STORY WARNINGS:
–Yaoi – Male/Male.
– Rating: Mature. ADULTS ONLY. Contains graphic violence, some coarse language, explicit sexual content both consensual/non-consensual, forced/willing submission, bondage, BDSM, edging, safewords, aftercare, adult themes, guilty pleasure fantasy where you want someone to be a bit too forceful.
A/N: And here's part 2 of the double New Year update! Maybe I could have condensed them down to one but I was having too much fun teasing Akihito to do so. XD
Next chapter needs some rewriting so it might take a little while (sorry!) but I'll do the best I can!
As ever, constructive criticism for improvements are gratefully received! They're very precious and I truly appreciate them, so please keep it coming! (^^)
~ Nyx ~
DISCLAIMER: The Finder series and all recognisable characters belong to Yamane Ayano sensei.
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Chapter 13
Akihito wondered if the wind could blow it all away. The aching hurt, the band too tight about his chest.
"How could he?"
What an irony that the fingers that carded through his hair belonged to the very man to whom Yamazaki had accused him of selling out. But they were the only things stopping him from tailspinning into despair. Yama-san had no idea, no idea whatsoever what Akihito had gone through to reach the decision he had.
The detective had been the key guiding influence as Akihito had found his feet as Z4m4 M1r0, instilling in him the importance of anonymity and totally credible information. Fringing on the edge of the law, to be sure, if not downright stretching it, but the copper had always been adamant that Akihito's investigations never put lives in jeopardy. But now Yamazaki himself had gone and threatened Akihito and Kou, blowing up the trust they'd developed together under the radar of the law for nearly ten years.
"I trusted him."
Frequently irritated with Akihito's antics, hounding him for boring him with geeky details, but always there with gruff concern whenever something dire happened. Yama-san had been like a big brother. Or so Akihito had thought.
The morning breeze brushed at Akihito's leg, dangling off the edge of the building. They were on the concrete roof of Kou's apartment building, the rooftop split with skylights and dotted with ventilation fans, different levels connected with vertical ladders. Akihito sat on the concrete boundary wall, one leg kicking the outside wall, the other knee pulled up with an arm resting on top of the denim. At least he'd been able to change back into his own clothes now. It was comforting to be in his own jacket again.
"He should be hung, drawn and quartered," Akihito muttered, more out of hurt rather than any real malice.
"You can use my gun," came the cool baritone from behind.
Akihito frowned and dropped his chin on his arm over his knee. "Don't tempt me."
"I can see how his betrayal would be hard for an innocent brat like you. But it's human nature. Self-interest and greed."
"Trust you to say that. But I don't believe everyone's like that. People are capable of doing the right thing, even if it's hard." He threw a look over his shoulder. "But you're the exception, of course."
Asami smirked, lighting up a cigarette. "Of course."
Letting loose a long sigh, Akihito hunkered down over his knee again. "...Maybe I misunderstood."
The wind snatched at his soft words but Asami still heard him. Akihito didn't see the hard look the taller man threw him.
"By the sounds of it, it wasn't the first time. Nor will it be the last. It'll keep happening, and next time it might be with someone who will hurt you."
Akihito stilled as he suddenly realized their position. He was sitting on the edge of the ten-storey building with Asami at his back... Though the bastard hadn't thrown him off. Yet.
"... Why did you do it?"
"You'll have to be more specific."
"Why did you..." Akihito hesitated.
Asami drew on the Dunhill, rolling the smoke over his tongue before letting it free into the wind. "Chase you down? Take you out for dinner? Tie you up and fuck you?"
"No!" Akihito spluttered, his cheeks blooming pink. "Well, all that too – and by the way, that... that... this doesn't make it alright, you know!"
Asami smirked, totally unapologetic.
Akihito scowled. "But..." Why didn't you kill me when you found out I'd been investigating you? What was all that about going to war, and being 'yours'? Courage, and words, failed him. He went for a marginally safer option. "Why did you save me?"
Asami cast his gaze down over the neighbourhood. There were families about, spending their Sunday morning together. Two of his men stood guard opposite each corner of the building, several more mingled in plain clothes. His limo also sat under guard, a long black brick across the street from the forensic vans and squad cars. Suoh had clearly tightened up security.
"Why did you?"
Akihito threw a questioning glance over his shoulder.
"When you closed that door," Asami rumbled softly, a finger trailing over Akihito's upper arm. He was spot on over the stitches, even with the jacket hiding the bandages. "You put yourself in the path of bullets to stop them from shooting me."
"You saw that, huh?" Akihito's eyes skittered out over nothing, his expression clouded. "I... I don't know. It just... sort of happened."
There was a hint of a smile curving Asami's lips around the cigarette. "Then I don't know either."
"What kind of cop-out answer's that?"
The look Asami was giving him was intense. Enough to spark heat at the base of his spine... Akihito scooted off the wall and hopped back onto the rooftop, trying to edge away. But Asami didn't give him any more space and hemmed him against the half wall.
Asami's presence gained a cold, purposeful edge, making Akihito swallow hard.
"What was the evidence you destroyed?"
"Wha..." Akihito laughed nervously. "That old rubbish again? Who knows? Must've been some random memory chip –"
The stairwell door banged open. Akihito almost jumped out of his skin, his whole body spinning towards the source of the sound. He lost his balance and almost fell over the wall –
Asami grabbed his jacket and yanked him back to safety.
"Shit..." Akihito panted, his heart pounding. "Thanks..."
"Dude, you up here?" came Kou's call from the stairwell exit.
A firm grasp tilted Akihito's chin up. There was nothing gentle in Asami's features, mesmerising and unyielding. "I will lay you bare, Akihito. I won't allow you to hide from me."
Akihito quaked at the quiet, ominous declaration as Asami released him and strode over to Glasses and Blond Tank waiting on the other side of the same roof level.
"Dude!"
Akihito jolted again as Kou bounded up to him.
"They said they'll be about another hour. Hey, good thing you had some clothes here. The grey really didn't suit you, man."
With a final glance at Asami's back, Akihito shook his head clear and forced himself to focus on his friend. "Are you ok?" He wasn't convinced by the overly bright smile Kou gave him. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have brought all this crap here."
Kou turned uncharacteristically serious. "Don't sweat it, man. After something like that, I'm glad you had somewhere you could go. Are you OK?"
Akihito spread his arms. "As you can see for yourself. Who told you what happened?"
"Your detective friend."
Akihito's face shadowed over. "He's not my friend. Not anymore."
"Yeah, that was pretty messed up."
"Maybe it's for the best. We were gonna get in trouble sooner or later, right?"
Kou leaned on the half wall. "Are you gonna carry on hunting down scumbags?"
Akihito resisted the urge to look over at Asami. He could only hope they were talking quietly enough not to be overheard. "Someone has to. I have a good network of my own so I should still be able to keep my ear to the ground without Yama-san." He stopped himself with a scowl at the fond nickname from his youth. He didn't want to use it anymore. "Without Yamazaki."
Kou stuffed his hands in his pockets and bumped his friend with his shoulder. "Just promise me you'll be careful. I don't want to hear about another incident like last night."
Akihito felt bad for making his friend worry, and so would Takato when he heard about it. "I will. I promise."
The soft wind stirred around them, bring with it the smell of someone's breakfast cooking. Akihito's stomach growled in demand.
"Who is that?" Kou nodded towards the intimidating three on the other side of the roof. Asami was imposing even with his back turned.
Akihito had to steel himself before he answered, anything to do with the bastard always had him tangled up in knots. "That's Asami. He's the CEO where I used to work before, you know, Sion Global."
"The billionaire?" Kou's eyes widened. "Well, shit..." He laughed. "Poor dude, having to slum it in a dump like this. You know, I'd almost say he looks like yakuza but he's too... I don't know, classy? So he came to check you were OK, huh. He seems to be worried about you."
Akihito hoped his friend wasn't trying to imply anything. "I covered Tech Support and helped him out a few times. We've... crossed paths. Very briefly."
"Well good thing his bodyguards were there. You seem to have a thing about rich older people saving your ass."
"Uh... yeah..." Akihito cleared his throat. Little did his friend know it was only one rich older person. It was Asami who'd shot the assailant holding him at gunpoint, it was Asami's solid warmth that had pressed him into the wall, standing over him like a shield...
"So if he was your target, is he just bent or is he actually dicey?"
There was nothing he could do about Kou seeing the blow up with Yamazaki earlier but Akihito was determined to keep his friend out of this. "He saved my life, Kou. I'm not saying any more."
Kou held up his hands at Akihito's resolved tone. "Alright, alright. Say no more." He watched as his blond friend remained unusually quiet. A cheeky glint crept into his gaze. "You know you should so take up my advice from last night."
Akihito knew that tone. He was instantly wary. "What advice?"
"The one before you didn't show. You need to get laid. Even more so now!" Kou stressed as Akihito looked like he was about to argue. "Don't you know it's normal to be horny after surviving a close call with death?"
Akihito was horrified to meet the golden gaze out of the corner of Asami's eyes. "I promise you I am not horny," he stated adamantly. And quietly, hoping Kou would follow suit.
No such luck. "You just don't realise it! But it's scientifically proven. It's quite common, apparently, like a good lay is an affirmation of life!" Unfortunately for Akihito, Kou's boisterous insistence on his finding said life affirmation seemed to have no volume cap.
"Kou, seriously, stop with your matchmaking. I just broke up with Risa-san, I'm not interested in another relationship right now."
"Who said anything about a relationship? I'm talking light and fun, like your Sugar Momma!"
Hazel eyes flew across the roof and Akihito was mortified to find Asami looking squarely back at him. "Damn it, Kou!" Akihito hissed, hauling his friend further away. "Stop yelling to the whole neighbourhood! And how many times do I have to tell you? There's no one like that!"
"Hey, it's your dick, I'm not telling you how to use it. But you know, if the blow job was that mind blowing –"
"Kou –!"
"– maybe the sex will be too."
Sable cuffs – impaling – thrusting – Akihito's breath stuttered, his eyes flickering.
"No way, you already did it?"
Akihito really hated how perceptive his friend was sometimes.
Kou laughed, way too gleeful. And way too loud. "I was worrying about nothing! So how was it? Was it good? Were they just as pushy as when they sucked your stick?"
Akihito's whole face was burning. He could feel the piercing golden gaze without needing to look. "Oh my God, Kou, shut the fuck up!"
Kou merely grinned. "That good, huh? Even better than the blow job?"
Akihito glared, his ears burning. "Kou, best bud, I love you but if you don't shut up right this second I swear I'm gonna throw you off the goddamned roof."
Kou laughed into the wind. "You dawg, you! I'm almost envious. I gotta get me one of these smutty Sugar Mommas."
By now Asami's smirk was pure sin. Akihito buried his head in his hands and groaned. "Oh just kill me now..."
"Cool, thanks, man! Itadakimasu!" [Thanks before a meal]
Kou had no reservations diving straight into the bento [cooked packed meal] that one of Asami's men had acquired for breakfast.
Akihito took more convincing. "How much do we owe you?" he asked, still not quite meeting Asami's eyes.
Asami removed the lid off his own tray and handed it back to the guard. "Nothing. It was pittance."
"To you, maybe. To me, Takashimaya [high-end department store] bento for breakfast is extravagant."
"You could just say thank you and accept it, like your friend."
"I don't want to owe you anything."
Asami sneered as he split the chopsticks. "It's a little late for that, wouldn't you say?"
Actually, by his reckoning Akihito had cleared the books. "I don't owe you anything."
The golden eyes narrowed as Asami took in Akihito's steady gaze. "Don't you, now?" he murmured perceptively.
Perhaps too perceptive... Akihito shifted, nervous he might have revealed his hand. He cleared his throat and waved with the bento. "Well, if you insist. Thanks."
"Smells good. Where's mine?" Sakazaki asked.
"And mine?" Yamazaki echoed.
The two detectives had emerged from the kitchen where they were tidying up the mess they'd made.
"My guard must have miscounted, it's too bad." Asami didn't sound or look the least bit sorry as he bit into the karaage [crispy fried chicken] right in front of them.
Akihito dropped on to the settee next to Kou. "What he's really saying is that assholes don't deserve to be treated for breakfast."
Yamazaki perked up. They were the first words Akihito had spoken to him since he'd declared that their partnership was finished. "Yeah, I guess I was a bit of a dick –"
"I'm still not talking to you." Akihito kept his back turned as he settled the bento on his lap.
The unhappy detective stared a moment longer before giving up and returning to the kitchen.
Kou hummed in appreciation. "Man I'm starved! I missed out on dinner when Sayaka-chan took me to Dracaena. You missed a mean party."
Akihito ignored Asami glancing over at the club name from where he stood with Glasses, Blond Tank and another guard. "Who's Sayaka-chan?"
"Dude!" Kou complained. "My date! From yesterday!"
Akihito grimaced. "Ah shit, I totally forgot."
Kou slapped him good-naturedly with the back of his hand. "I'm only messing with you, you've had some heavy shit going on." He quirked a grin. "Like Ai-chan! You haven't told me about her or the charity thing yet."
The charity event... With the bachelor auction... Followed by a whole realm of things Akihito didn't want to think about... He shrugged. "It was... fine."
"Fine? Seriously? Geez, you're more chatty about your Sugar Momma."
Akihito spluttered. "I haven't said anything about that either! That's all you, putting words in my mouth!" He was determinedly not looking in a certain direction where a certain someone was looking at him again.
"So there's nothing going on with your older lady lover?" Kou checked.
Akihito's face burned. "No lover. Nothing. Zilch. Nada," he insisted, willing Asami to hear him. But inside he wasn't anywhere near as confident as he sounded, especially when the gaze boring into the back his skull felt like ice all of a sudden.
"Alright!" Kou bounced excitedly. "'Cos Sayaka-chan's friends with Yumi-chan, you know, the one I told you about?"
Akihito could have sworn that that gaze was going from sub-zero to blistering. "Kou -"
"I could hook you up."
"I don't need you to hook me up."
"But you want me to."
"No. I don't."
"She's totally your type and I don't mean in the Risa kind of way –"
"I don't care –"
"She's your-type kind of type, like grow-old-wrinkly-bat-wings-together kind of type –"
It was all forgotten the next moment when the door slammed open and Akihito jolted badly, his whole body flinching. He recognised Takato's frantic face a moment before his friend located him and charged. Akihito only just managed to fling his bento over to Kou before they collided.
"Takato?" Akihito asked worriedly at his friend practically lying on top of him.
"Group hug!" Kou yelled.
Akihito groaned. "Oh no, don't –!" He broke off in a grunt as Kou threw himself on top of them too, grimacing as someone knocked his injured arm. He waited but his friends didn't move, and then it became way too long for just a friendly bro hug...
"Uh... guys?"
Kou flopped to the side, laughing at the muffled voice from the bottom of the pile.
Takato half sat up and punched Akihito in the chest. Hard.
"Ow! What the hell?"
"That's for scaring me!" Takato yelled. He then engulfed Akihito in another bear hug. "And that's for scaring me," he muttered into the t-shirt.
Akihito patted Takato on the back. "You told him?" he frowned at Kou over Takato's shoulder.
"Didn't feel right keeping it from him," Kou shrugged as he returned to his breakfast and stuffed his mouth again.
"I wasn't keeping it from him," Akihito objected. "I was just gonna tell him later. 'Cos I knew he'd be like this."
"Yeah well, Kou was right to tell me," Takato grumbled, flopping down onto Akihito's other side. It was snug on the sofa with the three of them. "You can't keep something like that from us. I can't believe you had a load of guys shooting at you! I mean, what the fuck? Who the hell carries guns in Japan, anyway?"
"Weird, righ'?" Kou agreed around a full mouth.
Akihito didn't think it was wise to point out that, what with Asami and his men, Yamazaki and probably Sakazaki as well, there was a higher ratio of armed people in this tiny apartment alone...
"But why are the police here?"
"They're after some nonexistent evidence or other," Akihito shrugged. "Have you eaten?"
"No, I got Kou's message and raced straight over. 'Cos seriously, you should've called us! Man, I don't know if I want to hit you again or hug you –"
"Try eating." Akihito handed him the bento box that used to be his.
"This looks great! You sure?"
"Have it," Akihito nodded.
Takato split the chopsticks and put his hands together before tucking in. "Itadakimasu."
As Kou and Takato were guzzling their breakfast, another bento tray landed on Akihito's lap. He would have recognised the suit sleeve and those long fingers anywhere.
"But –"
Akihito craned his head back but Asami silenced him with a ruffle of his hair before moving off to Blond Tank and Glasses, talking very quietly between them. Scowling, Akihito nonetheless tucked in.
There was a funny sound from beside him and he turned to find Kou looking like he was about to explode, pointing his sticks at him.
"Stop pointing with your chopsticks," Takato scolded like a mother hen, swatting them down.
Kou finally gulped down his mouthful. "Indirect kiss!"
It took a moment to catch on that Akihito had used Asami's chopsticks. Akihito's cheeks went warm. "Shut up!" He shoved an egg roll into Kou's mouth. With Asami's chopsticks. "Same to you, with both of us. Slut."
Takato pulled an exaggerated face, laughing. "Eww!"
Kou grabbed the same sticks and shoved some rice into Takato's mouth. "Indirect foursome!" Kou announced around his mouthful of egg.
They both rolled about laughing, spluttering food. Even Akihito joined in after a while when he got over his embarrassment enough to admit how ridiculous they were being.
That was until he caught Asami's simmering gaze from across the room, boring into him with the promise of something much more direct...
"Why are you still here? I told you you can go."
"Armed men tried to take out Takaba only a few hours ago. I'm not leaving him unprotected."
Yamazaki opened his mouth but shut it again quickly. He might be able to put a couple of uniforms on protection duty but that was about it. Takaba would be toast if Nishizuma tried again. Yamazaki might be hell-bent on nailing Asami but he wasn't about to put Takaba's life in jeopardy. Not again, anyway, after his royal fuck up.
"Are you done?"
They turned to find Akihito glaring at them from under his blond fringe.
"Can I talk to you?" Yamazaki tried.
"I think that's enough now," Akihito said to the other police in the flat as though he hadn't heard. The techs had done a halfway decent job of putting the place back together, shelf, cupboard and drawer things more or less stuffed back in their respective places. "You should go. And take Dick 1 and Dick 3 with you."
Yamazaki's face clouded over at his new moniker.
"I heard that!" Sakazaki warned from the kitchen.
"Well done for recognising your name!" Akihito yelled back and made to return to his friends.
Yamazaki tried again, grabbing his arm. "Takaba –"
Akihito jerked free. "Just... leave it, ok? I can't talk to you right now."
"But you'll talk to him?" Yamazaki jerked a thumb at Asami, angry at the man he knew was dirty, angry that they were airing their dirty laundry in front of the crime lord again. And angry at himself.
The hazel eyes met his this time, fierce and hurt. "Asami has nothing to do with this. This is about you, and what you did. I can't even look at you without wanting to punch you."
"Then punch me!"
Akihito shook his head, letting loose an aggravated sigh. "Just go."
"I'll call you."
"Don't. Just... don't."
Akihito slunk over to the window and this time the detective let him go.
"Alright, we're clearing out," Sakazaki announced by the genkan. Yamazaki stared a moment longer at the young man before following after his colleague. Kou hopped off the settee to see them out.
Akihito was watching the forensic vans and squad cars pulling away down the street when he sensed Asami behind him, the man's scent wrapping around him. Takato had disappeared off to the toilet and Asami's men were outside, leaving the two of them alone.
Nerves, and bile over Yama-san, sharpened his tongue. "It's all sorted with Nishizuma now, right? You gave them an hour and that was hours ago."
Asami didn't reply straight away and Akihito resisted the urge to turn around. He wasn't falling for the silent bait. He waited it out. And waited...
"They complied," Asami confirmed at length.
"Then isn't it past time you left?"
Asami stepped close enough to brush his chest against the slender back. Akihito shivered. The baritone rumbled between them. "How cold. And you were so into it last night, too."
Akihito half turned, ready to lay into the bastard with a piece of his mind, when all of a sudden Asami engulfed him from behind, a large hand forcing his face up and round as Asami's lips sealed over his and silenced him.
A moment of frozen shock smashed and scattered all around...
"Ngh!" Akihito elbowed Asami in the gut, turning as he shoved the taller man away. "What the hell do you think you're doing?"
Asami grabbed his wrists and pinned him back against the window. Hard. It was only when he spotted the darkness swirling in the sharp gaze that he realized how thin Asami's patience was wearing. He shrunk back but Asami didn't allow any escape.
"You can't tell? Perhaps you need more demonstration."
Asami took Akihito's lips again, forceful and ruthless and hungry and electrifying. An arm slid about his waist, drawing him flush against Asami's hard body, synapses charged and popping as Asami devoured him and squeezed him close. A knee was forced between Akihito's legs, pressing a muscular thigh against his crotch and he had to swallow back a groan at the stirring pressure. Between the hands holding him immobile at the jaw and waist, Akihito suddenly realised that his arms were free and he fisted Asami's jacket... But he had no idea anymore whether he was still pushing the bastard away or pulling him closer, as Asami forced him backwards just enough to be off balance, making him vulnerable and holding him together all at once...
Asami broke away, shamelessly sucking Akihito's tongue out of his mouth on the way. Smouldering eyes scanned Akihito's flushed face before Asami smirked. "I'll be outside," he rumbled, laced with warning. "You have two minutes before I send Suoh after you."
Asami released him and walked away, leaving Akihito to stumble a step to keep his balance, flushed and breathing heavy. Possibly aroused. Most definitely furious.
Akihito made to follow, an indignant remark on the tip of his swollen tongue, only to be brought to a dead stop by the sight of both of his friends gaping at him.
They all remained mute and frozen as Asami left.
Kou picked his jaw up from where it was trailing somewhere on the floor. "Was he just...?"
Takato nodded in a daze. "Yeah..."
"With...?"
"Yeah..."
"Fuck! You don't think..."
"Yeah..."
Kou and Takato looked at each other, then back at their furiously blushing friend.
"He's the Sugar Momma?!"
Awk. Ward. None of them knew quite what to say.
"You said they were pushy, but... that doesn't really cut it, does it?" Takato asked hesitantly, clearly worried.
Akihito's mouth flapped soundlessly.
But then Kou gasped dramatically, pointing at Akihito. "Dude, you totally have a boner!"
And all of a sudden Kou was laughing, doubled over and clutching his stomach.
Even Takato's stunned surprise turned into a shit-eating grin. "No way." He laughed, a sound of amazement. "Wow. So. Asami-sama, huh? Wow. We're happy for you, Aki."
"There's nothing for you to be happy about!" Akihito lamented, but his denial fell on deaf ears.
Tears were streaming from Kou's eyes. "No wonder..." he gasped between laughter, "you wanted me... to shut up..."
"I'm gonna kill him," Akihito swore as he stomped over to his shoes. But he had to adjust himself in his pants as he did so, only setting his friends off even more. "I'm gonna kill him!" he repeated fiercely as he slammed the door closed on them.
"Why the hell did you do that in front of my friends?"
Blond Tank was the only one of the guards who was unsurprised at Akihito's outburst. There were three others within earshot, guards forming a loose perimeter around the limo, and they were all taken aback at such a harsh tone directed at their boss.
Asami took a leisurely drag of his cigarette before tuning, his eyes sweeping over the furious blond standing there with his arms flung wide, framed by the two pillars of the entrance way. "We couldn't have your friends continuing under the misguided impression that you're available, could we?"
Akihito floundered. "What? What does that have to do with you? I am available!" He blinked as golden eyes narrowed in clear warning. "You don't mean you? ... Why?"
"Why what?"
"Why would I be with someone like you?"
"You mean a powerful, rich and irresistible bachelor?"
Akihito scowled. "Try perverted, sadistic bastard."
The guards looked at their boss to see how he'd react to such an insult but they were even more shocked when Asami only grinned. "Sadistic? That's a new one."
"Baka, don't say it like it's a compliment!"
"It's the truth."
"It's not good! And it's why we are not together. One of many reasons, in fact!"
"Really? After last night, you're still in denial?"
"There's nothing to deny!" Akihito spluttered. "And don't make 'last night' sound like a thing! It wasn't a thing!"
"Dinner, sex and a bit of action. Sounds like a date to me."
Some of the guards were failing miserably at hiding their astonishment.
Akihito's face raced through a kaleidoscope of emotions. After everything from disbelief and red hot embarrassment to confusion and rushing warmth, he finally settled on outrage. "That was not a date! That was a random mishmash of events, none of which I wanted!"
Akihito didn't get why that comment seemed to piss Asami off when none of his previous words had.
Golden eyes flashed. "Did I do anything untoward during the dinner?"
"Well, no –"
"And didn't I let you come when you begged?"
"Asami!" Akihito squeaked, his face turning crimson. His eyes darted to the guards, some of whom were looking equally red-faced. "Seriously, you have got to work on your social conventions!"
"And didn't I save your ungrateful ass from the gunmen?"
The blood in Akihito's face did an abrupt 180 and fled his face. That was one thing he was grateful for.
"It's too late to back out now, Akihito," Asami said darkly. "I will have what I want."
Akihito was more than a little afraid, not that he was going to show it. His eyes lit with his own fire, his voice quiet but tenacious. "Don't treat me like some kind of toy. I'm not a possession to do as you like."
"I don't kiss toys."
Asami's seriousness only made Akihito more nervous. What the hell was that supposed to mean?
Asami waved with his cigarette at the idling limo. "Get in. We're leaving."
One of the guards rushed forwards and opened the back door.
Akihito glared. He set his jaw. And bolted.
Suoh's arm whipped out startlingly fast for such a large man but the smaller man dodged behind the pillar and darted away. "Damn!"
They stared after the rapidly shrinking figure running helter-skelter down the road before the blond head disappeared around a corner.
"I'll give Sagano the heads up, sir," Suoh said, finally understanding why his boss had wanted the guard positioned in that direction hours ago. He tapped out a quick message on his phone. "... You knew he'd go that way."
Asami leisurely blew out his cigarette. "He usually comes here by the underground. It's his familiar route."
"I didn't think he'd run, after everything..."
Asami smirked. "He'd run, especially after everything." Defiant to the end. Especially at the end.
Suoh glimpsed the predatory gleam in his boss' eyes and almost felt sorry for the brat. Then he heard two words he'd never heard from Asami before.
"Go easy."
It took a glance to be sure of the full extent of that simple order. Suoh had worked for Asami for many years, he thought he knew all of his boss' moods, the varying shades of darkness, the degrees of ruthlessness. But when he saw the hard gaze underpinned with a gleam he'd never seen before, he knew this was like nothing they'd ever faced.
With a solemn nod that acknowledged far more than just an order, Suoh took off down the street.
It put Akihito on high alert when they didn't immediately give chase. Expecting a trap at any moment, he was super cautious, hugging the shadows, ducking behind signs and parked cars for cover.
That was how he literally stumbled across the bodyguard who'd concealed himself in the narrow gap between two buildings opposite the station. Akihito slammed into him, they started at each other for a frozen second...
Akihito backpedalled frantically and ran.
"Takaba, wait!" Sagano yelled from behind.
Something snagged Akihito's jacket but pure panic helped him break free and he sprinted pell-mell into the meandering groups of friends and families out shopping on a late Sunday morning.
Akihito caught glimpses of Sagano weaving behind him. Suoh wasn't too far behind either, the blond giant unmistakable as his feet pounded the asphalt.
Shit, they were pursuing for real. It didn't matter that Akihito knew who they were, it was terrifying. Because no way would Asami let things slide again. There'd been too many disruptions already, the moment they caught him it was game over. Adrenaline surged in his veins and gave him an extra drive he didn't have after too little sleep and too many scares.
He criss-crossed the quiet back roads and tore down tight gaps between neighbouring walls barely wide enough for him to fit between. He tripped too many times on uneven steps and obstacles hidden around corners, and went for somewhere he could traverse more easily, across a residential car park and hurtled into another residential area.
It was quieter here. Too quiet. He didn't know the area at all, he needed cover, more people. Children's voices and music and TV noises filtered out of open windows, families going about their business. He zeroed in on the distant drone of traffic and eventually found a main road, but it was four lanes of traffic rushing both ways with a central reservation, not one to be crossed in a hurry. The bypass was lined with office buildings, largely empty on a Sunday.
In the end Akihito was caught as he teetered in indecision, his overtaxed brain unable to decide whether to duck back into the maze of houses and find a hiding spot, or risk launching himself in between the rushing cars –
A huge ham fist clapped over his mouth and an arm thicker than his thigh clamped about his torso, hefting him easily into the air. He was pulled into the shadows of two towering office buildings, out of sight of passing cars and any possible help.
With the flash of short blond hair and the size of the guy, Akihito knew instantly which guard it was. Fear fuelled his frantic resistance.
"Quit struggling and come quietly," Suoh muttered. "Boss would have my neck if I hurt you."
Go to hell! Akihito yelled muffled into the huge hand as he thrashed harder. He thought one of his kicks caught the guard in the groin but it didn't seem to make a blinding bit of difference.
Suoh sighed. "I'm sorry."
The arm about Akihito's chest shifted and a hand clapped about his neck, squeezing just around the sides. He could still breathe but pressure abruptly built up in his head from the blocked off blood circulation, his vision darkening, dots crowding, his heart thudding uselessly, pain exploding in his head, everything going darker...
