AN: Sorry about the accidental hiatus of this fic! I was having some trouble with it and then I got the flu and couldn't work on it at all. I thought I had this chapter all planned out and was surprised when I struggled with writing it but it turns out Akihito wanted it to happen a different way. He turned out to be surprisingly perceptive and willing. Warnings for slightly kinky lemon. Nothing drastic and very (slightly surprisingly) consensual.

The limo took off, presumably in the direction of the penthouse and Akihito wriggled his way onto his back to glare at Asami. His lover still hadn't spoken and was currently lighting up a cigarette. The air felt heavy with tension. All of Asami's movements were tightly controlled and he seemed to be holding together by iron will alone. Akihito hadn't expected quite this reaction but maybe some part of him had known and that was why he ran. The soulmate bond was complex and hidden and very little was known about it. Could he have anticipated this reaction subconsciously? Asami had still not spoken and had not looked at Akihito once since entering the limo. Such a reaction from a man who outwardly showed very little emotion was surprising. He had never really kept his mask up in front of Akihito, right since the very beginning he had let the little photographer see more of himself than he showed others, something that he had only just noticed when seeing him around his subordinates. Akihito tried to think of what to say, he didn't want his soulmate to be like this. But he wasn't about to apologise either. What else did that leave to say?

"Asami-"

"Why did you ignore my calls?"

"Huh?" That wasn't what Akihito expected. Asami turned to look at him and those golden eyes burned. Feeling uncomfortable with the gaze, Akihito looked away and pulled on his restrained hands in frustration. "I… I knew you would be mad about the guards and the stake out and… I guess I didn't want to face you just yet." Asami didn't answer and Akihito chanced a look at him. He felt a constriction in his chest at the impassive mask now fully in place. This wasn't what he wanted, he didn't want to be shut out like the rest. Not from his soulmate.

The rest of the journey to the penthouse passed in uncomfortable silence. Akihito let himself be manhandled out of the limo with no complaints until he was thrown on the bed in the secret room. He watched as Asami opened up the display and pulled out a selection of black leather before turning to face him. Akihito lifted his chin in defiance but held out his bound hands. He had an inkling about what was coming earlier but it had been confirmed once Asami had opened the door to this room. He wasn't about to apologise but he wasn't going to back down either. He knew Asami wouldn't hurt him, not really and he wanted to see every part of this man who was his soulmate. This was part of it and he was going to face it head on. Asami paused at his show of obedience and searched his face. Akihito saw a flicker of surprise in his eyes before his expression smoothed over again. He let himself he stripped and buckled into the array of leather Asami had chosen. He found that while he wasn't exactly willing, facing Asami head on like this he felt surprisingly in control. Asami stood back after adjusting the last buckle and just looked at him. Akihito looked back, pride and defiance in his eyes. He wasn't going to apologise but he wasn't going to run either.

Akihito sat on the bed, naked except for the leather harness around his chest, neck, wrists, thighs and ankles while Asami observed, fully clothed. Some part of him knew that this should feel thrilling, being forcibly bared to Asami's gaze like this but that impassive mask was still in place and it was shattering his heart. He could feel that powerful, in control feeling from before slipping away. He could hand over his obedience for a short time and in willingly doing so lose nothing at all but this… He could do so for Asami but not for the mask that shadows the man. He had worn it around Akihito before but never with him, directed at him. He had always seen Asami the man and he was rapidly breaking apart, pride and defiance melting away almost as quickly as it arrived. Asami still hadn't moved and Akihito unexpectedly found tears in his eyes and he cursed his sudden show of weakness. How the hell did the man cause such drastic bouncing in his emotions? He took a deep shuddering breath, desperately trying to calm himself and felt a tear slip free to run down his face.

"Akihito?" Asami sounded concerned but his vision was too blurred to make out his expression. "Akihito, what's wrong?" He felt hands cup his cheeks and gently wipe away the tears.

"Dammit!" Akihito closed his eyes and tried to take another deep breath but found his breath catch in a sob in the back of his throat. He brought his hands up to first into Asami's shirt. "How do you do this to me?"

"Akihito?" He opened his eyes and stared straight into Asami's.

"You… I don't care what you do to me, punish me, flay me open from the inside out and I'll take it, anything you can throw at me, I don't care. But don't do it with that mask in place."

"Mask?" Akihito could see the surprise flash across his face.

"That stupid mask you show the world, the façade, the shadow that hides who you really are. The one that hides your heart…" He trailed off and suddenly realised why it was in place. He leaned forward and placed his forehead on Asami's shoulder, closing his eyes. "I'm sorry for ignoring your calls." He felt Asami stiffen. "I didn't realise it would hurt you that much. I'm not apologising for anything else but for that… I am sorry."

"Akihito…" Arms wrapped themselves around him and he found himself pulled into a tight embrace. "How do I do this to you? I should be the one asking you that." He heard the soft exhale of a deep breath being released and Asami's body relaxed against his. "Thank you Akihito." He placed a soft kiss to his neck and pulled back to look at him. "I still want to punish you however."

"That's fine," Akihito draped his arms around his neck and brought his face close enough that their noses were nearly touching. "I told you, you can do whatever you want but take the mask off. You're only allowed to if it's you and not your shadow doing it."

"But then you will enjoy it far too much."

"Is that really a problem?"

"No," Asami smirked. "I suppose not."

Akihito smirked back and then Asami's lips were crashing against his, all the anger, hurt and passion leaking out into a brutal, claiming kiss. He moaned and pulled himself closer to Asami, trying to sit in his lap but suddenly he was thrown onto his back on the bed. He looked up at his lover and could immediately feel the difference to before. Asami look positively wild, eyes smouldering with a feral light as his gaze burned a pathway across Akihito's skin. He shivered in response, feeling heat shoot through him. This was what he was missing before. He felt like some little sacrifice being offered up to a salivating predator and damn if he wasn't excited by the prospect. Asami leaned over him and kissed him again just as hard as before, forcing his tongue inside and laying claim to him once again. When he pulled back he rolled Akihito onto his stomach before leaving the bed. He could hear his lover picking something up before he felt the bed dip and Asami settled himself with his back to the headboard and hauled the blonde across his lap. A large, warm hand resting on his bare behind, stroking the cheeks and Akihito knew where this was going.

"So my naughty little kitten," Akihito felt heat pool low in his belly at the sinister tone and squirmed in Asami's lap. His erection was pressed into Asami's thigh and he could feel Asami's half hard cock against his stomach. "I was going to give you a proper punishment but how about we start with something small hmm? A little more intimate than what I had originally planned." The hand continued to stroke and dipped down into the crease of his ass. "Are you going to be able to stay still or do I need to tie you up a little more?"

While Akihito was trussed up in leather, none of his limbs were secured to anything yet and he shook his head.

"No, it's fine."

Asami hummed in response and gave his ass one last caress then lifted his hand away. Akihito felt himself tense in anticipation. He jolted and cried out in shock as the hand slapped his ass. It took a few seconds for the pain to register and Akihito hissed once it did. Asami rubbed out the sting a little before slapping the other cheek. He slowly alternated between each cheek, building up the force he used with each crack of his hand against Akihito's skin. He could feel the heat of his skin and it stung but after each strike, Asami rubbed out the sting just a little and the pain of the slap combined with the tender stroking was really starting to affect him. Pain warring with pleasure, both blending together to leave him gasping and panting. He was wriggling in Asami's lap and could feel the man's now fully erect cock poking into his stomach.

"I think that's enough of an introduction for you."

"Intro-?" He was cut off as Asami's hand slammed down with more force than before and this time he didn't stop in between each hit. Oh, it hurt and yet he was still hard and throbbing where his cock rubbed against Asami's thigh. There was tears in his eyes when Asami stopped and his hand caressed him again. Akihito felt his lover move and heard a lid snap open, then shut. The fingers were trailing in between his ass cheeks again before spreading him opened and he shivered when fingers caressed his entrance. Something cold and wet took place of the fingers and pressed inside a little. It was pulled out then pushed in further, repeating the process as it was forced in a little more on each pass. The stretch burned. Asami wasn't allowing him time to adjust before pushing the object in further although he wasn't doing it so much as to tear or cause him damage. By the time he felt himself close around what must be a plug, holding it in place, Akihito was panting and groaning, hands clenching the bed sheets. Asami palmed the plug and it rubbed up against that spot inside Akihito that had him seeing stars.

"Such a good little kitten." Asami spoke absently, as though he wasn't even aware he was speaking. "So good for me." The hand crack down again and this time it caught the plug, forcing it against his prostate again. Again and again the blows rained down and suddenly Akihito was coming, convulsing in Asami's lap, back arched and his lovers name on his lips. But Asami didn't stop and Akihito's very nerve endings felt on fire as he was so sensitive after his orgasm.

"Pleasepleasepleaseplease!" Akihito became aware he was begging, not even sure what it was for but he couldn't stop the pleas falling from his lips. The blows raining down on his ass stopped, leaving him right on the precipice of a second orgasm and he mewled in protest. Asami yanked his hands around behind his back and clipped the two leather cuffs together before hauling Akihito up and into his lap. He sat him with his legs straddling his thighs, back pressed up to his chest and fingers in his open mouth pressing down on his tongue.

"You want something kitten?" Akihito moaned around the fingers in response. "Your begging was very pleasing on the ears. Maybe I should get you to beg for it more often."

He removed his fingers from his mouth and shoved his little lover forward so that he landed stomach down on the bed before lifting up his hips so he was on his knees, ass in the air. He pushed on the plug, rocking it in and out a few times before removing it completely and Akihito shuddered and mewled at the loss.

"Don't worry little kitten, I have something much better for you." Asami slammed himself inside in one brutal thrust and Akihito was tipped over the edge again. His lover was relentless and the over sensitivity had him practically sobbing as he drove himself into him again and again. A rough hand reached around to wrap itself around his cock and he was coming yet again with a silent scream, body trembling with the sheer force of it and Asami suddenly bit down on his shoulder. Akihito could feel his lover's body tense and he groaned around his shoulder still between his teeth. They stayed locked like that for a few minutes while they both came down from their highs. Asami finally detached his teeth and kissed the same spot before letting him drop boneless to the bed. He reached out a hand and stroked it gently down Akihito's back earning himself a small sigh of pleasure.

"You enjoyed that far too much for punishment."

"Yeah, well, so did you." Akihito tried to move and gave up with a groan. "And I'm pretty sure I'm not going to be able to move tomorrow so how about we call it even? Particularly with the bite mark you gave me."

Asami chuckled and stood. "I suppose I can make do with that for now."

"For now?! What the hell did you have planned?"

"I have lots more toys to introduce you to and seeing as the threat against you hasn't been nullified yet, now if the perfect time to play with them."

"What am I? Your sex toy for the next week?"

"That sounds like an excellent idea." Akihito groaned and buried his face into the bed.

"How about we don't do that, my ass won't hold up."

"I wouldn't be so sure about that kitten, there are plenty of things we can explore while your tight little ass recovers." Asami reached over and carefully picked a limp Akihito up in his arms. "How about we start the next round in the bath?"

"How do you have so much stamina? And wouldn't doing it in a bathtub be really awkward?" Asami smirked at him as he manoeuvred them into the bathroom and sat Akihito on the edge before turning the taps on. He shifted uncomfortably, his throbbing ass making itself known.

"I have a rather large tub so it won't be a problem but I'll give you your demonstration soon."

Akihito tried to stand but his legs wouldn't take his weight and he sighed. Taps running and bath slowly beginning to fill, Asami reached over and began to unbuckle the leather harness, fingers ghosting over the sensitive skin as he did so. He was pretty sure he wasn't going to be able to walk properly for a few days but at least Asami wasn't angry anymore and they had kind of come to an understanding. They still had a fair way to go but it was a start at least and he was happy with that.