SO I HAD WISHED TO DO THIS STORY MORE ALONG THE LINES OF LEVERAGE. SADLY HOWEVER, I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO CAPTURE THAT WORLD. SO IT IS FOCUSED AS A FINDER STORY SET IN LEVERAGE'S WORLD WITH MY OWN TWIST OF AN ALTERNATIVE UNIVERSE. I HOPE EVERYONE WILL STILL ENJOY IT THOUGH.
Time went on. Missions came and went. Ryuichi settled into having Akihito a part of the team. His mood eased and he began to smile in a way he had not done in many years. He had forgotten just how happy Akihito made him. The silly antics the blond was capable of. His jokes and his simple cheerful demeanor. They were things Ryuichi had missed far more than he was willing to admit to.
So two years later, when Akihito failed to return home after a simple mission; Ryuichi cracked. He had tried to remain calm. Tell himself that Akihito would often disappear. But one day turned into another then soon, an entire week had gone by.
Kazumi checked every camera feed in Japan, as well as ones in other countries. However, as a member of the Asami clan, Akihito wouldn't be caught dead on a camera. They were no records of Akihito or anyone fitting his description being arrested - something that was possible as Akihito was a cheeky brat you loved to cause trouble. Nor were there any signs he was in a morgue. Which left only one option. Takaba.
Ryuichi had killed Takaba Haru twenty five years ago. Along with his men. That didn't mean the Takaba family was no longer a threat however. No. The remaining Takaba family was just a big a problem as Haru had been. The men were vile. Taking advantage of the young, lost and weak. They were greedy and murderous. Dipping their fingers into every single dirty pot available. After bringing Akihito home, Ryuichi had begun to dig into the Takaba family businesses and history. His grandfather helped, but they found little past what they already knew.
In the end, they were left with the knowledge that if the Takabas learned of Akihito's existence, they would take him back. And that would not be good at all.
