The day of the photo shoot

Takaba had to look his best today, the day he met Misha Yatatashi. He gathered his gear and headed to meet Kou who he had said was his assistant.

"Wow Aki, I can't believe it," Kou said as the entered the hotel glancing all around the massive elegant lobby.

Takaba rolled his eyes at his friend. He had a feeling that Kou would embarrass him and he was right. The man was practically drooling and he hadn't even seen her yet.

"Ah, Mr. Takaba," said the American man who greeted them when they entered the suite.

"It's just Aki. And this is Kou, my assistant I told you about."

"Yes, of course. I am Raymond, Misha's PR person. The other members of your team are here and have set up the equipment for lighting and such."

"Thanks." Takaba said and went into the large living area of the suite.

"Hello Aki," Said Misha as she stood and strolled over to him and Kou. She glanced at Kou whose eyes were about to pop out of his head and Takaba chuckled.

"This is Kou, my assistant."

"Hello Kou," She smiled and Kou's mouth dropped open. Takaba had to nudge him to get a response.

"Uh….hi," Kou smiled back unable to form any more words. He was in complete awe of the beautiful woman.

"Kou," Takaba said clasping his friend hard on the shoulder, "Why don't you wait over here by my bag, okay?" Takaba felt like he was talking to a five-year-old. At least Kou would stay out of trouble in the corner near the bag.

That was when Takaba suddenly switched to photographer mode and started shouting orders at the two other colleagues in the room. Then he addressed Misha.

"Let's start with you sitting here, like this," he said as he moved her arms and legs so that they were just where he wanted them for the photo.

Then he started clicking away, silently moving about the room catching different angles and lighting. Occasionally, he would ask Misha to change her position. She changed into several different outfits from the Rivaldi line through out shoot. Takaba was in his groove. The light inside him shining its brightest while he was behind the camera lens.

That was the first thing Asami noticed as he stepped out from around the doorway. Takaba froze when Asami entered his viewfinder. Slowly, he lowered the camera, eyes huge.

"Aki, is something wrong?" Misha asked concerned at Takaba's stunned expression but then she saw what he was looking at. "Oh Ryu, you haven't met Aki, the photographer here for the photo shoot."

"Aki, this is my fiancée, Asami Ryuichi. You don't mind him being her e during this, do you?"

"Uh…hey," was all Takaba could say in response until he gathered his wits about him. "No, I guess not as long as he stays out of the way." Takaba added his biggest cheeky grin.

Asami's face was exploding in amusement by that point.

You bastard, you got some nerve…. Takaba was pissed. Not just that Asami was there at his photo shoot but by what Misha had said about him being her fiancée. Asami didn't look the least bit irritated or nervous about the entire awkward situation.

"Well, Ryu," Takaba said smiling, "If you don't mind standing over there out of the way," he pointed to where Kou was sitting and waving, "We can get this shoot finished up." That, made Takaba feel empowered. He enjoyed running the show and ordering Asami around.

The older man's eyes narrowed but he simply smirked and played along. He liked to see Takaba working. The young man concentrating, yet making the shoot fun and comfortable for everyone involved. He was truly an amazing photographer.

Takaba muttered under his breath and again put the camera up to his face. He quickly found his groove again and was all over the room taking shots of Misha lounging on the couch, standing by the window, sitting at the breakfast bar, and even just lying on the bed while Takaba was up on a ladder taking shots from above her.

Finally though, it was over. Takaba had the men pack up the lighting equipment and he put the two cameras that he had used back in his bag.

In the meantime, Asami moved over to sit next to Misha on the couch and she leaned into him. Takaba glanced up from his crouched position by his bag but quickly averted his eyes. Bastard, you are loving this aren't you? Takaba wanted to shout but held his tongue. He stood, bag in hand, and looked at Kou, the now stone statue, whose eyes were zeroed in on the hot model.

"Well, assistant, are you ready to go?" He asked.

"Huh….uh….yeah. It was great to meet you Misha." Kou said with the silliest dreamy expression that made Takaba chuckle.

"I'll call you in a few days when these are ready." He looked at Misha who stood with a possessive arm around her, his arm, the strong arm he longed to have wrapped around him.

A few days later

"Aki, thanks for getting these ready so quickly," Misha said as Takaba entered the suite.

"It's no problem," he shrugged.

"Come in, have a seat." Misha offered toward the couch.

Takaba sat down and Misha sat next to him. He opened the portfolio and laid out some shots on the coffee table in front of them.

"Oh Aki, I love them." Misha said excitedly as she picked up one after the other.

While Misha looked over the photos, a petite older Japanese woman sauntered into the room and took a seat on one of the chairs opposite them.

"Oh Aki, this is Naoko, Asami Naoko." Misha introduced them.

Takaba stared at the dark haired beauty with the familiar golden eyes. He felt them too, boring through him to his very soul. The way she studied him intently made him very apprehensive. He fidgeted nervously.

"Hi," he said quickly.

Naoko smiled though it did not reach her eyes. Something about her presence was creepy to Takaba so he turned his attention back to Misha.

"So?" Takaba asked.

"Can I keep these over night?" She asked him.

"Sure, I can come and get them tomorrow."

Just then, Misha's phone rang so she stood and excused herself to go into the other room to take the call.

Takaba glanced at Naoko and smiled sheepishly.

"Takaba Akihito, I know who you are," she said softly, intimately between them.

"Hah, what do mean," He chuckled.

"You are far more than a photographer," she paused, "Now I see why he is so enamored with you."

"I…I don't know what you mean," Takaba said, suddenly wishing for Misha to return.

"You are very similar to the one he loved….and lost." Naoko said, gaging Takaba's reaction.

His brows dipped slightly in the middle, "I don't know what you are talking about?" He said innocently but there was a slow ache forming in his chest. You are similar to the one he loved and lost. Was he really? Is that why Asami….no. Takaba had always been unsure of Asami's feelings for him but if what she said is true, if he was only a substitute, then he didn't even have the smallest glimmer of hope.

She shrugged, "Go on then, think foolishly that he cares for you. Ryu may be sleeping with you but he is thinking of someone else. Once he realizes that you are not Jun, he'll leave you."

Takaba stared in disbelief at the seemingly beautiful woman whose claws just ripped his heart wide open. Unbeknownst to them, Misha stood just around the corner listening to every word. She knew their engagement was a shame and that he loved another but was it Takaba or that other man Naoko spoke of?

"I have an appointment so….Aki, I will call you tomorrow?" Misha said.

"Okay, great. It was nice to meet you," he said to Naoko though he didn't smile. Then he left without another word.

So Asami didn't love him. Takaba laughed at his own stupidity as he walked through the lobby and out to his bike. Of course Asami didn't love him. The man took him as a substitute for this Jun person and rescued him because of his job but thinking back, never had the man really shown him love so why had he held out hope that the older man cared for him? That was not entirely true, Asami did help him to forget the bad things that happened to him so what did that mean?

Asami got up from behind his desk at his new club and walked to the window. Yes, the investment was well worth it. There would be no more living at other homes while guarding them. He could go to work and go home. His days and evenings would be his and he would decide how to spend them. Kirishima took on the bookkeeping role while Suoh and Akira were essentially bouncers at the club. They controlled who came and went from the popular dance place. He had hired a few other muscles for security purposes but left the training up to Suoh and Akira. Most of the staff remained the same as far as the bartenders and waitresses.

The thought of going to work and coming home was appealing for the most part except for the fact that the penthouse was quiet. The past week that Misha and his mother had been in town, he had gone home alone. He knew what he needed, wanted, when he came home at night. In fact he was staring at it at that very moment from the one-way glass.

"Kirishima," Asami said through the phone.

"Yes boss?"

"Get me Takaba."

Suoh made his way through the crowd to the table where the three men sat with two women. Kou was draped all over the blond while the brunette practically hurled herself at Takaba. He was flirting by the innocent blush that covered his pale face though no one but Takaba knew that it wouldn't go any further than that.

The young man's eyes grew huge and his arm stopped half way to his mouth with his bottle of beer as he watched Suoh approach.

"Takaba, someone would like to speak with you."

"Hey Aki, that looks like the gorilla," Kou laughed but Takaba just rolled his eyes. To explain anything to Kou after the amount of alcohol he had consumed would be pointless.

"He's here?" Takaba asked.

"Yes, follow me."

"Hey wait Aki," Takato said, "Is everything ok?"

Takaba looked directly into his friend's eyes, "Yeah, be right back."

He followed Suoh up to the next level while berating himself. Why didn't I renew my Xanax prescription? What could Asami want with me other than….oh no way! I won't let him use me.

The door to the office was opened and Suoh motioned for Takaba to enter and closed the door after him. Takaba was staring at the back of the door when that smooth voice penetrated his mind.

"Takaba, having a good time?" Asami said leaning back on his desk, arms crossed with a tumbler in one hand.

"What do you want," Takaba snapped.

Asami slowly set his drink down and strode over to the young man, his eyes menacing. Takaba felt as though laser beams were shooting out of the older man's eyes searing his clothes, his skin.

"What do you think I want," Asami's voice was smooth, low.

The older man did not stop until they were only a foot apart.

"Oh no, no way! You are sorely mistaken if you think you can just use my ass anytime you feel like it." Takaba hissed.

"Are you saying you don't like it?"

"No….yes…." Takaba shook his head to clear it. With Asami so close he could see and smell the man. It was overwhelming his senses.

Asami reached his arm out intending to wrap it around Takaba's waist saying, "Well which is it?"

Takaba slapped the hand away, "No, I will not be your whore or your substitute!"

Asami's eyes narrowed evilly and one brow arched, "My what?"

"Your substitute for JUN!"

Asami's hand flew up so fast and swooped down again before Takaba even blinked.

Smack!

Asami froze, stunned, staring at the handprint on Takaba's cheek. Takaba himself was momentarily stunned but the anger brought him back to reality and he snapped his head back to glare at the older man.

Through his haze, Asami saw the tears about to fall from those beautiful hazel eyes but just barely heard the words over his thumping heart.

"I'm done!" Takaba hissed and turned to grab the door handle.

A strong hand covered his own. He felt the breath on his neck, felt the hard body press against the back of his own.

"Takaba," the baritone voice whispered.

Takaba shook his head, "No!" The hand covering his dropped. Then he turned the handle and walked out. Asami didn't stop him.