Hello, I am truly sorry for the extremely late updates. I know I was supposed to update this ages ago but after the Japan trip, I was tied up with work and family obligations. Thank you for all your messages and pms asking me to update. I really, really do not mean to be rude or anything but Business as Usual is always updated as a complete chapter. This is done intentionally from day one as I was afraid that I couldn't commit myself to update every month. In that way, I don't have to be pressured to update and I can slowly take my time to write.
On a happier note, I managed to buy ALL the Finder series manga from Japan! I even managed to take a photo with a cutout cardboard of Asami and Akihito. I have no regrets now XD
Beta: RiveReinStyx. Thank you! You are awesome, as always. If you spot any mistakes, please pm me and let me know. I'll try my best to fix it.
Disclaimer: Finder series and its characters are properties of Yamane Ayano. I'm borrowing them for my fantasies.
Business as Usual - Chapter 34
Shiba Masaki held onto the dock, his knees weak after listening to the verdict. For a moment, he stared at his appointed lawyer, Hasegawa, still unsure if he had heard the judge correctly; and it wasn't until the police officer removed his cuffs that reality began to sink in.
He was acquitted from murder.
He took his first step out of the courtroom as a free man where reporters were already swarming around him like vultures eyeing on their prey. He didn't want to answer the endless questions so he slipped away quickly and made his way to the back office where his lawyer and a man he recognized as Kuroda Shinji stood waiting.
"Hasegawa sensei, Kuroda sensei."
Both men smiled but Kuroda was the first to speak. "Congratulations on your release. Hasegawa sensei fought very well as your defense attorney and managed to convince both the judge and jury that you have served enough time as an accessory to murder."
Shiba fell on his knees, rubbed his calloused hands against his unshaven face and wept. "I – I wasn't expecting this. Th—thank you."
Hasegawa gripped Shiba's arm, pulled him to his feet. "We did what we were told, Shiba san. You should thank Asami sama and Takaba sama. They're your real saviors."
"How sh—should I repay you? I have no money and –"
"You don't have to pay us," Hasegawa said. "Asami sama has already settled all legal fees. You're a free man."
Shiba rubbed his watery eyes with the back of his hand. "I'm sorry for behaving so emotional, it's just that I didn't expect I'd - I didn't expect –"
Kuroda moved in, offered a handkerchief. "It's understandable." He watched Shiba rubbed his eyes before continuing, "So, what are your plans after this?"
The former policeman shrugged his shoulders. "I don't know."
"Do you still have the business card Asami sama gave you?"
Shiba slid his hands inside his pocket and pulled out a crumpled card. "I made sure it's always with me."
"Call Kirishima san. He has been notified of your release and has made arrangements on your accommodations and future career." Kuroda pushed up his spectacles. "That is, if you're interested –"
"Yes!" Shiba exclaimed even before Kuroda finished his sentence. "I'd take whatever I'm offered, even if it means working my whole life for Asami Ryuichi."
Kuroda looked at Hasegawa briefly before focusing his attention at the man in front of him again. "Call the number, Shiba san," he said and left Shiba in the room staring at the card.
"You're recruiting for Asami sama, Kuroda sensei?" Hasegawa asked once they were inside the elevator.
Kuroda smirked. "You know this isn't my idea."
Hasegawa stared at the numbers as the elevator moved upwards rapidly. "Asami sama must have something planned for Shiba Masaki."
"Ryuichi has his own way of doing things but if I were Shiba, I'll not look forward to what he has planned."
Hasegawa laughed. "That, I'm sure."
The elevator door slid open, and Kuroda walked out first. "Good case, Hasegawa sensei."
"Good day, Kuroda sensei."
Xx Business as Usual xX
Akihito hugged his coat tighter as he strolled along the streets on Ginza. It was two days before Christmas and the decorations on the street were in full swing. Major department stores competed with one another with lights and expensive decorations, trying to boost up their sales chart before the year ends.
It wasn't a place that he'd choose to shop. Overpriced items, upper class boutiques with equally terrible salesperson – he swore he'd never buy anything in Ginza.
And look who's talking right now. Akihito sneered at himself when a man in a butler uniform opened the door for him to enter one of the most luxurious shops in the Ginza.
As usual, the men and women behind the counters curled their lips in disdain after catching a glimpse of his vintage jeans. Thankfully, he paired it with a pair of exclusive shoes and jacket, so he didn't look that dirt poor.
He shrugged off his jacket, which his dutiful guard took and paced around the store uncomfortably.
"May I help you?"
The crisp tone made Akihito cringe. He turned around slowly, facing the salesperson.
Kinoshita Yumi. Akihito read her name tag and scrutinized her. She was probably around his age but she had too much makeup on, adding additional years to her youthful face.
"Oh, it's all right. I'm just looking around."
She actually rolled her eyes before walking back to her station where her colleagues stood giggling. Akihito looked at his own clothing. Okay, maybe the vintage jeans looked a little worn out, and the shirt he was wearing didn't look as if it belonged in a high-end boutique but damn it, the winter coat and shoes he had on were brand names.
Another female salesperson by the name of Takigawa Mari fixed her uniform and shoulder length hair before walking towards them. From her playful smile and the sparkle in her eye, Akihito deduced that her attention wasn't on him but rather, his guard.
"Sir, may I be of any assistance?" Mari asked Toru flirtatiously.
The other two girls behind the counter looked as if they were about to rip Takigawa apart for approaching Toru. It was evident that they threw rock-paper-scissors to determine their job scope.
The winner gets to serve Toru and the loser is stuck with me. That's why I hate shopping at Ginza.
"No, thank you," Toru brushed her off and walked closer to Akihito.
"Takaba sama, do you wish to purchase anything from the store?"
Whatever anger Akihito felt earlier on diminished when the salesgirls gave him a very uncomfortable look. Kinoshita, the lady who served him a moment ago, actually looked pale.
Akihito looked around. The boutique sells overpriced stationary and some miniature glass sculptures for office decoration. Italian crafted and made, they were encased in glass cabinet, which made absolute no sense to Akihito. Not to mention that they were ridiculously expensive too.
There was nothing he could purchase. He cursed his stupidity; he shouldn't have walked into the store.
And why on earth did he think he could get Asami a Christmas gift in a stationary store?
It's not like he needed – wait –
He caught a sight of a black fountain pen encased in a glass shelf near the counter and was drawn to the beauty of the writing instrument. Akihito walked nearer, read the label. It was a name he could not even pronounce but the pen was absolutely gorgeous.
The black lacquer fountain pen had a gold-finished nib, complete with intricate designs that looked very classy. The gold also matched the slender clip on the click off cap. To Akihito, the pen was a statement of style and confidence – and it screamed Asami.
"Can I see that?"
When none of the salesgirls replied, Toru turned to Mari. "Excuse me, Takaba sama would like to see that."
Snapping to attention, Mari quickly moved behind the counter. "Yes – yes, of course."
Akihito took the pen from her gloved hand and nearly winced when he saw the price tag.
Are you kidding me? ¥55,000 for a pen?
"The nib and the cap are both made of 18 karat gold. It has specially formulated ink that enables ink to flow flawlessly and dries quickly."
Akihito placed the pen back onto the lady's hands.
"Si – sir?" Mari asked hesitantly when Akihito did not respond.
Akihito mentally counted his savings. He had his emergency funds in the account and while he didn't feel like using them, he figured that he should at least buy something for Asami. Already, he felt like an ass for causing so many problems to the older man.
He looked up at Mari again. "I'll take it."
Again, Mari looked utterly shocked with Akihito's decision. She hurried to the counter and instructed her colleagues to help her with the wrapping.
Kinoshita's eyes flashed at Akihito for a moment before taking the pen, clearly voicing out her disapproval. She probably should have remained quiet but she couldn't resist and retorted before she could stop herself.
"Are you sure about purchasing this pen, sir?" She paused, looking at Akihito's vintage jeans again before continuing, "It doesn't look like you need it."
"Kinoshita san!" Mari exclaimed, shocked.
Akihito was usually tolerant but Kinoshita's behavior and remarks were out of the line. Slamming his hand on the counter, he replied, "It's none of your business whether I need the pen or not. It's for sale and I'm buying it."
The photographer unzipped his backpack, took out his wallet. "And if you think I can't afford paying for it, you're wrong." He slammed the bills on the counter.
Mari quickly bowed. "Sir, I apologize on behalf of Kinoshita san."
Kinoshita opened her mouth to reply but Toru beat her to it. Moving next to Akihito, Toru gave the salesgirl an icy stare. "Kinoshita san, it is none of your business what Takaba sama does with the pen. After purchasing it, the pen belongs to him. He can toss it away if he wants. Your sarcasm is not needed here."
Obviously not expecting Toru to say anything, Kinoshita looked beet red.
"Takaba sama, do you still need the pen? If you desire, I can instruct Ando to send us to another store where Asami sama frequents."
Akihito looked at Toru, then at the salesgirl. He wasn't a vengeful person but damn it, he wasn't about to contribute to their sales after all the humiliation. "No, I don't need it anymore. Ask Ando to take us to another store."
"Please wait a moment, sir," Mari called but Akihito had already turned his back on them, marching to the front door.
Toru gathered the bills on the counter and without further comment, followed Akihito outside the store where Ando was already waiting with the car.
The store Ando brought Akihito was the complete opposite of the first store they visited. The manager himself came out of the store to greet them, confirming Akihito's suspicions that Toru must have informed them about his visit.
Akihito found the pen he wanted easily. It had a unique finishing that made the instrument looked sleek and classy. It was two thousand yen more expensive than the previous pen in the other store but he figured it wouldn't hurt to splurge a little. The shopping took less than twenty minutes and by the twenty-fifth minute; he was all comfortable at the back of Asami's expensive vehicle, heading back to the penthouse.
"Toru?"
"Yes, Takaba sama?"
Akihito clutched his bag pack tighter. "Keep this matter from Asami. It's –" Akihito halted, averted his eyes. "It's meant to be a Christmas present."
"Very well, Ando and I shall not mention it in our reports," Toru said before nodding at Ando.
"Thanks." Akihito leaned back against the seat before suddenly sat up again. "Ando, can we make a stop before we head home?"
Xx Business as Usual xX
25th December, Christmas
Akihito was expecting a quiet day for Christmas. Asami wasn't a man who'd propose lengthy plans on his day off since he preferred staying at home, catching up with his sleep. So he was fairly surprised when Asami informed him over dinner on Christmas Eve that they would be travelling to Hokkaido on Christmas morning.
He spent two hours packing for a two-day trip to the northern island. He didn't pack a lot, considering it was a short getaway but he did spent more than half of his time wondering what had gotten into the older man.
Not that Akihito was complaining. It had been ages since he last went to Hokkaido and he was looking forward to what gastronomic delight the island can offer.
"It's so cold out there," Akihito commented as he looked out the window of the plane. Asami was still in deep discussion with the pilot and co-pilot with Kirishima and Suoh standing behind him.
He leaned back, relaxed against the plush seat and nearly moaned at the comfort.
Shit, this is bad, Akihito thought as he closed his eyes. He was already so used to luxury that he was seriously concerned that he might never be able to adjust if he had to fly commercial.
"Takaba sama, would you like to rest in the bedroom while we wait for Asami sama?"
Akihito opened his eyes and found his personal guard and friend standing next to him. He shook his head. "I'm not tired."
As expected of the lanky guard, he offered no further comments and silently moved to the back where Ando was seated.
Feeling bored, Akihito took his new phone and checked through his mails for any new job offers from Takeda.
"Akihito."
The photographer nearly dropped his phone. "Asami, you scared me –," he halted when he noticed a man standing behind Kirishima and Suoh.
The man stood at about five feet seven inches, looked awfully familiar yet Akihito couldn't place where he had seen him before. Cleanly shaven, the man had short, police academy haircut and a pair of deep set eyes.
Akihito was certain he had seen those eyes before.
"Takaba san."
"Wait!" Akihito said, raising his hand to stop him from continuing. He closed his eyes, pinched the bridge of his nose and thought hard. "I know you. I've seen you before. Just let me think and –
— Shiba Masaki!" Akihito exclaimed in disbelief.
Shiba curved a smile. "It's been a while."
Akihito jumped from his seat, offered his hand. "You're free!"
Shiba took Akihito's hand, bowed. "All thanks to you and Asami sama."
"Akihito, we are about to take off. I suggest we continue the conversation after that."
As Kirishima led Shiba to his seat, Asami took his next to Akihito. Akihito watched Shiba shaking hands awkwardly with Toru and Ando before turning to his lover. "When was he released? Why didn't I hear anything from the news?"
"Three weeks ago. The judge acquitted his murder charge and was released immediately after deciding that he had served enough time in prison for disposing the body," Asami replied, fastening his seat belt. "As to why you didn't hear it from the news, it's because Yamaguchi's trials were all over the papers, overshadowing Shiba's. Besides –" Asami nudged Akihito's chin up. "You were too busy scooping a certain Diet member.
Akihito didn't want to explain why he was working overtime the past week. He needed money to buy Asami his Christmas present so when Takeda offered him the job about a prominent Diet member's extramarital affairs, Akihito jumped at the chance, knowing he'd be able to earn more from stake-outs.
"I needed to work. Unlike someone –" Akihito looked at Asami, smirked. "—I don't have a shitload of cash. I have to earn my keep."
Asami traced his thumb on Akihito's mouth. "You have short memory, Akihito. You're an employer to at least three hundred people."
Akihito actually looked horrified. "Three hundred?"
"I'll get Ogawa to update you the actual number."
At the mention of Ogawa's name, Akihito's cheeks burned. Their last encounter had been awkward, with his assistant barging into Asami's office when they were in the middle of having sex.
Thankfully, the stewardess came in to announce that they were ready for take-off, saving Akihito from the embarrassing moment. Asami seemed to have read his mood for the yakuza made no further comments about the junior secretary.
Akihito knew he wasn't at all pleased with Ogawa's interruption. Hell, if he hadn't stepped out from Asami's private room that time, the secretary would have been fired and banned from Sion for the rest of his life. Asami never touched on the subject again but according to Kirishima, Asami was extremely displeased about the situation and made it mandatory for employees to go through Suoh or Kirishima before entering his office.
As expected from a well-trained pilot, the take-off was smooth and before long, the plane was already cruising over the clouds. It wasn't going to be a long ride, considering Hokkaido was only a ninety minute ride from Tokyo so Akihito didn't bother sleeping. Asami led him to the middle segment of the plane where the plush sofas and audio sets were located. The guards joined them, taking their seats opposite them.
"Akihito, you've met Shiba Masaki. He'll be joining Sion as one of the guards," Asami started off.
Shiba stood up, bowed. "I cannot thank you enough for what you have done, Takaba sama."
Akihito frowned. "Shiba, not you too! Call me Akihito."
Shiba looked troubled. "I'm afraid I can't do that."
"Why not?" Akihito asked but instead of waiting for an answer, he continued, "So, you're now working for Asami?"
It was Kirishima who spoke. "Shiba's vast experience as a police officer is an advantage and makes him suitable for the job."
"So, he's going to be one of Asami's personal guards?"
The bespectacled secretary smiled. "We have yet to determine Shiba's position. We might post him in Hokkaido, which is why he's here today with us."
Akihito nodded his head. "But I'm really glad that the case was overturned. Now Yamaguchi can sit in the prison for what he had done. I'd give anything to see that."
Asami accepted a drink from the stewardess and took a sip. "His trial is ongoing and with Shinji as the prosecutor, I don't think he stands a chance to walk free. I can arrange for a visit when he is sentenced."
Akihito took his tea, sipped the drink. "Nah, I actually don't need to see him face-to-face. It's enough knowing he'll be soon behind bars."
"I owe my life to you, Takaba sama. So, if you need anything from me, I'll do whatever –,"
"You don't owe me anything, Shiba san," Akihito interrupted. "We helped each other. If you didn't agree to help me, I won't be sitting here talking to you."
"No matter what you said, it doesn't change that I'm a free man because of you and Asami sama."
Akihito smiled. "I'm only agreeing because the argument is going nowhere."
The conversation turned business and Akihito had to keep himself occupied with the latest issue of photography magazine he found on the table. It took a mere hour to reach Hokkaido and before long, the pilot announced that they were ready to land.
Being a VIP was sure convenient, so much so Akihito had almost forgotten how to exit immigration the normal way. From the minute the plane landed until he was safely inside Asami's Range Rover, it took them less than 15 minutes.
"Where are we going?" he asked when he noticed Suoh driving out of the city into the freeway. Behind them, Toru, Ando and Shiba were in another four wheel car. "This isn't your usual car preference."
"Tomamu," Asami replied. "We'll be going through winding roads, that's why we're using this vehicle." He scrutinized the photographer. "You looked disappointed. Were you expecting the limousine where we can have privacy?"
Understanding perfectly what his lover was trying to imply, Akihito immediately turned red. "Pervert," he hissed, his eyes darting at Kirishima and Suoh seated in front. Both guards did not even respond to Asami's remark. Either they didn't hear the remark or they were too used to their boss's daily banter with Akihito.
The Range Rover wasn't as spacious as the limousine but it was comfortable nonetheless. The photographer looked outside, amazed by the scenery. It was pure white everywhere, with lakes and fields covered with thick blankets of snow. As expected, it was gloomy to the point that it looked monotone but Akihito wasn't complaining. There was something about winter in Hokkaido that mesmerized him.
Xx Business as Usual xX
Behind Asami's car, Toru was keeping a close watch on the car in front of them as Ando drove on. Asami was a man with many enemies so Toru made sure no suspicious vehicles were following them.
"Toru san."
The lanky guard immediately looked in front at the passenger seat.
"Yes?"
"I heard many things about you," Shiba began and went quiet for a moment. "Were they all true?"
"Depends on what you've heard. Many were exaggerated.
"Toru san, you're being modest again." Ando grinned before looking at Shiba. "Shiba san, Toru is exceptional. Asami sama thinks very highly of him."
Uncomfortable with praises, the lanky guard gave a disapproving look. "Shiba san, please do not believe everything Ando says."
Shiba nodded his head. He glanced at the rear view mirror, looking at the impossibly good looking guard. "Toru san, Ando san, both of you are Takaba sama's guards right?"
When both Toru and Ando nodded their heads, Shiba continued, "Can I ask a question?"
"Sure, go ahead," Ando said.
Shiba cleared his throat. "I know this sounds weird but what is Takaba sama's relationship with Asami sama?"
Ando grinned, obviously understanding the question. "What do you think?"
The new guard shifted uncomfortably in the front seat before answering, "I – I mean, Takaba sama told me that he and Asami sama were acquaintances but –," he halted, his cheeks burned when he realized what he was trying to portray. "—for a mere acquaintance, Asami sama employs two guards for his safety and even paid for his own lawyer to reopen my case."
Shiba grabbed the mineral water from the compartment. "Unless you tell me that they're half-brothers, it's difficult to believe that they are mere acquaintances."
"Takaba sama and Asami sama are lovers," Toru said bluntly, causing Shiba to choke on his drink.
"You all right, Shiba san?" Ando laughed.
Shiba covered his mouth, quickly replaced the cap. "Ye—yeah. I'm sorry, I wasn't expecting this."
"Not many people know about it. Both Asami sama and Takaba sama kept their relationship low key."
Shiba stole glances at the lanky guard seated behind. "Trust me; they are doing a good job. I don't think any of the higher ups in the police knew about it."
Toru's expression turned serious. "No, Yamaguchi knew."
Shiba's eyes widened. "When Takaba sama said that he was blackmailed by Yamaguchi, was it because he found out about their relationship?"
Toru nodded. "Not only that, Yamaguchi also threatened to ruin Takaba sama's career and harm his family."
"Sounds like what the bastard would do." Shiba gritted his teeth. "When the bastard is finally put behind bars, I'll make sure to visit him. I need to look right into his eyes and say, 'You deserved this, you bastard."
Ando made a turn at the signage that read Tomamu Resort and followed the vehicle past the main gates. Before killing off the engines, he turned to Shiba, gave a friendly smack on his shoulder and said, "When the time comes, Toru and I will go with you. We need to say that right to his face too," Ando said, looking back at his partner. "Right, Toru?"
Toru curved a thin smile. "Yes."
Xx Business as Usual xX
Akihito woke up to find himself staring into a weird, dark clump. Confused and disorientated, he blinked a couple of times, only to realize he was actually sleeping on Asami's lap and the dark clump he saw just now was Asami's pants. It took him another two second to register that he was very close to the older man's crotch; in fact so close that his face was almost buried in it.
Mortified, mainly because he knew that the car didn't have privacy shields, he quickly sat up. The two seasoned guards bore no response and looked anything but uncomfortable. Akihito supposed they were used to it but that didn't mean that he was.
Akihito looked out of the window. The scenery remained unchanged but the car was already slowing down.
"Wh—where are we?"
"We're reaching Tomamu Resort," Asami answered.
"Do you own the place?"
"No, an acquaintance of mine does."
Akihito leaned back and watched the car came to the full view of the resort. It was a huge skiing mountain with every other winter sports facility one could ever imagine. Nestled on the valley was a three tower hotel equipped with various facilities, including an indoor artificial beach designed for beach lovers.
It wasn't a real beach per say, it actually resembled one of those surf beaches in theme parks. To Akihito, it was cool enough to spend winter in beach pants and warm water.
"We're staying here for the night?" Akihito asked, already excited.
The yakuza smirked. "No, we'll move to another place after you're done enjoying the facilities here." He passed Akihito a brochure. "Go ski while I do some work. I'll join you at the indoor beach."
Akihito took the brochure, glanced through it. "Can I just walk in? I mean, we should at least provide them our room number or something to gain entry into the skiing mountains right?"
"This resort isn't mine but it doesn't mean you have to go through normal procedures like everyone else."
"Figures," Akihito grumbled before putting the brochure into his bag. "Ando and Toru are coming with me right? I need a skiing partner."
"Of course," Asami answered smoothly.
The car made a stop right in front of one of the tower hotels where the hotel manager was already waiting with his staff.
"I'll leave you here to see to some matters," Asami said when they were inside the hotel lobby. He glanced briefly at Toru and nodded at the guard.
Understanding Asami's non-verbal instructions clearly, Toru merely bowed and beckoned his partner and Shiba to follow Akihito to the skiing mountains.
"Asami sama, the room has been prepared," Kirishima said, bowing.
The yakuza watched his lover disappeared into one of the doors leading outside before turning to his secretary. His expression turned serious. "Then, let's get things started."
Xx Business as Usual xX
Asami settled back in his suite as he waited for his guards to complete security checks in the room. Tomamu was owned by one of his close business associates, and one who knew that he valued his privacy but he could never take any chances. After what happened with Sakazaki, Asami took extra security when it came to debugging.
The suite had large glass panels for windows, offering a stunning view of the skiing mountain. The entire mountain was covered with snow, which was a delight for all winter sports enthusiasts.
Looking directly below, Asami noticed his lover and the three guards had already suit up in their winter gear. While the three guards chose black, Akihito had to go for the brightest yellow possible.
And like a child entering a huge playground, the photographer laughed and spread his arms wide before lying on the snow covered ground.
The yakuza smirked. Akihito was in many ways, predictable. He knew Akihito would enjoy Hokkaido. He wanted to bring the boy somewhere further but there were things that needed his attention and taking a straight seven day off was out of the question, especially with so many things happening in the past two months. He needed to guard his territory or those hungry hyenas would steal whatever he had right under his nose – including Akihito.
Asami watched Akihito disappear into the sky lift with the guards before focusing his attention at the laptop in front of him.
"Sir, the video is now connected and we're live with Kanda and Makoto," Kirishima said.
Asami's eyes narrowed. "Let's begin."
The video started off blurry before the quality sharpens, giving Asami a clear view of what had happened. Both Kanda and Makoto were standing on what Asami recognized as inner grounds of the suicide forest. It was nearly one in the afternoon yet there was barely any light where his guards were standing. The tall trees surrounding the forest had shed most of its leaves during winter but they were dense, making it impossible for natural lights on the forest ground.
"Boss," both Kanda and Makoto greeted before bowing.
"Where are our guests?"
Kanda instructed his colleague to pan the video to a group of men tied in a circle. "We left Goda Orochi in the place you instructed us."
"How long is he in there?"
"Three days, sir. We supplied him with oxygen tubes, fed him with little water as instructed."
Asami smirked. "Bring him out."
Kanda bowed slightly before nodding his head to Asami's elite guards. They grabbed their shovels and began to dig at a plot of land who had recently been disturbed. The men dug quickly, and in less than 10 minutes, they reached the shallow grave.
Kanda grabbed a long crowbar and began prying the coffin open. The nails hammered around the coffin came loose after a few tries and with the help of the other guards; they opened the coffin, revealing a severely dehydrated man inside.
"Get up," Kanda commanded.
Makoto, who was holding the camera, went closer to the makeshift grave, offering Asami a full view of a fear-stricken Goda Orochi, the head of the Goda group.
"Hello Goda, I hope you enjoyed your stay," Asami said rather pleasantly.
Kanda hauled the weakened man to his feet, dragged him out of the shallow grave and pushed him on the ground. He gave the man a kick and stepped on his hands. Goda cried out painfully. His fingernails were broken and bloody, evidence that he had tried clawing his way out of the coffin.
"Please – no more," Goda muttered weakly.
"Kanda, stand back for now," Asami ordered.
Goda had lost most of his weight from the run and captivity, leaving him with no more than a hundred and thirty pounds. Tiny hair spurted out unevenly from his once bald hair and he looked downright pathetic in his unshaven face.
"You're disappointing me. I wasn't expecting for you to beg so quickly." Asami said, clasping his hand as he leaned back against his seat.
"It wasn't – me."
Asami's eyes darkened. "You thought you committed the perfect crime. Hiring one of your henchmen to kill Sakazaki and put the blame on me. Once I'm in prison, you plan to take over my position." The crime lord accepted a glass of brandy from Kirishima, sipped it. "You flatter yourself Goda. You're not my match."
"You're a cruel man, Asami," Goda whispered. He raised his bloody hands to his face and sobbed.
"You framed me for Sakazaki's murder." Asami's voice was icy cool. "And you intend to capture Akihito to avenge your son. Think carefully what you have done and you'll be thankful that you did not receive a punishment worse than this."
"You buried me alive!" Goda screamed. "Do you know how it felt to be inside the coffin, all alone with no light and sound?"
Asami smirked. "Torture has many forms Goda, and for cowards like you, psychological torture is just one of them." The crime lord sipped his drink again. "Looking at your pathetic face right now reassured me that this method is excellent."
"I rather you put a bullet in my head and kill me," Goda said weakly.
"That takes half the fun away, doesn't it?"
Still in kneeling position, Goda whispered. "What do you want to do with me?"
"I'm glad you asked," Asami said pleasantly before addressing Kanda. "Pull him up."
"What are you doing? HEY!" Goda screamed when a few uniformed guards pull the former head of the Goda clan to his feet. They dragged him to a nearby tree and efficiently bound him around the trunk.
"Let me go! What do you want, Asami?" Goda screamed.
"Kanda, gag him."
The guard nodded and pulled put a cloth. He stuffed it in his mouth and signaled his colleagues for a duct tape. The camera moved closer to Goda, allowing Asami to see his fear-stricken eyes.
"Let me tell you what I intend to do to you, Goda Orochi." Asami took his glass of whisky, sipped it. "I'll cut you up and bury you alive."
Goda's eyes widened.
"You're mistaken if you think I'm going to put a bullet to your head. I'll kill you slowly, so you'll experience both pain and fear before you die," Asami snarled.
Since Goda was gagged, all he could do was shook his head.
"Kanda, get your knife ready."
The guard took his hunting knife out. "Boss, what do you want us to do next?"
Asami glanced backwards. "Kirishima, are you familiar with the human anatomy?"
The secretary looked up from his tablet, smiled. "Of course, Asami sama."
The crime lord stood up from his seat and walked to the window. "Good. Instruct Kanda how to avoid the vital points. After that, dump him back to the coffin and bury him."
As Kirishima began his instructions, Asami took a moment to look at outside. There weren't many people on the ski mountain, he made sure of that. His business partner assured him that he would limit the number of people in the ski mountain for Akihito's skiing pleasure.
And from the looks of it, the man kept his promise. Asami spotted Akihito throwing a snowball at Ando. Really, the boy gets excited over the simplest things. He watched Akihito threw a few more snowballs at Toru and Ando before focusing his attention back on the screen.
Kirishima was doing an excellent job as a tutor. Kanda did exactly as he was told and avoided most of Goda's vital points as he stabbed the former yakuza over and over again. Asami heard cries, which he presumed came from Goda's closest subordinates. He smirked. He was seriously enjoying this.
"Kanda, that's enough," Asami said and the guard immediately stopped. "We don't want him to die of blood loss too quickly, do we?"
Kanda bowed. "Understood boss."
"Throw him into the coffin," Asami ordered, taking his seat again. "And when you're done with him, get rid of the rest."
As the guards carried out their duties, Asami sipped his whisky and enjoyed the show.
Xx Business as Usual xX
It was near dinner time when Asami met Akihito at the entrance of the hotel to depart to their hotel. According to Toru, the boy had showered and changed after swimming at the man-made beach. He made a couple of five-year-old friends at the pool and even taught them how to swim, much to the children's delight.
"What have you been doing all these time?" Akihito eyed his lover before looking out of the car into darkness. "And where are we going?"
Never fond of darkness, Akihito actually shifted closer to Asami, something he wouldn't do voluntarily during the day.
"Working," Asami answered, rested his gaze on Akihito. The boy was too preoccupied looking outside to realize he was being stared. "We're going for dinner before retiring for the night. And –" Asami pulled the boy closer to him. "For you to sit so close to me voluntarily, it meant that you are really not fond of the darkness."
"I – I just hated the feeling not knowing where we are," Akihito defended but made no attempts to move away from the older man. "Night in the city is different. They are lights everywhere and it's actually pretty. Everything is pitch black here. Imagine if our car broke down or we got lost in the forest." Akihito shuddered at the thought.
Asami smirked. "If this is what is worrying you, you don't have to. Ando is driving another car at the back."
"I don't mean that way." He kept his attention in front, watching the wipers swiped away the falling snow on the windscreen. "How long are we from our destination?"
Kirishima checked the built-in GPS. "About fifteen minutes, Takaba sama."
Akihito nodded and remained silent for the rest of the journey. Asami couldn't remember his lover being so afraid of the dark and Toru never reported it either. He guessed after numerous kidnapping and near death experiences, Akihito became sensitive to darkness.
The crime lord looked outside. It was still snowing heavily and apart from a few streetlights, everything else was dark. The journey continued for another ten minutes before Suoh slowed down and signaled left. He turned in, drove further in for about five minutes before reaching a huge fence gate with a "Private Property, No Trespassing" sign on the gate.
"Where are we?" Akihito asked nervously when he noticed four men walking towards them. One of the men slid his hands inside his coat, presumably at his gun.
Asami tightened his arms around the boy. "Relax."
Kirishima wind down the windows as the men approached. They approached cautiously but as soon as they were near enough to see Kirishima, they stood straight and bowed.
"Kirishima san, our apologies. We were not informed of your arrival." The guard peered inside and immediately bowed when he saw Asami. "Asami sama."
The secretary waved his hand. "Asami sama would like to pass."
The guard nodded. "Of – of course!" He turned to his colleagues. "Open up."
Akihito turned to Asami. "What's going on here? Where is this place?"
"It's just a few acres of land that I acquired a few years ago," Asami said and watched Akihito merely nodded in agreement. Obviously uncomfortable by the dark surrounding, the boy continued to look around warily.
The car continued through the smooth paved road, passing through what looked like a maze of pine trees. There was little light along the way and the Range Rover had to rely on its headlights to navigate around.
The narrow road soon opened up to a large clearing. The car pulled to a stop and Kirishima immediately stepped out to open the door.
Akihito stepped on the freshly covered snow ground, looking around. An igloo looking house caught his attention as it was the only lighted building in the area. The semi-circle dome had clear thermal glass installed around the walls and ceiling, allowing clear views of its surrounding.
"This is—"
Asami placed a hand behind Akihito's back and nudged him forward. "This is where we're staying for the night."
Akihito looked up at his lover as he continued walking. "An igloo?"
"Heard of the igloo hotel in Finland?" When Akihito nodded his head, Asami continued, "This resembled the hotel although unfortunately, we wouldn't be able to see the Northern Lights from here."
Kirishima opened the door, allowing Akihito to step into the igloo. Akihito had only read about igloos in the magazines and had always thought that it was small and cramp. Well, maybe for traditional igloos but since this was Asami's, it was accurate to assume that the crime lord had intentionally built it according to his preferred size.
The igloo was easily larger than two apartments combined in Tokyo. It was warm and cozy, largely due to the heater and modern fireplace. The king size bed on a raised platform caught Akihito's attention first. It was nearly impossible to miss, the furniture being located at the center of the room. Next to the bed, a long couch stood facing the glass, offering a full view of the snow covered pine trees.
There were huge pillows on the carpeted floor and to Akihito's surprise; they were his taste rather than Asami's. Turning around, he noticed a small kitchen located at the far end and a well-equipped toilet nearby. Thankfully, the walls to the washroom were tiled. Akihito didn't think he could go to the bathroom in peace knowing someone might see him peeing.
He continued checking out the place, and before long found a door that led him to a room. Like the rest of the igloo, the walls were made of thermal glass overlooking the pine trees outside. That did not surprise Akihito; what surprised him was actually the privateindoor onsen pool.
"Like it?"
Akihito looked around, amazed with the huge pool. "This – this – this is insane!" He looked at the crime lord, who looked anything but amused. "Did you build this for our holiday?"
Asami led the photographer back to the room where the dining table had been set. "I am venturing into igloo hotels in Hokkaido. And this is a good opportunity for me to test it out before the architects start designing."
"It's still a little over the top," Akihito commented before taking his seat in front of the dining table. "But—" Akihito smiled, taking a sip of his wine, "—of all the places you brought me, this is probably the best I've ever been. I feel like I'm in heaven!"
Asami took his seat across Akihito, poured himself some champagne. "You will experience heaven soon, Akihito."
That statement alone made Akihito's cheeks turned beet red.
Xx Business as Usual xX
Akihito couldn't recall the last time he had a scrumptious meal. A very high quality steak, washed down with a glass of very excellent wine. It was freezing cold outside, with temperatures dropping to minus fifteen at night but inside the igloo, protected against the thermal glass, everything was warm and cozy.
To say that the view was magnificent was an understatement. It wasn't what Akihito deemed as a cheerful place, considering it was dark and gloomy during winter but it was heavenly. Bright spotlights were installed below the trees, offering a full close up shots of the pine trees and its surroundings. It was calm, peaceful and serene.
"This is nice." Akihito leaned back on the couch, looking at the pine trees.
"I gather you like this place?" Asami asked, taking his seat beside Akihito. He offered Akihito another glass of wine, which the boy accepted.
"Yeah." He drank the wine, placed the glass on the table. He caught a glimpse of the digital clock next to the bedside table.
An hour before midnight. Akihito thought. The Christmas present he purchased for Asami was safely tucked in his backpack and he hoped his guards had kept their promise about keeping the present a secret.
Asami topped his wine glass again and without thinking, he gulped it down. The white wine tasted slightly sweet, just the way he liked it.
"This white wine is quite potent," Asami warned when Akihito reached for the bottle.
Akihito actually smiled. "Don't be stingy."
After two more gulps, Akihito was deeply regretting his actions. He felt slightly tipsy from the drink—which he expected; but he didn't think that being tipsy had effects to the lower part of his body. Unless the drink was laced by some sort of weird substance, he shouldn't have felt aroused at all.
The photographer looked sideways at Asami. The older man looked anything but intoxicated and Akihito started to wonder if Asami had drunk his wine at all.
Shit. He felt his pants tightened at each passing second and quickly grabbed the huge pillow on the couch to cover his crotch. He panted, mostly because he was too aroused.
"Akihito."
The low baritone voice made Akihito lost it. Flinging his pillow aside, he straddled the older man and crushed their lips together.
Xx Business as Usual xX
Warnings: Contains depictions of sex. Please skip to the next page break if you're uncomfortable with graphic sex scenes.
It always pleases Asami seeing a very forward Akihito in bed. The boy was always shy and while he loved teasing Akihito, it was refreshing to see his lover taking the lead once in a while.
He thought something was wrong when Akihito grabbed the pillow to place it on his crotch. Thinking that Akihito might have gotten himself drunk after nearly emptying the entire bottle of white wine on his own, he was expecting Akihito to start spouting nonsense when the boy climbed onto his lap.
"Akihito, you drunkard," Asami said, wrapping his hand around the boy's waist.
"Sh—shut up."
Asami remained still as he watched his lover trying to tug at his tie. His body swayed, his hands shook but he showed no intentions of giving up. When he finally managed to pull the tie free, Akihito's hands went to his designer shirt, only to fumble with the buttons.
Apparently the boy was too intoxicated to do the job properly. As much as Asami liked watching Akihito take the lead, he also loved a writhing Akihito moaning under him. In one swift moment, Asami reversed their position, trapping Akihito beneath him on the couch.
He pushed Akihito's hands away, took over the task of unbuttoning his own shirt and Akihito's. That took him less than ten seconds since all he did was ripping the shirts away. He pushed Akihito's jeans down, shed his own dress pants and dimmed the lights.
Since the couch wasn't as spacious as the ones he had at his penthouse, Asami pulled Akihito to the carpeted floor and lay him down on the huge plush pillows.
As he bent down to kiss his lover, Akihito suddenly pushed him away. "The glass windows, they're not tinted!"
Asami grabbed the boy's hands, pushing them above his head. "For you to realize this, you're not that drunk than I originally thought."-
"What if someone sees us?" Akihito asked, his eyes kept darting to the glass.
Still hovering above the photographer, Asami bent down to lick the boy's erogenous spot, the hollow just below the nape of his neck. "This is a private property."
Akihito moaned. "What—what about the guards?"
"Their accommodations are located elsewhere. It's just us within a kilometer radius." Asami pinched Akihito's nipples and the boy let out a moan. He stopped, waited for Akihito to open his eyes to look at him before continuing, "And unless they do not value their lives, they'd be smart not to play peeping Tom."
"You're serious?" Akihito managed to ask before he was completely drowned in Asami's masterful touches. "Don't – ah!" he moaned when the older man bent down to lick his nipples.
Ignoring the boy's questions, Asami turned his attention towards the other nipple and bit it gently. His fingers travelled further down, searched the boy's cock and wrapped his hands around it.
"A—Asami."
Akihito hadn't called his given name; it meant he hadn't completely lost it yet. Leaving the slightly swollen nipples, Asami moved downwards and replaced his hand with his mouth.
This time, Akihito jerked with pleasure before letting out a delicious moan. Asami knew exactly how to pleasure Akihito. He knew Akihito's sensitive spots, knew how to tease Akihito until the boy shuddered from the erotic pleasures.
Akihito thrashed his head side to side, his hands raked Asami's perfectly combed hair as he gently thrust his hips upward to match Asami's speed. It took Akihito only a moment before pleasure exploded and released himself into Asami's mouth.'
Asami pulled away, wiped the remaining cum on his lips with his thumb and gazed at the boy. Akihito's chest heaved up and down, as if he had run a five kilometer marathon. His eyelids were heavy as they were about to close but as soon as he caught Asami staring at him, he covered his face.
Asami smirked. After so many times they had each other, his Akihito was still shy.
Since he didn't think Akihito was in any state to walk, he hooked his hand beneath Akihito's knees and neck, and carried him up bridal style. He laid Akihito on the bed, a gesture that was both gentle and uncharacteristic for Asami. The boy's eyes widened slightly, an indication that even he was surprised.
You are about to get more surprises.
Hovering above his lover, Asami cupped the boy's chin and crushed his mouth on his. "I like your expression, Akihito."
Before Akihito could reply, Asami switched positions. He pulled the boy on top of him and whispered. "Pleasure me, Akihito."
Still slightly intoxicated, Akihito obeyed. Asami cushioned his head with his hands and watched interestingly as his young lover engulfed his cock into his mouth.
Embarrassed, Akihito closed his eyes as he worked on pleasuring Asami. The shy act only aroused Asami and the crime lord fought the urge to bury his hands at Akihito's head and thrust his cock deep into Akihito's mouth.
The boy had been trained according to his preference and Akihito knew exactly know to please. Asami cursed when Akihito curled his tongue around the sensitive area of the head, licking and sucking it gently.
Finding his control slipping, Asami stopped Akihito just before he climax. "Ride me, Akihito."
It was an offer Akihito could never refuse. The boy straddled him quickly, positioned himself before lowering himself gently onto Asami's hardened cock. As usual, Akihito was tight but he managed to loosen up pretty quickly. The photographer moved slowly at first before gradually increasing his speed until he was riding comfortably at his desired speed.
Riding on top required stamina and it was something Akihito lacked, especially after his release. The boy grew tired a few minutes into straddling him and Asami knew it was time to take charge.
The night had been pleasurable but he hadn't gotten what he wanted yet. Reversing positions again, he made Akihito go on all fours before taking him from behind. He slammed into Akihito with long hard strokes, rode him fast. Slipping his hands in front, he found Akihito's hardened cock and teased it in a way he knew would make his lover go wild.
The combination of Asami's action had Akihito crying out and it was then Asami heard what he had been longing to hear all night.
"Ryuichi, please."
Asami's lips curved. Gripping Akihito's hips, he thrust home.
Xx Business as Usual xX
It was still dark when Akihito awoke from his sleep. He turned, lie on his back and looked up. The glass dome offered a spectacular view of the sky. The spotlights under the pine trees had been turned off, allowing Akihito a clear view of the starry skies without the light pollution. The entire scene looked like a milky way to Akihito. Some stars shone brightly while others merely flickered every now and then.
And Akihito had never seen anything so beautiful. For the first time in many months, Akihito found that he enjoyed the darkness. After being captured by Chey Rith's men, Akihito was blindfolded and thrown in the car trunk. Scared and trapped, Akihito nearly went crazy from the psychological torture. Even after his rescue, he slept with the lights off only if Asami were sleeping next to him.
But now, for some weird reason, the darkness was comforting. He stared at it for another full five minutes before reaching his hands up. He'd never touch the stars but somehow they felt so near and he had the urge to try.
"Just woke up?"
Embarrassed, Akihito withdrew his hand and turned to the side. His lover, clad in a white bathrobe, sat on the couch facing the bed, watching him.
"Pervert, don't watch me when I sleep," Akihito grumbled as he sat up. He felt something on his chest and brushed it off without thinking. Instead of a strand of hair that he originally thought, his hand came across something hard.
He looked down but since it was dark, he couldn't see well. He grabbed the remote control and switched the bed lamps on. The lights were set low and offered nothing more than a dim but Akihito got a good look.
It was a thin silver chain with a pendant loop around it. Taking a closer look, the photographer noticed that the pendant was a black stone of some sort. He was no diamond expert but he recognized the gem almost immediately.
"The black diamond," he whispered unbelievably before staring at Asami. When the older man merely smirked, Akihito asked again, "How—how did you get it? I gave it to the Master!"
Standing up, Asami walked to the bed, sat next to Akihito. "I got it back," he answered casually.
"Got it back?" Akihito turned to Asami, his eyes widened. "What did you do to the Master?"
"I merely took it back from him. He's still alive and kicking, if that's what worries you."
Releasing a breath of relief, Akihito rested his back on the headrest. "No – no, I don't mean that. I was a little worried that the Master might find out about us if you send your subordinates to retrieve the diamond."
Asami nudged Akihito's chin up. "You really think I'd be careless?"
Akihito grinned. "I forgot, you're the biggest criminal around – and a perverted one too." He looked at the pendant again before locking his gaze at Asami. "Is this my Christmas present?"
"Were you expecting more?" Asami asked, releasing the boy.
"Thank god. I was worried if you'd get me this igloo as my Christmas present."
"You can have it if you want."
"No! What the hell would I do with an igloo?" Akihito looked at his pendant again. "This is good enough. Thanks."
The crime lord raised an eyebrow. "You're accepting a gift without resisting. Perhaps I should take you away for holidays more often."
Akihito got off the bed quickly to hide his blush. "Sh—shut up. It's the holidays. Besides, this is way better than the other stuff you bought for me – and cheaper too."
Looking at Akihito rummaging through his backpack, the older man smirked. "I'll have you know that the gem on your neck is not as cheap as you think."
The boy glanced back, his eyes narrowed into slits. "I know that; I meant compared to the properties that you bought for me," he said and continued searching his bag. He found what he was looking for, pulled out the small bag and stood up.
Hiding the package behind his back, he made his way back to the bed where his lover sat watching him. He walked slowly, cheeks burning as he looked at the carpeted floor – and he wasn't even embarrassed because he was naked.
"Are you going to stand at the foot of the bed, marveling at my carpet?"
Damn the bastard.
Gathering his courage, Akihito took two giant steps until he was standing next to Asami. "For you." He pushed the package to his lover and quickly went to the sitting area with his back facing Asami.
Akihito could almost hear Asami snickering at him. Raising his knees to his chest, he buried his face as he waited. He heard Asami got up from the bed with the package and when he thought he could almost die from the constant pounding of his heart, he felt something warm on his head.
It was his robe.
"Put this on before you catch a cold."
Dutifully, the boy did as he was told, all the while watching his lover. Gracefully, Asami took his seat next to him and calmly opened the beautifully wrapped package.
"A pen?"
Akihito faced his lover. "I saw the pen and thought that the style matches you," he defended. "I was pretty broke and this pen was all I could afford."
He watched Asami scrutinized the writing instrument before placing it back in its box. "So, you like it?"
"I do, thank you," Asami said before kissing the boy on his lips.
Akihito actually responded to the kiss. "That's a relief," he said. "But then, Toru said that this is your preferred brand so it should be fine. I'm glad I decided not to buy from that snooty store."
"Which store?"
"The one at the second street in Ginza," Akihito answered without realizing Asami's displeasure. "The salesperson actually thought I had no money to pay. True, I'm dirt poor but she didn't have to look at me like that!"
"I see."
Again, Akihito was too riled up to realize Asami's voice had turned cool. He grabbed a huge cushion pillow, hugging it. "There's another thing in the package," he mumbled and watched nervously as Asami emptied the contents of the bag.
"It's not really a present since I took it from my clothing store in Ginza," Akihito explained when Asami pulled out a black tie with delicate designs.
"Then, why did you get it for me?"
Akihito's cheeks when a shade redder. "You seemed to awfully like the tie I got for you last Christmas. You were always wearing it so I thought you might need another."
"Akihito."
"Wh – what—" he managed to ask before he felt himself being pushed on the couch. Back pressed on the couch, he stared at his lover hovering above him.
"Buying a tie for me, you're really eager to tie me down."
Akihito turned his head aside, his cheeks burned. Even after a few years living with the man, he still couldn't get used to looking at Asami's face.
"What are you talking? It's only a tie."
Caging Akihito's hands above his head, Asami bend down to lick the nape of Akihito's neck, causing the boy to moan. "I told you once that buying a tie for someone meant that he wants to tie down his partner –" Asami paused to untie the boy's robe. "—which also meant that he eagerly wants the partner to settle down with him."
"What—what're you saying?" Akihito asked, stifling a moan when he felt Asami's large hands closed around his cock.
"You didn't have to get me a tie to propose. I'd gladly make you an Asami."
This time, Akihito's eyes flashed. "Dream on, you bastard." He squirmed. "Let go of me, I want to try out the onsen pool."
Asami showed no signs of letting the boy go. "Don't worry," he whispered in a tone that made Akihito shiver in excitement. "I'll do you nice and good – then I'll carry you to the pool."
Ah fuck it. Akihito's lust filled mind thought. It's the holidays after all; it wouldn't hurt to play docile once in a while.
As Asami entered him, he cupped the boy's face in his palms and whispered. "Merry Christmas, Akihito."
Xx Business as Usual xX
By the time Asami carried him to the pool, Akihito was exhausted. He came thrice that night alone and with all the skiing he had done earlier in the afternoon, he was beat. The water was warmer than usual and he almost wept when Asami lowered him into the water. The sulfur water soothed his sore muscles, helping him relax almost immediately.
Asami slid into the pool, sat next to him. Akihito took some time to marvel at the scenery outside. It was dark but he could see the silhouette of the pine trees swaying gently. Once or twice, clumps of snow amassed on the trees earlier fell onto the ground, causing a gentle thud.
Akihito was sure that it was freezing cold outside but he had never felt warmer now. The combination of hot and cold was heaven.
His thoughts went to his guards and briefly wondered where they were spending the night. He thought of Shiba and was pleased that the man was finally freed after being wrongly sentenced.
Kuroda sensei really did a good job with the case.
Memories of what happened that night at the hotel came flooding back. Kuroda was furious with him and blamed him for causing Asami's capture. For the longest time, he wondered what sort of relationship did those two have. Kuroda was highly capable and a person Asami depended on. Likewise, Kuroda would sacrifice anything to help Asami.
Perhaps the biggest mystery between the two was, they were on first name basis. Akihito had never known anyone who calls Asami so casually, let alone his given name. When they were trapped in the hotel room, Akihito finally gathered his courage and asked the question he had always wanted to know.
We're family. Kuroda had answered.
But from what Akihito had gathered, Asami didn't have anyone he called family. Kirishima and Suoh were perhaps the closest people in his life.
His mind battled for some answers until he realized that it was pointless trying to assume. He'd ask Asami directly.
"Hey Asami," Akihito asked nervously before gazing at his lover. When Asami remained silent, Akihito gathered his courage to continue. "I – I asked Kuroda sensei about your relationship with him."
"And?"
"He said you and he were family." Akihito felt a pang of jealousy and looked away. "Well, are you?"
"Jealous, Akihito?"
Akihito tried to move away but Asami pulled him closer. "Why would I be?"
"Really?" Asami asked, amused. "Then why did you look away?"
"No – no other reason." Akihito said, but again he averted his gaze. "If you don't want to tell me, it's fine."
"It's not really a secret," Asami said as he draped an arm around Akihito's shoulder.
"You guys are really brothers?" Akihito asked again.
"Not in a way you imagine. We're not blood related."
Akihito gazed at Asami confused. "I don't understand."
Asami curved a smile. "Shinji and I both grew up at the orphanage. We had no one but ourselves so he treated me like a brother."
Akihito immediately looked troubled. "I'm sorry. I didn't know."
"It's nothing to be sorry about."
"You guys are almost the same age right?"
"He's younger by a year," Asami said and watched the water lapped gently from Akihito's constant moving about. "We were young and had nothing but we were ambitious and swore that we never wanted to be poor again."
Akihito hugged his knees. "Why did Kuroda sensei become a lawyer then?"
"You have to ask him that, Akihito."
Akihito made no further comments. He could roughly guess why Kuroda chose his profession because of Asami although he failed to see why Kuroda would want to be a District Attorney rather than a Defense Lawyer. No matter the reason, the fact that Kuroda would go all lengths for Asami was undeniable.
Unlike Akihito, Kuroda was reliable.
And useful to Asami. While he messes up and puts Asami's life in danger, Kuroda Shinji helped him. While he's the brat, Kuroda's the man.
The thought alone made Akihito hate himself. He hated to admit it but Kuroda Shinji looked like a person who can support Asami, both in business and bed.
"What are you thinking?"
Unwilling to let Asami see his troubled face, Akihito quickly turned his back to Asami. "Nothing."
His shaky tone didn't go unnoticed. The crime lord stood up, pulled him up from the pool and carried him to the bed. He dumped the boy on the bed but before he could trap him beneath him, Akihito escaped.
Asami caught him again and this time, he pushed him to the wall. Trapping the photographer there, he nudged Akihito's chin up and made the boy looked at him.
The golden eyes narrowed and Akihito quickly averted his eyes again.
"Look at me, Akihito."
Akihito did but he concentrated on Asami's glistened skin.
"I don't know what nonsense you are thinking right now, Akihito. But I'm warning you, don't attempt foolish things."
Akihito dared himself to meet Asami's gaze. "Foolish things?"
"Like taking off because you think Shinji is more compatible with me."
Akihito gulped guiltily. "I wasn't thinking about that but sometimes I doubt if I'm useful enough –,"
"Oh?" Asami raised an eyebrow. "You're still having doubts, Akihito?" Tracing his finger down Akihito's chest, Asami smirked. "Perhaps I haven't shown you enough, have I?"
"What do you – hey!" Akihito yelped when Asami carried him to the bed.
Grabbing the new tie Akihito bought for him, Asami tied his lover's hands above his head. He bent down; bit the boy's nipples on purpose. "I'm going to erase those foolish thoughts and show you just how useful you are."
Knowing that he was in deep trouble, Akihito wriggled. "I already know, Asami. So let me go –,"
"—No, you don't," Asami said, his lips curved. "You're probably thinking that it'd be better for me to be with Shinji instead. Just the thought of it is revolting."
"I didn't – ah!" Akihito's body jerked when Asami slip a ring around his cock.
Damn it, when did he bring those stuff? He watched helplessly as Asami licked the tip of his cock, all the while looking at him.
"Don't worry Akihito. We have all night. I'll make sure you learn this time –" he whispered before slipping a plug inside him. "— exactly who you belong to."
As Asami began to move the plug in and out of him, all Akihito could think was,
'Akihito, you baka!'
OWARI
OMAKE [I]
In an another cabin
Shiba Masaki sat on the single bed in the cabin, staring outside the window. He was placed in a single cabin next in between Kirishima and Toru. The lodging was surprisingly comfortable and if he didn't know any better, he would have thought that the cabins were meant for other more important guest.
He had heard so many rumors about Asami being a cold blooded criminal – one who would kill anyone who dared to defy him. Shiba didn't think that they were lying but this was a side of Asami that he hadn't known either.
He learned a lot through observing his new employer. First, he had been right about Akihito's and Asami's relationship. He had his doubts; mainly because Asami went so far as to use his own money to help him clear the case. Toru reaffirmed his suspicions and after the initial shock of learning that they were an item, Shiba finally understood why Akihito was willing to go to all lengths for the case. The photographer wanted to protect Asami.
Another thing Shiba learned was Asami treated his staff generously. According to Ando, the boss valued his employees, so as long as they remained loyal to him. Judging from how fondly the guards spoke of the boss, Shiba had no doubts that they admired Asami Ryuichi.
Looking at his own cabin again, Shiba realized that this was probably the best accommodation he had been in his life. The pay in the police force was so pathetically low that he couldn't even afford to stay in a three star hotel, let alone luxurious cabins like this. The pay Kirishima offered him easily doubled from what he had earned as a detective.
Shiba lay on the bed, staring into space. It was weird how things went from hell to heaven in a matter of months. He still couldn't believe his incredible luck. Condemned to serve his time in the six by eight prison cell, he was prepared to die in it when he was given a second chance.
"And now, I worked for the man who I have been trying to capture," Shiba muttered, staring at his hands.
What an unbelievable tale this was.
The knock on his cabin distracted his train of thoughts. He sat up, walked to the front and peeped through the hole. It was Ando.
"What's wrong Ando san?" He asked the minute he opened the door.
"Can I come in?" Ando asked. He kept looking around nervously, which was odd to Shiba.
"Sure."
Still clad in the suit he was wearing that morning, the young guard looked somewhat troubled when he sat on the couch.
"What's the matter?"
In an attempt to distract Shiba's suspicions, Ando smiled. "Nothing, I thought of dropping by and asking how was your first day was as Asami sama's subordinate."
"It's more than I could hope for," Shiba answered truthfully. "I'm grateful for this second chance."
Ando looked outside the window again before looking at Shiba. "That's good."
Shiba followed Ando's gaze outside the window before looking at Ando again. "Ando san, is everything all right? You don't look fine."
Ando stood up from his seat, walked to the windows, peeped outside before pulling the drapes shut. He sat on the couch again, pulling out his phone in the process.
"Shiba san, I have someone here who wants to talk to you," he whispered, passing the phone to Shiba.
A man Shiba knew all too well stared right back at him. A muscular man with square face and crew cut hair, he wore the same uniform Shiba had once worn.
"Shiba Masaki san."
"Inspector Mori," he whispered unbelievably.
"You know me."
"Of course; you're one of the elites in the police force." Shiba looked at Ando. "Ando san, what's going on here?"
"Shiba san, since we do not have time, I'll cut to the chase. Do you want to come back to the police force?"
Shiba's eyes widened. "What do you mean?"
Inspector Mori smiled. "All you have to do is help me bring down Asami Ryuichi and the job is yours."
"You're kidding," Shiba whispered before anger took over. "You're fucking with me? You messed up my life and now you want me to help you?"
"Calm down, Shiba san. You and I both know that you don't belong with the underworld. You're a man of justice and the police force is where you truly belong."
Shiba curled his fists. "Both Takaba and Asami helped me – when no one else would. They took me out of that hell hole."
Mori rested his hands on his table, leaning nearer to the screen. "You know who Asami truly is. He's ruthless and he'll get rid of you when you're no value to him." Mori zeroed his gaze on Shiba. "I know what you really want, Shiba kun. You want your family to accept you again, you want the society to know that you're innocent –," Mori trailed off before continuing, "I can help you with that."
"How?"
"Help me bring down Asami Ryuichi and not only will you get the promotion you've always wanted in the police force, I will also make sure that your family knows the truth."
Shiba stared at the Inspector, slightly stunned. "So you want me to double cross Asami Ryuichi?"
Mori smiled warmly. "Call it an undercover mission, Detective. You and I can put Asami in prison for life and you'll have the life you always wanted."
"What if I say no?"
Mori's expression turned serious. "Of course, I cannot force you to help me. But remember, you'll be in our radar if you turned the offer down. Sooner or later, we'll put you in prison again."
Shiba couldn't take it any longer. Punching his fist on the table, he said angrily, "So be it!"
He exited the video before staring at Ando. His eyes burned. "Are you with him? Do you intend to double cross the boss and betray Takaba Akihito?"
Ando managed to call Shiba's name before the former policeman attacked. Yanking Ando by his collar, he curled his fists and rammed it on Ando's face.
Fortunately, Ando was well trained and had anticipated the hit. He dodged the attack and managed to knee Shiba on his stomach.
"You're not my match, Shiba san. You know it."
Clutching at his stomach, Shiba gritted his teeth. "I might not be your match but I rather die trying to beat the crap out of you than do what you do."
Shiba lunged, pushing Ando to the ground. He straddled the young guard, grabbed his collar and hit him hard on the face. Ando managed to dodge the second hit by pushing Shiba away but the former policeman wasn't about to give up, he stood up and charged.
"That's enough."
The command had both men froze. Slowly, Shiba turned his attention towards the opened door and saw his new employer at the door, flanked by Kirishima and Toru. The man walked inside, avoided the broken coffee table before making his way to the single seater couch.
"Asami sama, I –"
"You passed, Shiba kun."
Thinking that his ears weren't functioning properly, Shiba averted his gaze to the guards. While Ando was rubbing his sore jaw, Kirishima had a satisfactory smile on his face. Toru bore no emotions as usual.
"I – I'm afraid I don't understand," Shiba began.
"Take a seat, Shiba kun."
Obediently, Shiba sat on the couch opposite Asami. Still confused, he scrutinized Asami's face, hoping for some answers.
"You passed the test," Asami said again, smirking.
When Shiba once again, looked beyond clueless, Kirshima took it as his cue to speak. "The offer was a hoax. It was a test to see if you would accept the offer and betray Asami sama."
"Hoax? But – but - Inspector Mori – he—"
"Inspector Mori works for Asami sama," Kirishima added and watched his colleague's jaw dropped an inch.
"You mean he's a spy?" Shiba muttered in disbelief. "But, all these while he has been solving cases, catching drug dealers and criminals –"
"Those arrests were needed to avoid suspicions," Kirishima explained.
Again, Shiba stared at Kirishima, completely stunned. Never in his wildest dreams could he imagine that one of the most respected police officers turned out to be one of Asami's men. If that were the truth, it wasn't a surprise that Asami reigned the underworld. It took Shiba another twenty seconds before he could finally speak again.
"The offer – it wasn't an actual offer?" Shiba asked again, just to be certain.
This time, it was Toru who answered. "No."
"But what happens if I accepted the offer?"
Asami retrieve his Dunhill cigarette pack from the inner pockets of his jacket. The action offered Shiba a full view of Asami's gun secured in his shoulder holster. Lighting his cigarette, Asami took his first drag before answering, "You already knew the answer, don't you Shiba Masaki san?"
Asami's golden eyes were so penetrating that Shiba fought back a shudder. "Ye—Yes."
"But even I was a little surprise with your refusal. It's an offer too attractive to be turned down," Asami added.
"It's a promise I made to myself. You saved me from that hell hole, gave me a job when I had nothing." Shiba looked away. "The offer was attractive but I had no intention of going anywhere."
Satisfied, Asami took a backward glance at Kirishima. The secretary immediately produced a small briefcase. He opened the briefcase, revealing a semi-automatic.
For a moment, Shiba looked tense as the crime lord removed the gun from its compartment but when Asami placed the gun on the table, the former policeman became confused.
"Asami sama?"
Asami stood up, walked to the door. As Kirishima opened the door for Asami, the crime lord glanced at a confused Shiba. "Welcome to Sion, Shiba Masaki kun. Report to the training center once we get back to Tokyo."
Shiba couldn't be more stunned.
OMAKE PART II
"Shiba, are you all right?"
Shiba looked up from the gun he was holding to his colleagues.
Kirishima walked into the cabin first, followed by Suoh, Toru and Ando. They took their seats in the cramped sofa and waited for Shiba to respond.
"Don't you have to accompany Takaba sama?"
"Takaba sama is with Asami sama at the moment. We had orders to retire for the night," Toru answered.
Ando grinned. "And we figured you probably need some company after what happened just now."
Suoh stood up and grabbed five glasses from the cabinet. "Heard what happened. I'm surprise you didn't notice Ando was acting it out. He was such a poor actor," the bulky guard said as he poured whisky on the glasses.
Ando scratched his head. "I told you I'm not good in acting, Suoh san. Toru san should have taken the task but he insisted that I should do it."
Shiba accepted the drink from Suoh, gulped it down. "I didn't notice you were pretending, Ando san. I thought you were nervous about someone finding out the secret meet up."
"That was why Toru wanted Ando to do it. Unlike Ando, Toru is too calm and Shiba would probably find out that Toru was only pretending," Kirishima said before looking at Toru. "Am I right, Toru?"
Toru nodded. "Ando is more suitable for the job because his reactions are more natural compared to mine."
Placing the glass on the table, Shiba stared at Toru. "Looking at you now, it's hard to know what you're even thinking about. I believe if you came instead of Ando, you'd fool me too." Shiba watched Suoh refilled his glass. "Are the interviews always this intense?"
"No," Suoh said, placing the bottle on the table. "Most guards went through normal interviews. Of course, their backgrounds have been screened prior to the interview but it's rare for the boss to conduct an interview like this."
"Then why –"
"Your background," Toru explained.
Kirishima nodded. "You're a former policeman, Shiba. Asami sama needs to know where your loyalty lies before he officially takes you under his wing."
Shiba sat back, rested his back against the couch. "I didn't know interviews could be –," he trailed off, thinking of a suitable word to reply. It took him a while before he finally muttered, "—like this. It's mentally challenging."
All three guards, saved for Toru smiled. As Shiba looked at his new colleagues questioningly, Suoh pushed another glass of whisky to Shiba's hands. "Believe me; your interview isn't as challenging as Toru's.
Kirishima and Ando couldn't agree more.
Xx Business as Usual- OWARI xX
Thank you so much for reading!
A/N: I have to admit, I am running out of ideas with Business as Usual. I am thinking to end the series and focus on It's a Family Affair, a spin off (and sorta continuation) from Business as Usual where Asami's children are the main characters in the fiction. But don't panic, it's just a thought. Leave a review and share your thoughts with me, okay?
A/N2: This chapter was meant to be light, which was why I didn't include a lengthy torture scene. I hope the fluffy scenes were acceptable.
Thank you so much for all the reviews! Over 3300 reviews and counting; you guys are the best!
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