STORY WARNINGS:
–Yaoi – Male/Male.
– Rating: Mature. ADULTS ONLY. Contains coarse language, explicit sexual content both consensual/non-consensual, forced/willing submission, bondage, BDSM, edging, safewords, aftercare, graphic violence, torture, adult themes, guilty pleasure fantasy where you want someone to be a bit too forceful.
A/N: It made me laugh how so many of you are suspicious of Hazumi (^_) She's not all soft and cuddly but let's see if she can redeem herself all the same.
I hope you're starting to see what Asami is made of – or my humble take on it, anyway! Always a bit risky unmasking such a major character but *big breath* here we go, part 2. We've been building up to this alongside Akihito. I hope it resonates with you...
~ Nyx ~
DISCLAIMER: The Finder series and all recognisable characters belong to Yamane Ayano sensei.
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Chapter 22. Asami Ryuichi – part 2
Twelve hours earlier.
"My, aren't we living on the edge now. Wasn't it you who told me it raised suspicions to meet more than once a month?"
Asami could hear the laughter in her voice. "Technically we won't be meeting if I'm not there. I'm out of town tonight"
"Oh, even better. Two dinner dates already this month and now I'm dropping by your place when you're not there? The gossip magazines will have a field day. Whatever will they dream up about us? Is the Big Question imminent for Asami Ryuichi?"
"They'll never know you were there."
"I'm pretty sure someone will catch on to you purchasing an engagement ring."
"What on earth, Hazumi," Asami ground out, glaring out the limo window as they sped towards a private airport. Kirishima, to all appearances, seemed to be fully immersed on his laptop.
"Alright, alright." There was a pause. "We can go shopping together for a ring after you've proposed."
"Hazumi!"
There was a laugh like pealing bells. "This is far too easy."
"Hazumi, I'm serious –"
"Oh, hush, Ryuichi, you're always serious. Don't worry," she finally reassured. "I'll be discrete. No one will see me. But you want me to come by specifically to see Takaba-kun? After last time he might be more comfortable if you're there. It wasn't the easiest introduction for him."
"Whose fault was that?" Asami snapped.
"You can't blame me for looking out for you. You're a million times worse, you know." Her voice was warmly teasing.
Asami's aggravation shifted into something harder, something darker. "Some things will never change." His words carried an underlying promise.
"I know," she said quietly, conveying understanding and sadness and fondness in the space of two words.
The limo and the two blacked-out SUVs carrying his men were running along the boundary fencing of the private airfield. "Just speak to him, will you? But don't terrorize him."
"Would I ever?" she exclaimed with mock shock.
"I mean it. Just consider it an opportunity to get to know him."
"Sure you wouldn't prefer to wait until you're back?"
"I'm asking precisely because I can't be there tonight. He needs a distraction."
"From what?"
Akihito wouldn't want her to know he was suffering from nightmares. Asami smirked. "From how much he's missing me."
Oda scoffed, very unladylike. "Why can't I imagine him ever saying that?"
The convoy pulled up to the guarded gates of the airfield. Asami watched his men clearing access.
"So what bedtime stories does Takaba-kun like?"
Asami's gaze narrowed. "Don't be absurd, he's not that young."
"No? But I thought he was... How old is he again?"
"Twenty-three."
Oda gasped overdramatically. "You cradle snatcher!"
Asami wasn't about to justify his choices to his sister. "Are you quite done?"
"Done?" Oda repeated, bursting with glee and ammunition. "Thirty-five and having a serious partner for the first time? Someone you trust when you don't trust anybody? Someone you're bending all your self-imposed rules for? Someone you're more willing to risk me revealing all your dirty secrets to than leave alone because there's clearly something going on that you're not telling me?" She laughed. "My dear Ryuichi, I haven't even started. Takaba-kun and I are going to have so much fun without you."
Alt + F4 killed the browser on all things subspace – luckily mostly text and no damning pictures, but still! – as Akihito leapt to his feet. He knew his cheeks looked as warm as they felt.
"I was, uh, setting a snake trap."
Standing there feeling way underdressed in his tank top and a pair of Asami's joggers that he'd snagged wasn't helping any. Great. Just great...
Oda glided into the spacious living room, her body swaying like a willow with every flowing step. "On your laptop?" she asked, her teasing amusement reminding him so much of Asami it was scary.
"Uh, yeah. I'm probably over thinking it and I'm sure it's unnecessarily complicated, but I'm trying to cover all bases." It wasn't a lie. His elapine hunting just happened to be a lot earlier. He rubbed at the back of his neck. "Can I get you some tea? I mean, Asami's not here and you probably came to see him 'cos, well, you know, and anyway I'm guessing Blond Tank already told you Asami's not here but you're welcome to stay though, obviously, 'cos I'm hardly gonna kick you out of his place so I could get you some tea? or something? and shit I really should stop talking now..."
He noticed Suoh glance over. Shit, did he just use the nickname in front of the big guy? It was his rotten luck that Asami's condo was too high up from the ground for any chance of him being swallowed up and saved from all his embarrassment. Was there another way to die politely before he put his foot in it more with either of them?
She was gracious enough not to laugh but Akihito wouldn't have blamed her at all if she had. "I'll have some tea," she smiled.
"Right, tea coming right up. Uh, just make yourself at home. Or something." He dithered awkwardly as Oda's smile broadened, before slamming closed and grabbing his laptop and hurrying towards the kitchen to hide his red face.
Suoh followed, looking very much like he was fighting to keep a straight face.
Akihito grimaced, shoving his laptop aside. "Was that as bad as I think it was?" he whispered.
"Worse."
Akihito groaned. "I forgot how funny you were. Kick the blathering idiot when he's down, why don't you."
Suoh apologetically cleared his throat. Or maybe he was just covering up a laugh. "Perhaps she'll find it endearing."
"Endearing? That's the best you can come up with?"
Suoh made a faint shrug. "Asami-sama certainly does."
Akihito blinked. And flushed even brighter. "I'm not going to stand here arguing with you about how charming or otherwise my social ineptitude is." He determinedly set about making tea. He could do that right at least. He hoped.
"Would you like me to stay?"
Akihito glanced at him. "For security or moral support?"
Suoh's lips twitched. "There are no security issues."
"Great, so I need help, do I? No thanks. I've got this."
Blond Tank opened his mouth –
"And don't ask me if I'm sure," Akihito cut in. "I'm sure."
The big bodyguard paused, closed his mouth. He gave a brief bow with his head. "Good luck," he threw over his shoulder as he withdrew back to the genkan.
"Oh, ha ha," Akihito grumbled.
It's just tea, he told himself. It didn't matter that it was Asami's place and he was making tea for Asami's sister as though Akihito lived here or something... It's just tea. Just a cup of tea...
He managed to bring tea and snacks without tripping over which he considered quite an achievement. She was perched on the large settee like something the ancient Greeks would have eternalized as a statue for worship. He set everything on the coffee table in front of her and retreated to an armchair. Too late he realized they were in the same seats as their disastrous introduction.
"Thank you, Takaba-kun."
Akihito muttered some response that was more sounds than words. He glanced at her but looked away again just as quickly. She was as entrancing as a fey queen with magic both powerful and dangerous. She emanated the same brand of intensity as Asami. It must have been something in their blood, elevating them above mere mortals, functioning perfectly well in society but – Akihito suddenly baulked. Officially, Asami was a legitimate businessman. Oda had her own internationally successful fashion label. Did she also meddle on the side like Asami?
Akihito decided he didn't want to know. But that didn't mean he didn't automatically think of how Asami had removed his gun in front of her. Was she armed too...?
He almost jumped when she started speaking.
"I caused you a lot of confusion when I dropped in unannounced on Sunday. It wasn't my intention to upset you."
"That's – that's ok," he said, even if he was convinced that she totally had meant to throw the cat amongst the pigeons.
"I hope you were able to smooth things over after?"
The secret room – cock ring – chained – toys and over sensitive and barely-there whipping and coming blindingly hard and drowning in gold – Akihito was glowing, it was impossible not to with the sudden recollections flashing through his mind. He took a steadying breath. But there was something condescending twining with the concern in her tone which made him hold his chin higher. "Yup, it's all good. Asami wasn't mad, it was just a misunderstanding."
"I'm so glad."
I bet you are, he thought snidely, then immediately regretted it. He didn't know why he was bristling so much. Did he feel under threat? Or maybe him and Asami? What Akihito was feeling for Asami – or at least, what he realized he felt – was so new that he didn't yet have the confidence to shout it from the rooftops or in her face, but that didn't mean he was ready to give it up.
But he was going about this all wrong, he realized. He'd been stumbling about with stilted words not knowing how to speak to her, what with her being Asami's family which felt pretty huge. But this wasn't like Akihito. He was brash and loud and it never seemed to bother Asami before, so he slouched back more comfortably and spoke more like his normal self.
"Must be pants coming all this way to find Asami isn't here."
If anything, this seemed to amuse her more. "Actually I came to see you. Ryuichi thought it might be a good chance for us to get to know each other."
"He did?" Akihito didn't notice her tracking his every expression, too busy caught up on why Asami might arrange the visit. "You spoke to him, right? Is he –" He stopped shy of asking if Asami was OK, in case it worried her. "When did you speak to him?"
"This morning, before he left."
Akihito wilted a little. "Oh."
"Don't worry. He'll be back before you know it and you can show him how much you missed him."
"Like hell! I'm not – I'm not missing him!" How could she say things like that about her own brother?
"He was convinced otherwise."
"Of course he would be," Akihito grumbled, "he's got an ego the size of Jupiter I'm surprised he hasn't thrown the Earth out of orbit."
She laughed. "You're a breath of fresh air, Takaba-kun."
"If you say so. But probably more of a typhoon than a breath, I'm pretty sure he thinks I've thrown his perfectly ordered life into disarray."
"Maybe so. But he would've never allowed you to if it wasn't what he wanted," Oda said, and they both wondered at that. Matching his posture, she shifted back more easily against the sofa back. She made no attempt to be subtle about where she was going next. "What do you do, Takaba-kun?"
He laughed, only a little nervously. "Wow, here we go. Do you want my résumé too?" he joked. "I'm in IT. Programming, white hat hacking, that sort of thing."
"White hat?"
"The legal kind," he explained, "also called ethical hacking. People pay you to find holes in their systems so they can patch it up before the non-legal kind can exploit it and land them in the doghouse."
"How did you meet?"
Akihito froze – colliding in the dead of night when Asami was surely not returning from any legitimate business – forced to hack a dodgy-as-hell USB stick – bagging the bullets from the laptop – blown in the limo...
"You know I know what Ryuichi does," she reassured, her voice like silk. "You can tell me."
Except, he couldn't. He didn't know where she fell in all of Asami's onion layers of secrecy. He answered without saying much of anything. "It's a bit of a convoluted story. I was investigating, uh, something, it's not important, but anyway someone hired me at Sion, and we sort of, uh, crashed into each other. And then I was covering IT Helpdesk." Akihito grinned. "You know how hopeless he is with computers."
"Only too well. I'm sure you had no problems telling him precisely what he was doing wrong. After all, you're not shy with words, are you?"
Akihito blushed faintly. "Yeah, well, someone needs to keep him on the level."
She tilted her head curiously. "That certainly must be a convoluted story to go from you investigating him to him trusting you."
"Why would you think he trusts me?" Then Akihito's eyes widened. "I never said I was investigating him."
"You just did." She smiled. "It seems you're into more than just programming and harmless hacking, doesn't it?"
Akihito's first instinct had been right. This woman was just as dangerous as Asami.
"And of course he trusts you," she continued as though he wasn't staring at her with a little fear. "There aren't many places Ryuichi can let his guard down but you're here, in his home, without him." She tilted his head. "Have you seen The Room?"
He heard the capital letters in her emphasis. He stammered, eyes wide and with a bright bloom flushing across his face.
She laughed. "I see. Well that says it all, really. So, why does he trust you?" Her eyes were piercing, evaluating. They reminded him of Asami to an alarming degree.
"Beats me," he shrugged, looking anywhere but at her.
"You must have done something," she pressed, her gaze turning him inside out. "Or not done something."
He concentrated on being nonchalant, trying to conjure up some of Asami's cool, indifferent, impermeable mask...
"So that's it. You found something on him and didn't use it."
This was getting into very dangerous territory where Akihito didn't want to go. No fricking way was he about to mention the video. "I never said that."
"You didn't have to." She leaned her dainty chin on her elegant hand. "But it has to be more than that. He wouldn't trust a sellout."
Akihito's expression hardened. "I'm no sellout."
"No, I don't suppose you are," she murmured thoughtfully.
He didn't want reminders of Yamazaki. He brushed them off in the best way he knew how, by talking. "It's probably more to do with a sticky situation I managed to get caught up in. He, uh and his men, they saved my life and we sort of helped each other out through that."
"I see."
Wondering what she saw exactly, he ducked behind his tea.
"So how did you become lovers?"
Tea spurted everywhere. "Excuse me!" He dashed into the kitchen and returned with paper towels. "If I had any doubt before about you two being related, I don't anymore," he muttered as he mopped up the table. "You've both done that to me now."
She chuckled. "It was far too tempting, I couldn't resist."
He stopped short of calling her evil. Asami, he would have done in a heartbeat. But she probably guessed the sentiment anyway, what with how her expression gleamed with amusement.
"Who made the first move, was it you or him?"
"He did, of course." He laughed it off. "I'm irresistible."
Her gaze was like laser beams. "Did he force you?"
He gaped. He couldn't answer that. Kind of no, but actually really kind of yes. But he'd never say that to Asami's sister. Akihito told the complete truth, or a truth anyway, even if his face burned as he tried to smile. "If you're worried, don't be. He's given me a safeword. I've never used it, but if I did, I know he'd respect it."
Oda was still watching him and he scratched the back of his neck again. "Sorry. Awkward. I'm sure you don't want to hear about your brother's sex life."
She waved an elegant hand. "It doesn't bother us talking about it, actually. Probably because we didn't really live together when we were little."
"You didn't?"
"He didn't tell you?"
He shook his head.
"About his childhood? About the Asami name?"
He shook his head to each one.
"Aren't you curious?"
"Fuck yes!" He blushed as she smiled. "Sorry. Yeah, I am. About everything. But I haven't had the chance to ask yet. Though –" he paused, glancing at her unsurely, "if he were to tell me, would it bother you?"
"He's already told you who I am, it's all part and parcel. Why don't I tell you now?"
That offer alone made Akihito more comfortable than he had been during this whole bizarre conversation or interview or whatever this was. He shook his head. "No! No thanks. I mean, it's enough to know that you wouldn't mind. But I'd rather hear it from Asami if you don't mind. It feels like..." He frowned, his gaze inwards. "It feels like I'm going behind his back otherwise."
Everything offered on a platter and he was turning it down – if Akihito hadn't known it before, he certainly did now. He couldn't act against Asami.
He pushed the thought aside as Oda shifted on the sofa, crossing her legs the other way. She was wearing a knowing smile that he had no idea how to interpret.
"So you like to investigate on the side," she probed. "How long have you been doing that?"
Akihito's expression tightened. Asami's sister or not, he had no obligation to be a doormat and let her rummage around every area of his life. Especially not this. "Oh, it's been so on and off it's hard to tell." He smiled innocently. "I hear you're a renowned fashion designer. Have you been in the business long?"
The emphasis was subtle. It was complete guesswork on his part whether she was involved in any illicit business, and if not he could simply and harmlessly be referring to her fashion label. But he was willing to gamble. If she was half as sharp as he thought she was, she'd read his meaning loud and clear. Back off.
She clearly did. Her eyes gleamed like diamonds, her laugh rang like ringing chimes. She seemed positively delighted. "You know, I think you might be alright, Akihito-kun."
Gorging on a late-night katsudon dinner [breaded pork chops on rice] was the perfect remedy after Oda's visit. Which had ended on a good note but still, it wasn't like dancing through a field of daisies.
Much later still, Akihito was considering a coin toss to decide whether to sleep in Asami's bed or a spare room or on the sofa when his phone buzzed.
Dorayaki King Coming out tomorro night?
An impromptu contest several years back had led to their messaging names. There had been seven of them guzzling dorayaki [red bean pancakes], Kou had wiped the floor with a whopping 28. It was Takato's fault for sourcing such an absurd quantity of dorayaki in the first place when he'd accidentally ordered 10 crates of the confectionary instead of 10 boxes when looking after inventory for his dad's convenience store. Their alcohol-fuelled, hindsight-lacking logic had considered it an inspired solution to hiding the evidence of his cock up.
Akihito's name was a consolation prize after he'd come a close second at 26.
Sushi God B-) Probably can't
Sushi God B-) But soon I hope
Dorayaki King Can we come over?
Sushi God B-) Best not, creeps spotted outside
Dorayaki King Wtf they still after u?
Ah. Akihito had forgotten he hadn't mentioned that to his friends.
Sushi God B-) Losers
Sushi God B-) Asami's sorting it out
Dorayaki King Oooh ur knight in shining armour
Dorayaki King Just move in already
Sushi God B-) Not that again!
Dorayaki King But he's smoooooking :)...
The flare of jealousy was surprising and fierce, even if he knew it was only a bit of buffoonery on Kou's part.
Sushi God B-) Oi hands off :-||
Dorayaki King See? :P still saying ur not together?
Sushi God B-) Baka I've only known him a month. No one moves in together after a month
There was a pause before Kou replied.
Dorayaki King He's dealing with ARMED HITMEN for u. Cos THATS normal after a month
Akihito had known that, of course, but when put so plainly... It made him wonder the other side of the coin. What was he doing for Asami? Not a whole lot, was what. The disparity was glaring.
Dorayaki King Ur clearly an item. Get over it
What did Akihito bring to this relationship? He'd never had any issues with low self esteem before, but Asami was just so remarkable that it made Akihito question his own worth. Not that he'd ever been made to feel lacking in any way. On the contrary, Asami's focus was so singular sometimes that it felt like Asami thought rather too much of him.
Then there was that teeny tiny little detail of Asami being the kingpin of the Japanese underworld who came home smelling of blood...
Sushi God B-) In what universe does it work?
It was a sincere question. Not that his friend could understand the extent of it. Another pause from Kou, even longer this time.
Dorayaki King You're a free spirit Aki. Maybe you need someone like Asami to ground you
Akihito stared at the screen. Bloody hell, his friend was serious. But there were greater issues here, none of which he could talk about. Money would have to serve as a metaphor.
Sushi God B-) He's an effing billionaire
Dorayaki King So? U saying he's that shallow? Or u?
They both knew he wasn't but that wasn't the point. What Asami did...
Sushi God B-) Different values. Different life choices
Sushi God B-) Remember Venn diagrams? No overlap!
Dorayaki King Does he care u can barely afford rent
Dorayaki King Does he know?
This wasn't helping.
Sushi God B-) He doesn't give a flying monkey
Dorayaki King [Pictures of monkeys and wings]
Sushi God B-) Glad I didn't say a rat's ass
Dorayaki King Or flying shit
Spew U wake me up in the middle of the night for flying shit and rat ass?!
Akihito barked a laugh, imagining all the messages pinging up. Takato hadn't fared so well in the dorayaki eating contest, though it was likely the liberal alcohol consumption rather than the dorayaki that had done it. Either way he was stuck with the unfortunate nickname.
Dorayaki King This is too deep for u sleeping beauty, go back to sleep
Dorayaki King Aki sounds like ur perfect for each other. U don't care about money
Dorayaki King At all
Dorayaki King I've never known anyone who cares less about it
Dorayaki King People WANT to pay u and u turn them down
Sushi God B-) OK I get it already!
Dorayaki King So it doesn't matter. He's prob had enough of golddiggers. U'll make it work
Would they? Akihito had no answers.
Dorayaki King Hey do u like him?
Akihito stared at the white of his screen, something a little frightening tugging at his mind. He couldn't deny the pull, even now feeling the absence like he was missing that domineering arrogance or something similarly insane...
He couldn't reply. But his silence was answer enough for Kou.
Dorayaki King He sure seems into u too. Dude what else matters?
Akihito stared silently out at the Tokyo nightscape. The fact that this specific angle was becoming so familiar was daunting. And yet there was comfort in that familiarity.
Contradictions again, just like always when it came to Asami. Colliding in the first place because of the very issue that divided them. Thrown along this same path now, ironically, by Asami's penchant for lawbreaking affording him the ability to protect Akihito from the backlash of chasing such activities down. Then just as Akihito had thought they'd connected, had a breakthrough, Asami came home reeking of blood.
Akihito reckoned he was allowed to feel bummed out at a time like this. Because there were no two ways about it, he was totally compromised when it came to the top crime lord of Japan. It sat like oil and water with everything Akihito stood for. He wasn't Z4m4 M1r0 just for the fun of it, it was a real fire that burned in him, to hold to account the rich and powerful who wielded their elevated social status like a gigantic middle finger to the law and took matters into their own hands. And yet when he'd smelled the blood on Asami, what had made him recoil wasn't knowing that Asami had likely just been torturing and killing someone, but rather the part of himself that was actually grateful for Asami dealing with the hitmen who'd come after him.
No matter how he tried to focus on something else, his every other thought was about Asami. Was he ok? Where was he? What was he doing? Was he in danger? Was he safe without Blond Tank?
"I bear a message from Ichiji-san."
The woman was a veteran of receiving intimidating messengers. She stood tall with her sixteen-year-old daughter beside her. Both dressed in clean but tired attire, the long tee and trousers were perfectly shapeless and functional for menial labour. The harsh floodlights weren't kind to the shadows on their faces. She didn't look directly at Asami, or either of the two men he'd sent to escort her and the girl from their ramshackle home.
"I've heard that before," she said crisply. No nonsense without being rude. Toeing a fine line not to offend dangerous people.
Asami smirked. He could respect her mettle. "He wanted you to know, he wouldn't have minded the orchid."
The woman's composure visibly cracked. She reached blindly for the girl's hand, grasped tightly. "I wouldn't have minded the sakura," she whispered. She sucked in a bracing breath, held firm. "Is he alive?"
Asami regarded her for a moment before giving a single shake of his head. She was motionless, her face hard.
"It was his last wish for you and your daughter to live free. There will be no retaliation from Baishe, but it would still be prudent to relocate and stay off their radar."
She shared a look with her daughter, then finally looked him straight in the eye. "Why would you help us?"
She was wary. Perhaps she understood that Asami was somehow involved with or even responsible for Ichiji's death.
"I gave him my word," Asami said simply. He gave no further explanations, no excuses either. "My men will escort the two of you wherever you wish to go. They'll set you up with the means to see you through six months as you resettle and find your feet. You'll be safe. And free."
She seemed to struggle taking that in. She searched for any sign of deceit, found none. At last, her expression softened. She blinked hard. "Thank you."
With a single nod, Asami climbed the stairs and disappeared into his jet.
A world of dark.
Cold.
Phantoms lurking.
Blood freezing, crushing and suffocating.
Ice cold fingers, clawing into soft flesh, impossible to escape. Dozens on him – but hundreds on Asami. The scream that wasn't loud enough no matter how much Akihito tried, reaching a desperate distance that forever grew.
Not fingers. Morphing into guns of liquid metal. Fluid. Deadly.
Melting against his temple, drilling through his skull, lancing Asami's heart, those golden eyes glazing –
It took Akihito several heart-thundering moments to remember where he was. The darkness was unfamiliar in one of Asami's spare rooms, the bulky shadows adopting sinister shapes of their own. Dank with cold sweat, Akihito was already on his feet braced for invisible intruders when he came to.
So much for proving that he could cope.
The sheets bunched up here and there. There was no other bedding on the spare bed. It had saved him from getting tangled up but left him cold to the bone. Or that might have been due to the absence of a certain someone...
Akihito marched out into the living room, hitting on all the lights on the way.
"Takaba-san? Everything alright?" Calm, relaxed, quiet but not stealthily so. Suoh somehow managed not to scare Akihito to death as he called over from the front entrance.
Akihito poked his head around the corner. "Hey, you're still here." He cleared his scratchy throat. "Don't you need to sleep?"
"I'm on the night shift. I rested during the day." Sharp eyes took in the lingering sheen of sweat on the brow, the haggard appearance.
"Oh. Then d'you wanna come sit down? Uh... can I get you anything to drink? Tea?"
Suoh gave him an almost-smile. "Thank you but I need to keep on my rounds. Multiple teams and checkpoints to monitor. Is there anything I can do for you?"
Akihito shook his head, wondering if Blond Tank was trying to reassure him telling him things like that.
"Goodnight," Suoh said as he quietly left again.
The digital bloodhounds were primed. There wasn't much more Akihito could do until V1P3R sprang one of his traps but Akihito double checked for any signs of activity anyway. The Spotlight forum, any suspicious communication with previous contacts, signature markers cropping up anywhere –
He jumped as his phone rang. He stared at the display with some surprise. And considerable relief, more than he cared to admit.
"Shouldn't you be asleep?" Akihito retorted by way of greeting. The words were out before it occurred to him that the same applied to him. "Unless it's not the middle of the night where you are. 'Cos 'out of town' can mean anything, you know, and I still have no idea where you are. Should I say good morning?"
"I just finished a business meeting," came Asami's amused reply.
That voice, cool and deep and oh-so-arrogant, the one that Akihito knew so well he could hear the smirk in it. He gripped the phone tighter, pressed it harder against his ear as he snorted. "Yeah, like that explains anything."
He could hear a muted din from the other end, a fragmented jumble of voices and music and traffic, too indistinct to identify any one sound as though Asami was in a closed room separated from the noise.
"Where are you?" Asami asked.
"I asked you first."
"Did you? I must have missed that in amongst all your rambling. Where are you?" Asami repeated.
Akihito squinted. "Have you lost your marbles? You know exactly where I am. You've got your men all over my ass and I'll bet you already have their detailed report by now. Including a blow-by-blow account of how I piss."
"I know how you piss."
A spasm took over Akihito's face. "I'm hanging up."
Asami chuckled. "Are you in my bed?"
"No."
"Take my bed."
"You're not even here. I'm not using your bed."
"You'll sleep better."
Akihito frowned. "Have you been talking to Blond Tank?"
There was a pause. "He mentioned seeing you on his last round."
Great. Suoh had probably guessed at the nightmare. Again. "I'm dealing with it," Akihito insisted quietly. "It's fine."
Another pause. "You've had a very traumatic experience, Akihito. It's natural to be affected as you are –"
"Asami!" Why suddenly now? They'd never broached this face to face, it was too thorny an issue. This was skirting dangerously close to a meaningful conversation. Akihito was all for avoidance. "Just leave it, ok?"
"There's no shame in –"
"Fucking hell, seriously! What's gotten into you?" Akihito exclaimed hotly. "Why don't we talk about you if you're so insistent on it. How are you sleeping? Do you have nightmares of faceless shadows trapping you and drilling a gun into your head and killing you and there's nothing you can do to stop it? You were there too!"
Akihito covered his face with his hand, shaking. It wasn't fair. He waited for some sarcastic remark...
None came. Still he waited and still Asami didn't say anything.
"You were there too," Akihito repeated, quiet, unsure. "Why are you so ok?" And I'm not?
Asami's reply was likewise quiet. "This isn't new for me." There was a pause. "Actually I'm surprised you're not any more of a wreck."
"Gee, thanks."
"Most people would be in therapy by now."
"I'm not most people."
"I know." There was an unwavering assurance in those two simple words, almost like quiet pride. Akihito blinked. And then Asami had to go ruin it. "Why else do you think I'm screwing you fifty ways to sundown?"
Akihito groaned, even as he relaxed at the more familiar territory. "You and your one track mind! I should write a piece about that in Spotlight, expose you for the perverted bastard you are and how you're actually ruled by your dick."
"Be my guest," Asami purred. "I'll supply you with ample first-hand evidence."
Akihito gaped, flushing red.
"Sleep in my bed, Akihito. Else I'll send one of the guards in to tie you to it."
Akihito scowled. "I'm surprised you'd let anyone touch me like that."
"Interesting which part of that you objected to."
"Wait! I'm objecting to all of it!"
"But you're quite right," Asami continued fluidly over his protests. "If they did I would have to... fire them."
Akihito sighed. "There you go with your threats again."
"It seemed like you needed an excuse."
Akihito couldn't argue with that.
"Get your ass to my bed."
Akihito didn't reply.
"Hmm, which of my guards is the most dispensable...?" Asami pondered.
"Ok, ok! I'm going! Quit threatening your men already!" He angrily punched the keys to shut down his laptop.
"If you insist."
Akihito could hear the smirk in the rumbling baritone. He flat out denied it calmed his frazzled nerves. "Bastard."
"Brat."
Akihito snorted.
"Get back to sleep. I'll be back tomorrow."
"Makes no difference to me," Akihito muttered, hiding his relief.
Asami chuckled, seeing right through him.
Akihito gnawed his lip. "Uh, Asami?"
"Hmm?"
Akihito hesitated another few seconds, letting his defensiveness subside. "... Thanks."
There was a hum of acknowledgement, as if to say Of course. "Goodnight, Akihito." The warm baritone wrapped around him.
"... Goodnight."
There was a pause, where he could imagine the smirk and intense gaze, before the line clicked dead.
Akihito sat there for long moments, feeling something indescribable squeezing his chest. Because there could only be one purpose for the phone call. It was all for Akihito.
He padded over to Asami's bedroom. The shadows were familiar here, the dark corners not so threatening. Comforting, even, allowing him to hide. He slid into the wide bed, Asami's scent permeating around him. Better. But it could be better still. Another moment's hesitation and then he grabbed Asami's pillow, hugged it into his face, inhaled a big lungful, and let the tension go.
Thursday, 7.34 am.
"Break it off."
"Asammmphh–?" Akihito's startled question was swallowed up by Asami's hungry mouth.
"... Or that's what I would say if I thought for a second that you would."
"He belongs with me."
"Goodness me, you're growling. That wasn't a voice, Ryuichi."
Akihito had been very busy snoozing through his alarms when the sound of the front door had cut through. He'd barely had time to shove Asami's pillow back where it belonged, plump it up and smooth it over a bit, and take two stumbling steps from the bed, when Asami strode through the bedroom doorway.
The kiss drove Akihito backwards into the nearest hard surface. Asami caught his wrists and pinned them to the wall. Akihito jerked with a yelp when a certain part of the male anatomy that was way too eager to say hello in the mornings jabbed uncomfortably. Asami chuckled and adjusted so the morning glory was nestled flush between them. His hands, warm and strong, dragged roughly down from Akihito's wrists pinned overhead, along the forearms and upper arms, thumbing the pink scar on the outer bicep, over the shoulders. He enveloped Akihito's jaws, drank in the sight of Akihito a little out of breath already and staring wide-eyed up at him – startled but curious, a little on edge but eager, oh so eager – then resumed his very serious pursuit of stealing all the air from Akihito's lungs.
Ok. So this was happening. Akihito was up for that.
Somehow their grabbing and heated tasting of each other led them across the room.
"Trying to bribe him off was foolish, wasn't it? Whatever's happened between you, he has your back."
"I know."
"Do you? Do you really? It wasn't just that he told me nothing about whatever business you got him involved in and had to skirt around. It's not even that he refused to find out more about you through me, even though I offered and he's curious 'as fuck', as he put it." She paused pointedly. "I asked how you became lovers. He didn't lie but he was careful what he said. What on earth did you do?"
Akihito toppled with a startled squeak. Asami followed him onto the bed. But then after lowering himself over Akihito, slowly relaxing pretty much his whole weight onto the smaller man, Asami pressed his face into Akihito's neck. And stayed there.
Asami seemed to like it there, Akihito was beginning to notice. The warm breath tickled his skin prickling with sensitivity, his body raring to go. Sheesh. It was only the night before last when Asami had made him come and come in the dojo until he'd literally lost consciousness, surely he couldn't be having sex withdrawal or something!
Asami simply remained there, just pressing Akihito into the bed.
"He... was interested."
Hazumi was silent.
"Deep down. He just needed some convincing that it was alright to be interested."
There was a long pause. "For crying out loud!"
It seemed Asami wasn't into speaking right now. He was just lying there, still fully dressed, coat included. Had something happened? Had it gone well with his 'acquaintance'? Or totally shit?
Or maybe Asami had fallen asleep.
"Miss me?" Akihito tried.
Asami huffed in amusement.
Still awake then.
"He protected your honour, Ryuichi!"
Asami said nothing.
"That kid is gold."
"I know."
"You don't deserve him."
"I know."
An alarm blared from somewhere beside them. Asami tensed as Akihito fumbled for his phone.
"Ah, hang on, lemme just get that."
Akihito managed to snag it with his fingertips from where he'd last tossed it on the bed. He switched off all five alarms.
Asami relaxed again like a dead weight.
He smelled like Asami, as well as a faint blend of other alien smells of food and people and places that came with travelling.
Was that a faint whiff of jasmine? Maybe incense?
Hazumi's ire dissipated slowly. She didn't have to say what was on her mind for him to understand. "Or maybe you do, brother," she said softly after a long while.
"Is this middle-aged sentimentality setting in? I doubt he'd think so."
"Talk to him. He may surprise you. He's certainly surprised me."
"He tends to do that."
"Are you alright?" Akihito asked. The same question Asami had put to him only the day before. The same softness born of concern.
Asami raised himself enough to look at Akihito. It was a familiar intensity that made everything inside Akihito stutter, but he didn't shy from it. Asami made an acknowledging sound in the back of his throat. That was about it.
Akihito squirmed under the weight of that undivided regard. "'Cos you're being a little weird. Ok, maybe a lot weird, but let's start with a little and work our way up. You know, try a few words, see where that goes."
Asami trailed a finger through the blond hair. He still said nothing, his face a study of concentration.
"Hurry up and get all the tiresome details out of the way so I can tell him all the good stuff. You know, like how you tried to drown me when you were fifteen." Her voice was smiling.
"By all means, mock the poor drowning younger brother for trying to climb out of the pool, why don't you, when it was your brilliant idea to shove me in knowing full well I hadn't learned to swim yet. Because that's fair."
"Since when do you subscribe to fair? I need a co-conspirator against your devious ways and Akihito-kun is perfect. He won't put up with you stepping out of line."
"As if you can't hold your own," Asami muttered.
"And don't you forget it," she retorted. Then she became entirely serious. "You treat him right from now on, Ryuichi. If you hurt him, I will castrate you."
"Ouch."
"Take heed if you don't want to live out your days as a eunuch."
"I'm rethinking Akihito's loyalty if he's turned you against me already."
Hazumi laughed. "He's brilliant. I believe you've found your match, brother."
Asami rolled off him and off the bed, disappearing into the walk-in wardrobe. Akihito lay there another moment before sitting up. He shuffled to the edge –
"Don't move."
Akihito paused at the order that floated out from the big closet. Typical Asami. Akihito grinned. "You want me to pee here?"
There was a grumble of something unintelligible. "Go."
Akihito sniggered and hopped off.
When he came back – with his teeth brushed too 'cos morning breath was gross, end of, even if Asami didn't seem to care – Asami was propped up with his pillow against the headboard. He was in his suit trousers and shirt, the top two buttons undone, sleeves loose without cufflinks and pushed up. His legs were stretched out and crossed at the ankles, an unlit cigarette hung from his mouth. His eyes were closed.
"Tired?"
"Mmm."
Akihito rocked on his heels. "D'you want any coffee? Breakfast? Peace and quiet so you can sleep?"
"Just you," Asami said around the cigarette, his eyes still closed. "Come here."
Akihito rolled his eyes but didn't have the heart to refuse when Asami looked so exhausted. Akihito was also strangely warmed that Asami was letting him see it, not putting on a front with him.
"Here I was thinking I'd get to work on time for once," Akihito said as he crossed the thick carpet. "But seeing as you're talking and making great progress and all, I suppose I can spare a few minutes."
Asami plucked the unlit cigarette from his lips, dropped it on the bedside table without looking. "You can spare a lot longer than that. We're not working this morning."
Akihito stopped short of the bed. "Is this your way of saying there are more bullets with my name on it out there?"
"Nothing like that. We're just staying in."
"I can't not go to work."
"You can. Need me to shut down Sion?"
"No I don't need you to shut down Sion, geez! How ridiculous are you?" Akihito flopped down on the bed beside Asami, his head about level with Asami's chest. "Fine. No work, for a while anyway. I'll just tell Ogawa-san to take up my tardiness with you, shall I?"
Asami smirked, but the expression was short lived. His eyes opened to slits as he regarded Akihito slightly further down from him.
Splendid. Asami was back to his silent staring.
"Did something happen when you were gone?" Akihito prodded. Asami opened his mouth but Akihito beat him to it. "Yeah yeah, gotta be more specific, I know." He rolled his eyes as Asami smirked. "But you know what I mean." Barely had he sensed the negative than he exclaimed, "Is this about your sister? You know a heads up would've gone down a treat. I had no time to get my shit together or even get dressed."
"You were naked?" Asami said with mock amazement.
Akihito slapped him with the back of his hand. "No I wasn't naked, you baka! I was wearing this." He waved at himself. "But I had no idea what to say to her! I probably offended her. She thought I was horrible, right?"
"She didn't."
"You spoke to her?"
"On the way here. She thinks you're too good for me."
Akihito sniggered. "Damn straight. If you weren't such a pushy bastard this ass would be way outa your league, mister. But urgh," he slumped back on the pillow, "you gotta give me a chance here, warn me next time. She's so suave and –" he gestured vaguely – "sophisticated. I can't talk to people like that."
"You talk to me just fine. In fact I can't get you to shut up." There was a grin tugging at Asami's mouth.
Akihito stuck his tongue out at him. "You've only yourself to blame. You obscure any hint of refinement with your freakishly big ego. Who knows what horrors are hidden under all that elephantine big-headedness?"
Any bite from his words were marshmallow-ified as he flopped over Asami's stomach, chin resting on the backs of his hands. Warmth seeped through the crisp white shirt.
Asami's eyes slid closed again. A large hand trailed up Akihito's back, played at the nape of his neck. Something was definitely on Asami's mind. Or maybe he was just really tired. But he didn't seem inclined to be left alone to sleep either.
"Your parents must have been beautiful," Akihito rambled on. "I mean, your sister's like... you know, a goddess. A very intimidating goddess." He quirked a lopsided grin, shrugging one shoulder from where he was comfortably draped over Asami's abs. "And you're not half bad to look at either, when you're not being an insufferable bastard. Not that your ego needs inflating any."
Asami's amused smirk was short lived, something hard glinting through his gaze as he stared over Akihito's head. He stared so hard that Akihito almost turned to see if someone was there, when Asami spoke.
"She's my half sister. Related through our biological father."
That carried so many connotations in itself. Akihito, for once, held his tongue.
"He was an ugly piece of shit," Asami added.
Akihito couldn't help snorting.
Asami's upturned lips carried no warmth. "For him it was very much a case of the best genes skipping a generation. His mother was said to have been a true beauty. Turned the head of the Emperor himself, or so they said. She had an exceptional mind. If cancer hadn't taken her early, she might have prevented some of what happened."
Asami's fingers weaved without attention through Akihito's hair. "My biological parents were both of the Shinjui-Kan, a prominent Yakuza group at the time."
Akihito had an awful sinking feeling. He'd heard of the Shinjui-Kan, they'd been wiped out in a bloody turf war twenty, nearly thirty years ago.
"They met when they were both in disgrace. My... mother, for want of a better term, was the only daughter of the old Oyabun [top boss], she'd had a messy and very public fling with some up and coming pop idol who was eventually paid off. Father was a lieutenant who risked too much and messed up one job too many. They needed to garner favour and their scheme was to provide a much desired male heir to the Oyabun. Theirs was a marriage of cold calculation between two power-hungry, self-obsessed people."
Asami's eyes slid down to Akihito. "Here's where you say you now see where I inherited those charming qualities."
Akihito was wide-eyed at the animosity carried in the words mother and father. No one should have to carry such burden. "I wouldn't joke about something like this."
"Why would it be a joke?" Asami said carelessly. "As much as I despise them, I can't deny the likeness." His gaze drifted back out into nothing. "They tried for several years but there was no child. I'm told it wasn't a good marriage to begin with but the lack of issue only strained matters further. Father took on a mistress," he took a breath, his demeanour hardening – "she was the widow of a low-ranked enforcer who'd been so in debt that she couldn't leave the group. Hazumi was born. A child, even a girl, was a good distraction for a while. The Oyabun doted on her, father was back in favour. But my parents didn't stop trying and five years later, I came along." His voice grew cold. "A male, blood-related heir to the Oyabun, the future absolute leader of the clan – Hazumi and her mother didn't stand a chance. They were shunted out to a hut down at the end of the garden and were made to do all the housework in the main house. Their lives changed overnight.
"My upbringing was different to Hazumi's from the beginning. I was schooled and trained to take over the group. There was no lenience for errors. No excuse for childishness. They stamped that all out early on."
Asami carded soothingly through the blond hair. Akihito hadn't realized he was leaning up on his elbows, clutching at Asami's shirt. He eased his grip by didn't let go.
"The Shinjui-Kan had always been ambitious but they renewed their drive to expand their territory. Perhaps the Oyabun was spurred by having a new successor, but the top lieutenants were simply greedy, vying for position as the clan reordered. They were all rash and stupid. They took on other groups, several at a time, without covering their backs, with too many alliances that were shaky at best. Some clashes they won, some they lost. Ground was gained, ground was lost. They pissed off a lot of people.
"It all came to a head when the Oyabun engaged in a full scale war with the powerful Ishihara Group and lost. I was 8, Hazumi was 13, when half of the Shinjui-Kan were taken out in one day. The Ishihara lieutenants rounded up all the survivors and took us to a big derelict building, which was fairly standard as takeover executions go.
"But they gave us each a choice," Asami said, chillingly unemotional. "They lined us up on our knees, pointed a gun at each of us in turn, and told us to choose one life to be spared. My father chose himself. My mother chose herself." He rubbed at Akihito's hands that had clamped over his arm. "When they asked the Mistress, she chose the children, Hazumi and me." Here, at last, some sign of feeling. "She insisted we weren't responsible for our parents' actions. But the lieutenants forced her to choose just one, or we'd both be shot. She chose me." He was silent for a while, weighed with memories long buried. When he spoke again he was much quieter. "I chose Hazumi. I still remember the look on her face. The prized child that she hated, for all that I stood for and all that she and her mother had suffered because of it. I'd chosen her. I don't think she could believe it."
Asami resumed impassively again. "Hazumi chose her mother. Everyone else made their choices too. Some chose to save themselves, some chose others. Once we'd all spoken, we were told that the survivors would be drafted into service. The Ishihara Group had no place for those lacking the potential to put the good of the whole before self-serving greed, they said, and they executed everyone who'd chosen themselves. Including my parents."
It was one horrifying thing after another. Akihito huddled down against Asami. He wasn't sure which of them needed the contact more.
"With my parents dead, the Mistress adopted me. I remember fighting a lot with both of them when I first moved in and then suddenly things being ok, but not much about how we went from one to the other. Hazumi told me most of this later. It took a year before they realized that it all stemmed from that day. Hazumi was angry because her mother had chosen another child to save. I was angry because I'd been saved by someone else's mother. It turned out that her mother had chosen me because she knew that I would then choose to save Hazumi. Because I always had. Whenever father became drunk and judged discipline to be in order, I used to act up. All I remember is that I hated seeing him beating her and it was easier taking the beatings myself. Hazumi used to think I was stupid for suddenly starting to trail dirt into the house or leaving my books on the floor for him to trip over, just as he started on one of his moods. As she grew older she saw it differently. So our warzone became a home and we became a family. Her mother... became mine, in a way that my biological mother had never been." He paused dead for a second before continuing, his voice flat. "In the meantime I worked as a runner, an errand boy, whatever the Ishihara wanted whenever I wasn't at school. But that only lasted until Hazumi was 17."
The storm of dark fury was potent even after all this time. "The Ishihara Group traded in people, and Hazumi was stunning. You can do the maths. It was raining that night. There were twelve seconds between lightning and thunder. We'd just finished dinner, udon noodles it was. I had the red chopsticks just because I knew Hazumi wanted them and I managed to grab them first. We still fought in little ways, as siblings do."
Akihito could still picture the pattern of splintered plastic and computer fragments, covered in splodges of blood where he'd walked over them in bare feet. Was it always the weird insignificant details that stayed with you?
"There were five men. Mother did everything she could to try and stop them. They killed her for it. She was used goods, they said," Asami snarled, "she wouldn't sell for much. I managed to get close enough to one of them to take his gun and I shot them. All five of them." He sneered. "They were so surprised, so angry. I'd been working diligently for them for four years without a word of protest. But they'd mistaken compliance for loyalty. Fools, the lot of them. How could a 12-year-old be using them to further his own knowledge and skill? It never even occurred to them."
He was all steel. "Mother's maiden name was Asami. After she was murdered I took on the name, with Hazumi's blessing, to raise it to greatness. She was deserving of far better than life had given her. I vowed to myself, and to Hazumi, that we would never be so weak and helpless again.
"My intention wasn't to destroy the Ishihara. That wasn't nearly enough. I accelerated through school and my degrees. I established Sion. As soon as I could afford it, I hired protection for Hazumi and she didn't have to dress as a scruffy boy anymore to avoid attracting attention." He smirked at the memory. "All the while, I built on what I'd learned with the Shinjui-Kan and the Ishihara Group. They were useful for that, at least. I trained and armed myself. I grew my network, above and below ground. I armed myself with information on deals and trade routes, alliances and enemies open and covert, where the bodies were buried and who'd put them there, who was sleeping with whom when they shouldn't be, who was clever and dangerous, who was stupid enough to be dangerous in their own ways, and how to tell the difference. I bought up shares and bought off people, enough to control key businesses for the main Yakuza groups. When I made my first legal billion, I subjugated them all. They could kneel to me and flourish, or refuse and be wiped out. By the time I decimated three Groups, they got the message."
His focus swung to Akihito. "This is who I am, Akihito. I've been a killer since I was a child."
Akihito found himself sitting up frozen. His breath shuddered out before he gasped another. "That wasn't your fault!" His voice cracked.
"I've killed many since and I will kill many more. Those are on me. I'll go to whatever lengths I deem necessary to protect what's mine and I make no apologies for it. This insufferable bastard will never change."
"Oh my god..." All that had made this man so ruthless and yet so human, who despised cowardice and weakness, who, despite all that he did, understood the value of human life – Akihito's shaking hands were reaching of their own accord.
Asami came forwards. "Hey," he soothed, brushing the backs of his fingers against Akihito's cheek. They came away wet.
Something was breaking inside Akihito. Whisper soft, with the significance of a thousand cranes, he could only manage one word. The only one that mattered. The one that said it all. "Ryuichi...!"
Golden eyes pierced to his soul, something nameless and intense filling that striking face. "Only you, Akihito."
And damned if that didn't sound like an oath, heartrendingly vehement, heartbreakingly vulnerable.
Asami engulfed him in his arms and in a kiss. And as Asami covered him and filled every inch of him, demanding and hungry and urgent and needing, Akihito gave all of himself. He held nothing back.
