First, Takaba Akihito's mind started to awaken, then second, his body. Woah, I am groggy and it feels like a thousand little men are hammering my skull and my throat is sore! What happened? Oh wait…..I was at the center…..and then I left…..black van…..guys in skimasks…..

Takaba, or Aki as he was known on the streets, tried to at least open his eyes in his weakened state with his head pounding fiercely. His eye lids were heavy and at first he thought it was from whatever drug they had used to knock him out but he realized all too quickly that he was blindfolded.

Suddenly panicking, Takaba jerked his tired limbs hearing the clanking sounds simultaneously as he felt the restraints now chafing the skin on his wrists and ankles. What the…..?

As if the sore throat and excruciating headache were not enough, Takaba's heart was beating fast and hard, his breathing labored as his fight or flight response took over.

He pieced together the events leading up to that moment, the photos, talking to the cop, and finally being kidnapped. Using the only senses left to him, he listened carefully for any sounds that might tell him something. He also felt the cool air on his skin, his bare skin, though he did feel the fabric of his briefs, the only covering he had obviously been allowed.

He imagined being in a room and obviously on a bed that was rather soft. The air could be heard coming through the vents so the place had air conditioning. But he still could not hear any breathing or movement so he must be alone in the room?

Maybe Bradford somehow knew I took the photos? That cop might have been playing me, or worse, he got caught and ratted me out? It didn't really matter a that point what had gotten him into the state he was in now, all that mattered was getting free. Obstacle number 1: I am bound and blindfolded. Obstacle number 2: I have no idea where I am even if I did get free. Obstacle number 3: I don't know who is behind all of this. Takaba did not like his odds at all. Shit, I am so screwed!

After what seemed like hours, according to his painfully full bladder, Takaba heard the door open and the thud of footsteps though light in pitch. Whoever is was had on dress shoes?

Inadvertently, he groaned as he realized that he really was better off when he was alone in the room because that meant he did not have to suffer whatever torture they were about to invoke upon him.

"Takaba Akihito," the low voice echoed through out the room.

Takaba froze, pretending to still be unconscious but underestimated the kidnappers. He desperately tried to control his breathing, make it seem even and natural as if he was asleep.

"You cannot fool us, you are awake."

Takaba still did not respond. He heard the footsteps, two sets coming closer to him, the ominous sound causing little bumps all over his exposed flesh.

"We have been watching you on video so drop the act. We know you are awake. Don't make this any more difficult on yourself than it needs to be."

Two sets of footsteps but only one voice penetrated the room. They didn't retreat and by the sound of the voice, the man was nearly standing over him and not speaking much above a whisper as to shield his voice.

"Fine!" Takaba finally hissed.

"Good. Now then…..lets' talk about Senator Bradford," the man said smugly.

"What about him?" Takaba spat out.

"Those photos you took. Do you realize what happens to nosy little piss-ant journalists who sneak around gathering incriminating evidence on very influential people, people with the power to make you disappear, or maybe end up in the Hudson?"

"Not really, but I am sure you will enlighten me," Takaba said sarcastically.

Smack

"Ow, damn it!" Takaba yelled after the smack across his cheek which only served to make his head pound even more, if that were possible.

"I don't like your attitude!" The voice growled.

Takaba once again assessed his situation. The voice seemed further away from him to have been the one to smack him so the other guy must be the muscle doing the dirty work, too stupid to talk, while the voice guy kept his hands clean.

"Well I don't like you! Let me go!" Takaba yelled and yanked on his restraints. They were not metal but a heavy fabric so at least his skin wouldn't become raw for a while yet.

"You will tell me what I want to know or you will be punished. I assume you are helping the police get the goods on the senator so they can take him down. Is that correct?"

"What if it is?" Takaba responded.

"It means you value your life so little that you would risk it in such a manor? What about your family and friends, your boyfriend? Do you think that they do not value your life?"

"My family and friends respect my work! I've been in worse situations. As for my boyfriend, well, I don't have one."

"I know all about you, Takaba Akihito, you are sleeping with Asami Ryuichi."

"Asami is a lying, manipulative bastard! He sleeps with a lot of people, so I've been told." Takaba could not hold back the tears as he spoke the words that cut into his heart like a knife.

"Enough!" another voice, that voice, boomed through out the room at the same time that his blindfold was yanked off and Takaba blinked a few times to focus on the pair of cold amber eyes staring down at him. Oh shit! No fucking way!

"What are you talking about?" Asami's smooth baritone voice greeted Takaba by sending a rippling shiver through out his body.

"Oh no, you lying bastard! You can answer my questions," Takaba hissed.

Asami waved off Kirishima who immediately left the room and smirked, his voice low and seductive, "Do you really think you are in any position to make demands?"

"Screw you! You played me you fucked up asshole!"

"I did no such thing." Asami stated confidently.

"How…..how did you even find me?" Takaba asked suddenly curious.

"What did you mean by what you said?" Asami asked again, their eyes locked to one another in a stare down.

"You heard me. You…..you lied to me and…..and manipulated me." Takaba stuttered.

When Asami said nothing but simply raised a sculptured brow at him, he continued, "Yeah, that's right. I spoke to Misha and she had a lot to say about you. Then there is that Kobi guy. What about him, huh?"

Asami inhaled a deep breath and casually turned away, walking over to a chair and sitting down. Then he lit a cigarette, taking his time, as he let Takaba stew for a bit.

"Well?" Takaba urged.

The ever so calm, cool, and collected older man in the three-piece suit tilted his head and responded with, "Lets' start with Misha. What did she say?"

"Oh, she told me all kinds of things. She was the one who ordered me shot and you knew it! You knew it all along and never told me!"

"Asami shrugged, "I took care of it." He said simply.

"Yeah, I know, I heard." Takaba said. "Then she told me about your fetish which was confirmed when I ran into that Kobi guy at your club."

Asami's eyes narrowed and Takaba was sure that if the older man could make lasers come out to disintegrate him, he would have at that precise moment.

"Well? Just try and deny it, bastard."

Asami crushed out his cigarette, again taking his time. Then he rose slowly and sauntered over to the bed where a mostly naked Takaba lay bound with the most defiant look in his eyes.

Asami leaned in close to Takaba's ear and his sandlewood/cigarette scent filled Takaba's nostrils as if it were a drug and he, the addict. Takaba held his breath.

"I deny nothing." Then he laughed wickedly, "I had thought to ease you into it but you have left me no choice. You. Will. Be. Punished."

IT's short I know but just wanted to set the scene for the torturous next chapter. Thanks for reading!