Contract 11: Hours of Abyss 5

The first thing Akihito recognizes when he open his eyes are white ceiling of the hospital. Though the lights are dim, it only cause his head to pound even more. He sound of machines beeping ring louder with every beep. Akihito felt numb.

"Everything hurts...!" He thought as he groan.

Especially the area around his chest - there's nothing but sharp pain there. As though someone had dig into his flesh raw. Then he couldn't help but wonder why he is at a hospital or in pain. Ah, that's right, he was shot. That realization wash away the blur and he saw that standing to his right is Asami.

"A-Asami," he said with his hoarse voice.

His throat felt so dry it hurts. Akihito try to talk only to realized that he has an oxygen mask on so mouth movement was kept to a minimum. He try to take it off, but every movement cause him to writh in pain. He wince.

"Don't move," said Asami.

Akihito's eyes began to tear up. Even his groan was loud enough to surprise Asami. "My chest really h-hurts."

"Enough, don't move."

Asami gently grab ahold of Akihito's hand and caress the back of it. He comb his hand through Akihito's disheveled hair. Though he would never admit it aloud (especially to Asami), Akihito knew he had always love the feeling of Asami's big hands. It brings him comfort naturally. He eases into its warmth and the pain, too, dull. Akihito was aware that Asami is gentle with him. Though it's new and inviting to him, he knew he shouldn't get used to it.

He took the hand that stroke his hair and place it against his cheek. He lean into it with his eyes closed.

"Asami, are you angry?" He ask softly.

Asami remove his hand from Akihito's face and turn to walk towards the door. There stood Suoh and Kirishima as they emerge from the dark corner. Akihito was totally unaware their presence. Kirishima walk forward with a coat in hand and hand it to Asami for him to put on.

"We'll talk tomorrow," he said before he left with Kirishima behind him.

Once again, Akihito is dumbfounded.

"He's not angry," Suoh begin, "frustrated is more like it."

"Still, he didn't have to leave like that," Akihito try not to pout, but he does wear his heart on his sleeve. He shows his emotions too easily.

"That's because he has an appointment to go to. Asami-sama is a busy man, especially after the ruckus caused by Koizumi Ichirou," Suoh inform hoping his boss' lover would understand.

Of course, he wouldn't miss Suoh's implication. It was partly his fault and Akihito understood his place completely. He is in no position to make demands of Asami after the trouble he caused. Thus, he stay complacent. For now anyway.

"Yeah, yeah. Whatever-"

Before Akihito can finish his sentence, he hear shouts and punches being thrown just outside his room. Signs of struggles were obvious. This alert Suoh who grab his gun from the holster of his chest. He slowly walk toward the door and listen in.

"Hey, let me in! My friend is in there! You bastards!" The voice of a man said.

Suoh slowly crack the door open just big enough for him to stand there. In front of him is the scene of his two colleagues restraining a man no younger than 25. Souh saw how their clothes are disorganized and blood trail the men's faces (from being punched perhaps). He could conclude that the man put up a good fight against his boss' best guards. Of course, this cause him to more wary of the unexpected guest. Suoh hide his gun out of plain sight. He place his finger on the trigger (for good measure).

"And you are?" Suoh ask.

"I'm Akihito's friend. I came to visit him, but these guys won't let me in!"

"A friend?"

"Yeah, the name's Shuji. You can even ask him yourself!"

Suoh glare at the man known as Shuji with suspicion, but nevertheless turn to Akihito. "Takaba, a man goes by Shuji claims that he is your friend and is here for a visit."

"Shuji?! Don't you dare hurt him! Let him in," Akihito exclaim.

"Fine. But only for a bit."

Suoh turn to his colleague and said, "let him go."

They did as they were told, but they weren't being gentle either and push him away. Suoh place the hand that has the gun behind his back and open the door wider to let Akihito's guest in. Shuji glare at him before making a beeline for his friend. Suoh was unfazed. He closed the door and stay on watch from afar.

Shuji gently tackle his friend with a hug. "Akihito, you idiot! Don't you know how to make a phone call? You didn't show up to work for days so I thought you were dead...!"

Akihito hugs him back though it was an awkward one given how he was unable to get up. "Sorry for worrying you. I'll make it up to you, okay?"

They way Akihito is so laid back about his own situation makes him all the more vexed. But he couldn't hit a patient, now could he?

"But seriously, how you get hurt so bad?"

"Well, y'know when on a job, anything could happen..."

Akihito glance at Suoh as if to ask for privacy, but he simply shake his head no. Honestly, it wasn't an answer that Akihito hadn't expected. But he did try.

"You're really something else."

Shuji then lean in to whisper, "by the way, who are those men? They're very disagreeable people. Are they holding you hostage?"

"No, of course not. These men are...er...working for an associate of mine," he lie.

But how could he tell his friend that he's the lover of Japan's most notorious underworld figure? Not only that, the men that Shuji is referring to are Asami Ryuichi's men. They're also his temporary bodyguards. How the hell would he explain that to him? Even if he could, that'll put Shuji in danger for knowing alone. So he rather keep him in the dark.

"Are you sure?"

"Y-Yeah. You don't have to worry. See? I'm fine."

"You're fine now. But what would happen if you get shot again?"

Suoh perk up at Shuji's question. After all, he has been listening closely to their conversation for a reason. "Excuse me," Suoh said as he excuse himself to a dark corner. He dial that one number he's knows by heart and wait as it ring. It didn't take long for the other line to pick up.

"Asami."

"Asami-sama, there's a friend of Takaba's who visited..." Suoh inform right away.

"A friend?"

"Yes, I believe his name is Shuji. It seem he is Takaba's coworker..." he said as he watch Akihito and his friend chatting away.

"I see," Asami hum, "but you didn't call just to tell me that, did you?"

"No, sir. But I am curious about something and I am sure that it's also in your best interest."

"Oh?"

Suoh begin to explain his finding and Asami listen with interest. After all, Suoh's theory has its point and would be waste not to consider it the least. There's no validation to it just yet, but it wouldn't hurt to look into it either. The chance Suoh is right is high.

"...Do you want me to keep an eye on him?" He finish.

"Do that. Also..."

"Yes...yes...of course, Asami-sama."

Suoh tuck his phone away. He look up to see Akihito and his friend bid their goodbyes.

"I'll see you later, Akihito," Shuji said as he tousle Akihito's hair in an affectionate manner.

"Yeah, see you."

Suoh open the door for Shuji who simply glare at him and walks off. He paid no mind to that. The guards outside were met with a different fate; Shuji gave them looks full of hostility and stomps on their foot hard before he run for it. Who could resist the opportunity after the rough 'welcome' they gave him? The men try not to howl from the assault. Suoh just shake his head and shut the door.

"Is he gone?"

"Yes."

"Good," Akihito said with relief. "I was so nervous..."

"And why is that?"

"Can you sit down first if you want to have a conversation? It's a little rude," Akihito glare at said man.

Suoh sit in the chair besides Akihito's bed that his friend has occupied awhile ago. He patiently wait for Akihito to continue.

"He pester me with many questions about my involvement with 'bad men' like you guys and my wound," he begin,"Of course, I lie. As his friend, I would hate for him to get involve...But your men went and manhandle him..."

"Your friend seems like an interesting person. Are you two close?" Suoh ask and ignore the last statement pointed at him including Akihito's glare of hostility.

"Of course!" Akihito said proudly like a parent showing off their son, "We work best in pairs. He's good at gathering informations which comes in handy. How do you think I was able to get ahold of that recording that I emailed to Asami? Not even my company's network and connections could acquire information that Liu Fei Long is involve. But Shuji did."

Suoh take a mental note. "Did you two work together throughout the entire investigation?"

"Not really. Shuji usually just give me details and stay behind and I would run about to confirm it by taking pictures. You could say he's the brain and I am the brawn."

"I see."

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It was around dinner time when he wakes up from his little nap. Akihito yawn and attempt to not stretch per his body condition.

"You're awake," he hear the familiar voice of Suoh greeted him.

"Yeah and I'm hungry..." he yawn once again.

It has been three days since he last seen Asami or had a guest over. Not that he mind. It's nice to be alone once in a while especially without a crime lord pester him for sex all the time. But at the same time he misses Asami - his voice, his touch and every annoying thing that comes with Asami. Though it's not like he'll admit it to anybody but himself.

"Room service should be here any minute now," Suoh inform.

Akihito just nods and was about to fall asleep again when

"Room service!" can be heard outside the door.

Suoh open the door and carefully let a man with chef uniform in. He quietly inspect the man for any sign of suspicion. The man wheel in a large cart full of food. He place a tray with stainless cover in front of him. The man bow and quietly take his leave.

Before Akihito could even get a chance to be excited about his food, something fly out as he take the cover off. More specially, a white envelop. Suoh pick up with suspicion before he handed over to Akihito who open it.

Akihito receive a letter. Well, more like a death threat that says:

Die Takaba Akihito