A/N: We just couldn't help ourselves.
DISCLAIMER: I do not own Finder or any of the cannon characters, this is purely just a work of fiction. This is my first fanfiction, so be gentle but comments are appreciated! If you like, please leave comments and Kudos! Chapter Text
Chapter 10
Fei Long was not happy. Scratch that, he was furious. It had been over a month without a word from Akihito. No texts, emails, videos calls…nothing! The Baishe leader suspected Asami had something to do with it, so of course he had to pack his things and take the first plane to Japan available. That brings us to now, with Fei outside Asami's office with a very flustered Kirishima trying to pull him back. Every word the Japanese man said went through one ear and out the other as he gracefully swung the door open.
"Asami! I demand to know why you've been keeping Akihito from me!" He announced demandingly to the man sitting at his desk as he strode over.
"Excuse me?" Asami raised an eyebrow, and Fei could clearly see the crimelord's irritation with his presence.
"Our Akihito, you've been keeping him from me you stingy old bastard! He hasn't answered any of my emails, calls, or texts!"
"Our Akihito? Just who do you think you are to think I would share him with anyone, let alone scum such as yourself?"
Fei scoffed, dramatically flipping his long black hair behind his shoulder. "Akihito doesn't see me as scum, he likes me. And here I thought you actually respected his opinions and choices. Imagine how upset he'll be when I go inform his beloved Asami has been both blocking contact to, and insulted his friend!"
Golden eyes flashed with rage, the murderous look sending chills down Fei's spine. In a flash Asami had raised his gun, pointing it directly at Fei. Without hesitation, the Chinese man raised his own.
"What a temper Asami! How is it we always find ourselves in this position? Guns pointed but with no real intention of pulling the trigger."
"You have no idea what you're talking about! If all you've come to do is waste my time with idiotic accusations and threats, then get the hell out of my office!"
Fei paused, his smile falling from his face. Something was definitely wrong. Asami never went off the handle like that. The only thing he could think of that would have Asami so vulnerable was the one thing they mutually cared for.
"What's happened? Where's Akihito?"
"Did you not hear me? Get out!"
"Not happening on your life. Tell me, Asami. What's wrong with him?"
"It's none of your business what's wrong or not wrong with him!" Asami snapped.
"Stop being such a damn selfish bastard and tell me! I care about Akihito just as you do! He's a very cherished friend of mine!" Fei snapped right back.
Instead of further arguing like Fei had expected, Asami closed his eyes and lowered the gun. Fei complied to do the same. The older man let out a long sigh.
"There's no helping it. You're not going to leave until you know and Akihito would never forgive me if I put a bullet into you, though I don't see why." Asami took a sip of whiskey.
"Well I'm glad we understand one another. Now tell me."
"Kei will explain everything while he drives you to him. As much as I hate it, seeing you will brighten his day. But do know I have eyes everywhere, so the moment you do something unseemly to my Kitten I will know about it and you'll have a bullet through your skull."
"Creepily noted." Fei said, giving a casual wave of the hand as he walked out of the office.
Fei exited the elevator, his long hair flowing elegantly behind him. His expression was troubled as he went over in his head all the information Kirishima had given him on the ride over. He was sure he didn't know everything, but he knew enough. Akihito has stomach cancer, went through a serious surgery to remove a large tumor, and now was taking treatments since he recovered from his surgery.
Briskly he walked down the hall, looking at the room numbers in search of Aki's. From behind him he heard a tiny gasp, prompting the beautiful man to turn his head to glance behind him. Brown eyes fell on a little girl with a hairless head dressed in a colorful hospital gown. She was peeking out from behind a wall. Looking up some, he saw a sign that said "Children's Cancer Ward" With his expression softening, Fei was about to say something to her, but looking back down he saw she was gone. He could hear a soft patter of feet running away down that hallway. Shy?
Shaking his head, Fei continued his quest of finding the photographer's room. Another turn and he knew immediately which room it was. Obviously it was the one with that freaky guard in front of it. The guard, who Fei soon remembered to be Rin, opened his mouth wide as if to start speaking in that unnaturally loud voice of his, but then closed it some.
"Fei-Sama, I've been informed by Suoh that Asami-Sama gives you his clear permission to enter!"
The Chinese man nodded, walking past. He considered knocking, but was too impatient to go through with that notion. So he pushed right on through, putting on a cheerful face to greet the blonde, sick boy. He would be damned if his visit was anything but uplifting for Aki.
"Akihito!~ I've come all the way from Hong Kong just to see you!~" He called out as he pushed the door open. That cheerful look disappeared from his face rather quickly.
Akihito stood outside the bathroom door, his entire body shaking with heartbreaking sobs. I one hand the boy held a hairbrush and in the other clumps of blonde hair. Fei hurried forward, wrapping his arms around the smaller man.
Fei felt Aki stiffen, but in a matter of seconds the Baishe leader felt weak arms wrap around him along with hearing the hairbrush drop to the floor. Akihito's face hid into Fei's shoulder as the boy cried quietly. Has he always been so thin? I feel like I'm going to break him if I squeeze too hard.
The sight was just too much to take. Fei had never seen this boy break down, not even after all he regrettably did to him back in Hong Kong a few years prior. Now here they were, Akihito having what Fei could only assume was one of many breakdowns he must have had in the last month. If only he had known sooner what was going on he would have dropped everything and come to help.
"Shh…it's okay." Fei said soothingly, though admittedly a little awkwardly.
"N-No it's not! I-It's all falling out! My hair…"
"It's just hair, Aki. It's all going to be fine. It will grow back." He assured.
"You don't understand! I love my hair! I dye it every month, I buy special shampoo for it that Asami loves, and I style it every morning! N-Now look! It's all falling out in these huge awful clumps!"
"Aki, your hair will grow back. This isn't permanent. Everything is going to be okay."
"No it's not! You don't understand! I'm losing everything! Food doesn't taste good anymore and it makes me sick! I feel so weak and I drop everything! I can't even hold a fucking cup on my own some days! Fuck I can't even go home! And now this?! Why is everything being taken from me?!"
"Shh…I know, I know. None of this is fair, you don't deserve this. But Aki, Precious, it' just hair. You can't let it bring you down, just see it for being what it is. It's hair. "
The boy's sobs only grew. "It's not just hair! You of all people should understand! A-And Asami...why would he still want me?! If I already feel ugly, then he definitely is going to see me like that too, and I can't take that!"
"Akihito, you listen to me and listen well. You are beautiful with or without your hair. And do you really think Asami gives a shit about that? The stubborn bastard who came all the way to Hong Kong to save you while severely wounded? The overprotective asshole that threatened to shoot me an hour ago if I did anything to hurt you? Yeah, no. He doesn't." Or else he better not!
"Y-You just don't understand!" Aki's shoulders began to shake violently.
Fei paused, staring down at the blonde head on his shoulder. Gently, he pushed the boy away, grabbing out one of his many knives. Fei locked eyes with the teary-eyed Akihito as he pulled all of his hair around to the front. Raising the knife, he sliced through his hair in one fluid motion. Blue eyes widened to the size of dinner saucers as Fei's long black locks fell and scattered to the floor.
"Oh my god! Fei, what are you doing?!" Aki screeched.
"Akihito, calm down. Look: It's just hair. It's going to grow back." Fei said smoothly.
Aki began to cry harder. "What have you done?! Fei your beautiful hair!"
"What about it? It's going to grow back. Hair is just hair, Aki. It doesn't matter." Fei said, taking the blonde's hand, "Now come on, let's go talk to one of the nurses to get us an electric shaver. I'll shave you if you shave me." Fei wagged his eyebrows, making Aki giggle a bit through his tears.
The photographer didn't know what to say as Fei pulled him out of the room. All he could do was follow, staring at the back of the taller's head, still shocked over what just happened.
"Are you sure about this Fei?"
The Chinese man rolled his eyes, a smile twisting onto his face. Fei sat crossed legged on the uncomfortable hospital chair he had dragged out to the center of the room. In Akihito's shaking hand was an electric shaver.
"Of course I am, Precious. Just start when you feel ready and afterwards I'll shave you." Fei said coolly.
Fei heard the blonde sigh from behind him before he felt fingers move through his now chin length locks. Then he heard the buzz of the electric shaver approach, and he squeezed his eyes shut despite himself. Even though he was more than happy to do this Aki, it was still hard for him. Though knowing that if he looked even a little upset about this Akihito would stop, he willed his eyes open. He did this just in time to see his hair falling to the ground around him. Huh…this isn't so bad.
"Hey Fei…thank you…for you know…stuff."
Fei chuckled. "Don't mention it. Really I was needing a change in my life anyway. The same hairstyle for so long is boring. Besides, shorter hairstyles are in right now I hear."
"Bullshit. I know how much you care about your hair. You did this just to be a good friend."
"Perhaps, but I don't regret it. And I won't come to regret it as long as you get better. If you don't then I'll blame you for a lifelong regret."
Akihito snorted. "That's not exactly something I can control, but I can assure you I'm not trying to die."
"Well as long as you're trying to live then I'll have faith in your abilities. Now, let's change the subject. I'm sure there is something you wish to talk about." Fei felt the shaver going around his ears, making him a little nervous, but Akihito was careful with his movements.
"Actually I was curious of something. Didn't you bring Tao and Yoh with you? Where are they?"
"Oh….they'll be here soon. I had to leave them in Hong Kong."
"How come? It's not like it would be the first time you brought them along on a last minute trip."
Fei pursed his lips for a moment before speaking. "I couldn't get more than one ticket."
"Ticket?! Fei, you have your own freaking jet!"
"I do, but I had to come incognito. If I didn't then Asami would have known the moment I landed in Japan and we both know how that would end."
The photographer giggled. "You flew with normal people? Wearing that?"
"Yes, I rode with commoners. And now that you mention it…people were staring."
"There's no doubt they were! You look like a freaking celebrity, if not royalty in that fancy cheongsam!"
"Oh my dear Akihito, this is no way fancy. This is my casual wear." Fei said, looking down at his clothing with obvious confusion. I thought I toned it down quite a bit with this one…
Akihito scoffed from behind him. "Of course it is. I'm done, by the way." As the boy said this he switched off the shaver.
Fei felt the smaller boy brush the last bit of hair off of him, tickling his neck. Standing up, Fei gestured to the chair with one hand while holding the other out for the shaver. Akihito passed it over and walked around. The blonde paused, his look thoughtful, before he smiled.
"You still look good, Fei. Hair down to your ass or not you're still beautiful," Aki said with a little giggle, "Just like a woman."
"Of course I'm still beautiful, just as you will be, Precious."
Aki looked a little uncomfortable as he sat down in the chair. "Why do you call me that? I mean…you know I don't feel for you in that way…what so ever. We're friends…"
"I know that, and to be frank I don't think I have those feelings for you either anymore. I call you that as I call Tao that, only because you are someone I hold precious to me. You are Akihito Takaba, my most dearest and precious friend." My only friend.
The boy seemed pleased by this answer.
"Oh, well then its fine I guess."
"Plus it pisses Asami off."
"Oh my god! I knew there was a dirty reason! You and he are one in the same!"
"I take offense to that! I am nothing like that sex addicted asshat lover of yours!" Fei said in a jokingly offended tone as he shaved the boy's head.
"Alright, fine. Maybe not exactly the same."
"Thank you! I mean, I'm much more enjoyable to be around."
"But you're both dirty perverts who don't know the word no, plus you're both total possessive pricks." Fei scoffed and reached around the thump the boy's nose.
"And you are a little cheeky brat." Akihito giggled again and stuck out his tongue.
"It's only the truth! Though I will give you one thing, you're a lot more fun to joke around with."
"Let me guess, you only get met with "I'll have to punish you for that later, Kitten" Fei said in an over exaggerated Asami impression that made Aki burst into adorable laughter. You liked that, huh? Fei was of course obliged to continue.
"Look at me, big scary Asami! I don't know what jokes are so I have to show everyone the stick in my ass when they try to mess around me! You want something? Well kiss my pistol and I might consider it, peasant!" Akihito was dying from hysterical laughter.
"That's totally him!"
Fei switched off the shaver as he finished, and was about to go on to coax more laughter from the sick boy when he heard a deep, unamused voice stop him.
"I can see you two are having fun." Asami's voice boomed. Fei looked up to be meet the golden, glaring eyes staring intimidatingly at him.
Akihito's laughter immediately was silenced, and Fei could tell just from his body language that the photographer felt guilty.
"Of course we're having fun, we are joking about you after all." Fei said with a smirk.
"H-How long have you been standing there, Asami?" Akihito asked nervously.
"Oh I've been standing here since Fei got offended."
Fei walked around just in time to see Aki's face light up bright red. "So you heard it all?"
"That I did, Kitten." Asami said, but his expression softened when he actually seemed to notice what was going on. Took you long enough.
Sighing softly, Fei turned to Aki and smiled. "I'm going to head over and get settled into my hotel room. I'll bring Tao over tomorrow once him and Yoh land."
"Okay Fei…I'll see you tomorrow then. Thank you again." Akihito said in a soft voice. He definitely looked happier than when he had arrived, which made Fei consider this a successful visit.
As he walked past Asami, he felt a large, strong hand grip his upper arm. Fei glanced over at the taller man out of the corner of his eye.
"I'll walk you out." Asami said, opening the door for the two of them.
"Asami, don't be an ass to him!"
"Don't worry about me, Precious. I can handle myself. If he tries anything then I'll kick his ass."
Fei grinned when he heard laughter erupt from his favorite little photographer, but that grin faltered when the grip on his arm tightened. Alright you bastard, I'm coming. He stepped outside, the door shutting behind.
"Alright, let me go." Fei tried to yank his arm away, but the grip only tightened.
"You want me to do something? Then kiss my pistol, peasant." Asami said mockingly. Fei gave him a dirty look. "What? Does the stick up my ass offend you?"
"Oh shut up. That was hilarious and you know it."
Asami rolled his eyes and finally let go of Fei's arm. "You know, I've killed people for less."
"And you know I don't care. We've both killed people for little reason." Asami scoffed at this.
"Well, I must admit…It was nice to hear my Akihito laugh for real. It's been a while since he's done that." Did he just thank me? It was weird, but it was definitely a "thank you" in asshat language. How delightfully interesting.
"Oh I agree, it was nice to hear our Akihito's laughter."
Asami frowned, glaring. "Are you trying to make me angry?"
"What, me? Does that sound like something I would do?" All he received was an irritated look. "Fine, I'll stop. Now get back in there before I decide to stick around longer just to bother you."
The crimelord waited until Fei turned around to walk back into Aki's room. Always so untrusting, Asami. Still refuse to turn your back to anyone, huh? Smart.
Fei just grinned a bit as he headed back down the path towards the elevator. As he neared the turn, he could hear small sobs. Furrowing his eyebrow, he quickened his pace 'til he got to the corner, and there he turned to the direction of the crying. Fei's eyes fell upon the child from before, she looked to be six or seven now that he could really look, crying her eyes out.
The Baishe leader bent down to the little girl's height, putting a kind look on his face as he used to do when his Tao was younger. Little kids were so easy to scare. Fei reached a hand out and gently touched her shoulder. Her head jerked up in response, and as soon as she looked at him she began sobbing harder. What did I do?
"Hey sweetie, what's wrong? Have I done something to upset you?" He asked in a quiet voice. She nodded violently.
"What have I done?" She pointed to his head.
"Y-You're pretty hair is gone!" Ah, so that's what this is about.
"You're right, it is. I shaved it to help a very good friend of mine."
"B-But I really wanted to braid it! It was so pretty!" She rubbed her eyes pitifully. "I-I wish I had pretty hair like that…B-But my hair is all gone! And now so is yours!"
"That's true, but you want to know something?"
"Wuh-What?"
"Our hair is going to grow back. Yours and mine. Then we will both have our pretty hair again. Though I'm positive yours will be prettier than mine."
The little girl had a mix of shock and excitement written all over her face. Apparently she hadn't realized her hair was indeed going to grow back. Poor child. She giggled a bit as she rubbed her eyes again with her tiny fists.
"Nuh-uh! Yours is much prettier! You're just so prettyful!"
"I definitely appreciate the compliment, but you are definitely more so." Fei said, alighting more laughter from the girl, "Now sweetie, what's your name?"
"M-My name?"
"Yes dear, your name. If it makes you feel better I'll let you know mine first. My name is Lui Fei Long, but you sweet angel can just call me Fei."
She smiled a little. "K-Kiyomi…my name is Kiyomi."
"Kiyomi? Such a lovely name for a lovely princess. Well, I think I know just what you need to make you feel all better."
"What's that?"
He pointed down the hall he had just previously been. "You know the room I was at before? I know for certain the boy in there has snacks and games. If you just knock on the door and ask, I'm more than certain he will share with you. Plus it will make his day." Fei winked at the little girl.
"Y-You mean the boy who has the funny man outside his door?"
"That's the one."
"But….he always has lots of people going in and out, especially the scary man with the pretty eyes. I-I don't want to bother him…" Kiyomi mumbled.
"Oh trust me, you will be anything but a bother. And stop mumbling, it's unbecoming of such a "prettyful" little princess such as yourself. Now go on."
Fei saw a bright light in those little chocolate brown eyes as she ran off to Akihito's room. The man watched until he saw she was let into the room by a confused Asami, and only then did he stand and brush himself off. Time to go to the hotel.
/Sir, we have landed and are on our way to the hotel/
"Fei-Sama, who did this to you?!" Tao yelled after standing open mouthed for a comically long time.
"Calm down Tao, this was something I wanted to do. No one did anything to me."
"Oh…then I guess it's okay as long as it was something Fei-Sama wanted!" The boy decided, relaxing.
As Fei turned around to speak to the ever silent Yoh, he jumped at the sudden loud laughter booming from behind him. Turning on his heel, he looked in surprise at the doubled over Tao. He gave the boy an annoyed look.
"Tao, what is so funny that you have to laugh so obnoxiously loud?"
"S-Sorry Fei-Sama! But who shaved your head?!"
"Who? Akihito did." Hearing this, Tao's laughter renewed.
"Aki got you good sir! He really got you!"
Fei's eyebrows furrowed. 'What are you talking about?"
"Hehe, let me borrow your phone please and I'll show you!" Confused, the Baishe leader took out his phone and passed it over.
Tao walked around behind the Chinese man, snapped a picture with the phone's camera. A moment later the boy was shoving the cell back into Fei's hand. Looking at the screen, Fei's teeth began to grit, his free hand clenching into a tight fist. Shaven into the back of his head, down near his hair line, was "Made in China."
"Kitten, you are so in trouble." Asami mused as Aki's phone rang.
The young photographer giggled, watching the television screen as little Kiyomi battled Rin on Mario Kart.
"I know!~ But it was so worth it!" Aki chirped, answering the phone when it got to the last ring. He put it on speaker.
"Hello?~"
"YOU BRAT! How could you do that?! We were having a moment and you ruined it with "made in China?!"
"Whaaaat?~ It's true!"
"It's not funny Akihito! I walked to my hotel with that on the back of my head!" Akihito snorted.
"Oh come on, it was too funny!"
"I trusted you, you little brat! And then that bastard of a-"Asami cut him off as Rin dropped the Wii controller to cover Kiyomi's ears.
"There is a child in the room, Fei. Language."
"Don't you "language" me you asshat! Why didn't you warn me?!"
Aki grinned as he watched Asami snicker. "Because it was amusing to know you would be stared at while walking the streets of Tokyo."
"You know what? You're both evil jerks!"
"Aw, does that mean you aren't coming to see me tomorrow?" Aki asked innocently.
There was a long silence followed by a sigh. "I didn't say that, you brat. But that doesn't mean I'm forgi-"
"Aw thanks for forgiving me Fei! I'll see you tomorrow! Bye!" Aki chirped quickly into the phone, not letting he man on the other line talk before hanging up. Akihito was grinning as he looked over to see his lover shaking his head.
"You really are a brat."
"Oh trust me, I know."
