but at that moment it would've been uncalled for. Had his words last night actually gotten to Asami, was that why he was so quiet? Takaba didn't know if that was it exactly, but he figured he was making some progress at least.

It was hard for him to do it, to put everything in the past that had happened behind him and try to make things better, but he had to. He didn't have anywhere else to go and there was no chance that he'd escape or anyone would rescue him.

Now he had a lot of things to deal with. Asami just happened to be one of those things.

So…I've got this parade to march at…and it's gonna be fun. I hope. It's the Cinco de Mayo parade, and Cinco de Mayo from what I know is the celebration of Mexican Independence. I like this Holiday but my personal favorite has to be Dios de los Muertes (Day of the Dead). Ha…if only I could speak Spanish (well I can, but not fluently). Anyway, overall my day was good, well my friend ate my pancakes this mornig because they looked real.

On to the chapter…well, there is a lot going on obviously between Takaba and Asami, they're having personality changes as something actually exists now. Takaba is trying to take the first steps to mending whatever they have as he even attempts to bring things back to normal by cooking breakfast.Oh! And I you haven't already, add me on live journal. And I have an idea for an original story coming out, so…the summary is on LJ. You can read it and tell me what to think. By the way, if you're a writer of original fiction…do you mind giving me some tips. I am kind of new to this…being seventeen and I really have no idea how to really…start an original novel, I have the plot summary, the character lists (I've drawn the characters,) I just would like some guidelines from a published author.

Anyway let's pray for:

South Korea, Russia, the Ukaraine and MH370, and all the other worldy issues. And I also pray that others are recognized and aren't constantly run over by others who are 'better' than them. Not just on fanficion, but in the real world. I pray that everyone has a chance to prove themselves to at least someone.

Lastly.

I don't own Finder Series.

God Bless.

Peace out Homies!

Feliz Cinco de Mayo!