Author's Note: Well, thought it was about time to give this story some closure after two years, I'm not one for long Author's notes (anymore) but this story deserves something. Out of all the characterisations I have given Akihito, this is by far my favorite, this is what I want for him, this is how I wish for him to be.

This was the story that helped me grow and develop the habits and style that I have now, I remember staying up to ungodly hours of the morning to finish chapters, looking back I see some parts that are messy, some bits that could do with a tidy up because it's not my best work by far, but it is my most heart felt work, and the work I have had the most fun with. I doubt I will get caught up in a story as much as I did with this.

So, I will leave this as is and finally let it be complete in a way that's only fitting.

Asami woke leisurely, an unusual indulgence for him, and languished in the feeling of one of the most fulfilling sleeps he'd had in longer than he cared to admit.

The sheets next to him were empty, no trace of human warmth but plenty of Akihito's scent left to remind him of exactly where he was. He'd even out-slept Akihito, and that in itself told Asami how truly weary this whole saga had made him. A little weariness was worth it for what he'd gained in return, however.

The Russian mansion was quiet, everyone dwelling with their own quiet contemplations that a long-term debt had now been settled, and the Arbatov Estate could finally move on now they'd cut the chains binding them all to the past.

Asami was content to be a part of it all moving forward, not that the Arbatovs would give him a choice in it now.

So with his future almost decided for him, he got up, satisfied with the fact, and decided to find the reason he was here. Akihito Arbatov, the man that'd laid his life down for Asami's own. That sort of loyalty you couldn't pay for, you could never even begin to name a price, one of the fiercest figures of the underworld had gifted him with such, and Asami couldn't deny that it was mutual.

Anyone and everyone who mattered would know the role Asami had played in this by now, and as far as Asami was concerned, the faster the news spread about his involvement with Akihito; the better. The one aspect of his private life he'd always wanted to keep hidden, he now wanted everyone to be extremely clear on, and taking out Cashmore as a team with Akihito and his family was the perfect message to send to people that so much as thought about interfering with Akihito and his business.

With that in mind, he dressed as he mulled over his own thoughts on what might happen after the proverbial smoke had cleared, and no sooner had he left Akihito's quarters to try and find him did he hear him instead.

Loud, robust and stubborn as usual, back to the person he'd first met in his bar all those months ago, an unconscious smirk tugged at his lip as he listened to the conversation draw closer.

"No family fucking dinner, are you serious?" came Akihito's vehement growl as he rounded the hallway corner next to his brother. It was rare to see just the two of them together, no Axel, no Yuri, just two brothers who; Asami realized, looked like the only care in the world they had was the current conversation about a family gathering. It made a pleasing change.

"I've already started making arrangements, you walnut, I'm not telling everyone there's gonna be a fucking party and then say 'na, just kidding.'" And Mikhail wound his brother up like usual, grinning at the helpless shake of Akihito's head.

"Ha ha, so funny. Seriously, Asami and his men are fucking tired, leave the poor bastards out of it at least, they wont know what bloody hit them." Akihito still hadn't seen him standing there, and the pleading on his behalf would almost have been endearing if it weren't for the fact that nearly everyone in the house knew it was only Akihito who didn't think highly of the idea of this gathering.

"Oh, my dear little brother, you're a dirty fucking liar, but nice try." Mikhail deadpanned and roughed his younger brother's hair with a chuckle before turning to Asami, "You get that? This little shit stain over here is using you as an excuse to try and get out of something."

Cornered, all Akihito managed was a half scowl as Asami joined in the mockery, because no doubt Akihito would try and get even later, and that would be something he could look forward to. "Oh? Is that so? I was so looking forward to it." He feigned disappointment, looking sadly into Akihito's eyes even as his own twinkled in antagonism.

Mikhail's laugher boomed down the hallway at that as he clapped Asami on the back in greeting and looked between them, "Sorry, Akihito, but I think you've met your match with this one."

The only reaction they got was Akihito hissing at Asami under his breath. "Fucking traitor." But he couldn't hide the smile in his eyes as he grabbed Asami roughly by the hand though, and they left Mikhail to his devices as Akihito led him down the hall, through the inner sanctum of the Arbatov house, and finally outside. He would have thought Akihito actually sulking, if it weren't for the glance of warning Mikhail gave him as they parted.

The path Akihito led him down was well kept despite the copse of trees it weaved through, birds stilled at their passing, and so they walked in silence, Akihito's grip on his hand grew tenuous, hesitant, almost nervous apart from the fact that Asami couldn't imagine Akihito ever being nervous of anything.

Asami wasn't about to let Akihito let go though, and without a word spoken, he gripped Akihito's hand in his in consolation. It wasn't anything romantic like a hand held stroll in the forest, more like reassuring support between people who's silence said more than words ever could. For all his bravado and big words, Asami knew that the tiniest action from Akihito would speak more clearly than anything he could say with his mouth, and what Akihito was doing now was no small action by any means.

The trees cleared abruptly, the clearing bordered by a black cast iron fence with pointed vertical bars and elaborate swirls in the framework, it was matte with age, decorated with cobwebs and rust, but still as strong as the day it was made, of that Asami had no doubt.

Inside was a forest of a different kind, larger than it should be for a family cemetery, but that was the reality of the life the Arbatovs lived. The headstones were all clean, with no dust and no cobwebs like that adorned the iron fence, respect paid to the family by these people in life was returned in death, it wasn't just Arbatov blood laid here. Family was bigger than that.

Asami let Akihito's hand drop then, taken by the vigilant silence of this place, the enormity of the fact that Akihito was leading him to the grave of a legend, his father. They walked between the rows, right to the center of it all, and even though Asami couldn't read the writing written on any of the graves, he'd seen the name written enough to know which one it was. It was only a fraction bigger than all the rest, and the simplicity of it was statement enough.

It was part of a pair, Asami realized, not just Akihito's father but his mother too, and without Mikhail's warning, he realized he would have reeled at this.

Before the silence bore down on him however, Akihito confirmed exactly what Asami was thinking.

He sat in a lazy crouch, unguarded eyes filled with acceptance. "Can't have a family dinner without including these guys, I guess." And he drew a hand threw his messy hair to try and hide his awkwardness; he gave up in the end, his hair still messy, and his eyes sparkling anew as he vanquished his melancholy. "In case you're wondering, this is the fucked up equivalent of meeting the parents, and before you ask, cos I know you will, no, I've never taken anyone else here. Congratulations." Akihito gave a cheeky poke of his tongue, bringing back the playful demeanor that Asami was more than fond of.

"I'm honored," Asami drawled truthfully, before going to a place where they were both comfortable, "I promise to protect and cherish-"

"-Pffft." Akihito's mocking chuckle cut him off as he stood up to bump shoulders with Asami, "more like fuck me legless and commit bloody murder with me, and we both know that's what we'd prefer." The Russian stood close now, daring and avid, dangerous, probably more so to Asami than he was to anyone else in the world, because the proximity to him made Asami want to lose control.

In equal challenge, Asami leant in close to speak, and even he could hear the heat in his own voice, their lips brushed with intimate threat at the words. "Sounds perfect."

The air about them was light considering where they'd just come from, and Akihito thanked whoever needed thanking that Asami and his smart-ass brain knew what to say and when, it'd made it almost easy, the dinner wasn't the hard part, it was what he'd just fucking done, he'd avenged his parents with the man at his side, so yeah, he supposed he should bloody well take Asami to see what he'd been risking it all for.

Now he felt like almost all the weight he carried was off his damn shoulders, there would still always be that small burden of his lost friends, but he was just gonna have to take the concrete pill and harden the hell up. Vlad and Kristof would kick his ass if he dwelt in the past, that much he knew.

So it was time to move forward.

"So, what's gonna happen now?" Akihito queried, now that this ordeal was over, he realized he hadn't fucking thought about it at all. Mikhail was going to give him Japanese relations, that had been then, so what about now? How the fuck did a relationship between two busy crime lords work?

It seemed Asami didn't really know either, even though he knew what he wanted, apparently. "Plenty of room in my condo." He drawled, matter of fact, like Akihito was just going to pack up his business and move right on in.

"Plenty of room at mine, too." Akihito countered with a grin. Asami just gave him a that trademark hum, clearly he wasn't keen on it, neither was Akihito, if he thought about it. "Fuck it, we'll just wing it, buy a safe house to meet at so we can bang- I mean catch up. Sound good?" From the corner of his eye he saw Asami's pensive expression turn sly, predatory, fucking thrilling. Asami closed in on him then, stopping them both to pull their bodies flush in the middle of the forest path, "You're full of bright ideas today, aren't you?" he spoke low, his gaze hot, and his mouth even more so as Asami pulled their faces together for one of the roughest tongue fucks Akihito ever had, yeah, he could get used to this.

Akihito should have fucking known it was going to turn out like this.

He stared longingly at Axel seated across the table from him for this stupid gathering, and wished his right hand man was at his side instead of the two people that would no doubt end up competing for his attention. Mikhail on his left, and Asami on his right. Of course Axel would show no sympathy for his boss's predicament, he would raise a shot glass with a mocking smile before he sunk it back in his efforts to get absolutely piss wrecked though.

Words of commemoration had been said for the dead, as well as a respectful moment of silence so that everyone could truly grasp the emptiness of the spaces where brothers might have sat if they were still here.

Now it was time to celebrate their lives in a way their fallen comrades would approve of, and that meant food and copious of alcohol. Oh Jesus, this was like the fireworks in the cow shit all over again.

"What's wrong, boss?" Axel chuckled with a shot glass held in his direction, "Aren't you gonna drink me under the table, or are you a light weight now that you've caught feelings?" Oh, that piece of shit. Akihito could never turn down a challenge from his best friend, and that fucker knew it.

Oh well, shit was going to hit the fan sooner or later, he might as well face it drunk rather than sober. "Fuck you, Axel, you bastard."

The ruckus around him was already rising in volume; food was going down, the drinks even faster at the huge table the length of the formal dining hall. There were guns removed from holsters strewn across the tabletop, switch blades and pen knives, along with the odd pair of keys that were seemingly out of place amongst the weaponry. The vodka went down smooth as only fire could, reassuring and warming, and Akihito couldn't help but smile at this fucking stupid lot of scoundrels that he called family.

This wasn't going to be so bad after all.

A loud yelp pretty fucking unbefitting for a bunch of gangsters echoed from down the end of the table, and Akihito was forced to spit his drink out and cackle as he saw one of his men clutching at his bloody hand with a perplexed look on his face. Well, what did they think was going to happen with vodka, a sharp knife and a really drunken game of Five Finger Fillet?

Axel roared, drunk as a damn skunk, and Asami's man next to him, Suoh, wasn't that far off the same state, surprisingly. "Just drink some more, Irvin, that'll make the pain go away!" the table's occupants roared back at that and raised their glasses in salute. Akihito drunk deep into his cup with his men as a puzzled Asami watched the proceedings. Oh, he was nowhere near the state everyone else was in, and to Akihito that wasn't good enough.

Akihito slammed his pitcher down, smiling a toothy grin as he did so. "We're fucking crazy, what did ya expect?" and because he couldn't help himself anymore, because he didn't give two shits who saw anymore, he took a swig of vodka directly from the bottle on the table, yanked Asami by his tie and fed it to that bastard by the mouth.

If the room wasn't loud before, it sure as shit was now, wolf whistles and hoots sounded up and down the length of the room, people smashed plates to add to the noise and clang their cutlery together as the kiss started to get more intimate than Akihito first intended. He felt Asami hum his delight against his mouth, felt his lips curve in a smile, and kissed him some more for good measure.

That was before a certain big brother finally noticed what was happening amidst his conversation with Fei Long on the other side of him, and less than gently he ripped Akihito away with a pout that Akihito had seen only on rare occasions.

Noise had never fled a room as fast as this. Silence reigned in its place. "Asami, keep your mouth to yourself." Mikhail deadpanned.

Akihito snickered as quiet held the room in suspense, of course Mikhail would think it was Asami's fault. Before he could intervene however, Asami's eyes took on a mischievous sheen, "Oh? Do you want a kiss too, Mikhail?" and that bastard gave a sexy wink in Mikhail's direction to top it off.

The tension detonated as hysterics ricocheted throughout the dining hall, because no one had ever seen anyone take the piss out of Mikhail Arbatov before.

"Oh my god, someone please erase that image from my mind." Akihito bellowed before taking another drink, hoping that would do the trick.

He missed the glare Mikhail shot Asami over his head, and continued with his evening.

It was rather hard to focus on others now that he'd had a taste of Asami, and of course it was mutual. It only got hotter as he downed more drink, as he popped his collar and admired Asami's collarbones as the man popped his too. Damn, he was fucking sexy.

More fingers were stabbed, Kirishima however had won every game he'd played, shirts came off for things that didn't warrant shirts coming off, like arm-wrestles and knuckle punch, of which Suoh and Axel were currently dueling it out, there was a game of poker going down the other end with a shit ton of money on the table, and naturally, his Uncle Yuri was cleaning everyone out. Akihito would never gamble against him, and that was exactly why.

Next to him, Mikhail was bickering with Fei about fuck knows what, and all Akihito wanted to do was kiss Asami again. Asami had other ideas though, really cheeky, good but bad ideas. The shit eating grin that crossed his face was the only warning he got before a hand groped at his thigh, massaging with expert pressure as it worked its way up.

"Don't." Akihito warned, sobriety quickly coming to the fore.

"Don't what?" Asami questioned, feigning innocence as his hand moved higher, and holy hell, Akihito was getting excited because this was crazy. This was something only Asami would do, and was exactly why he liked him in the first place.

"Don't." was all Akihito managed again, leaning towards Asami unconsciously.

"No one will know if you keep quiet." Came the hot whisper in his ear. Asami was palming at the increasing hardness of his crotch now, his breathing hot and heavy against Akihito's neck. If it weren't for the room full of people, Akihito would already be on Asami's lap, and so all he did was bite his lip and let Asami do what he wanted. "Can't help yourself, can you?" Asami chuckled quietly as he worked at Akihito's belt before adding, "Neither can I."

Hearing an admission like that from Asami had a whorish moan bubbling up from this throat before he could stop it, and he was brought back to the reality of where he was as Axel, that giant fuck face, piped up. "Oh my god, get a room, you love sick fucks."

A remark like that was bound to draw attention, and fast, way too fast, before they could abort the mission of jacking each other off under the table, Mikhail spun around yet again and saw it all.

"Oi!"

Just like that, the cow shit exploded.

End.