A/N: Akihito clears his head after learning about Asami and then heads to Flux for Yoshida's birthday. Eeeeeeeee the next chapter is Heartbeat. I'm so damn excited. *squeals* Also this chapter ran a little long o.o but I wasn't willing to let a certain someone into the next chapter. Nope.

Akihito left the Sion office building in a daze. He couldn't quite wrap his head around the magnitude of the information he had just learned. It was late morning and Akihito had a friend's birthday to go to that evening so he wouldn't see Asami until late tonight or tomorrow at the earliest and he was probably going to need the entire afternoon to get his head around it all. It was like something you would see on the news or read in the paper. Something that you knew could happen but never in a million years think that it would happen to someone close to you.

He walked out into the Tokyo streets aimlessly. He needed to think and he always found it easier to move while doing so. The motion seemed to help him process things. He just couldn't imagine the pain Asami must have felt. His lover had been killed right in front of him. And he blamed himself. He remembered what Kirishima had said just as he was about to leave.

"I'm not sure if I actually said this earlier." Akihito had turned to look back at the secretary with his hand resting on the door handle. "I never blamed him. Not once. No one did. No one blamed him but himself."

Asami not only had to deal with grief but guilt. And apparently he had done so badly, if at all.

"What followed was a train wreck. He didn't care if he lived or died. The only thing worth living for had died because of him, his words not mine."

Akihito found himself walking into quiet suburbs already surprisingly far from Sion and the busy shopping districts. He ignored his surroundings and let his thoughts take over again. The man had not only lost a lover, he had lost her on the day they we allowed to start planning for a future. It was a cruel twist of fate that they were out celebrating her health and that was the day she died. Like Asami had been finally allowed to dream and it had been snatched away immediately. Then he lost another close friend.

"Unfortunately it took another death to bring him back to his senses… He was a broken shell of a man at that point."

Akihito began to jog and slowly sped up until he was running full tilt down a quieter side street and cast about for a likely looking building. When he found one with obvious hand holds and leverage points, he veered over to it and scrambled up the side of the building. Up and on the roof, he continued his mad dash and maneuvered his way across the tops of the small buildings. The burn in his lungs and the strain in his muscles as he ran and jumped felt good. It cleared his head and narrowed his focus.

The loss and the betrayal that led to it explained so much. Why Asami didn't take no as an answer and just did what he wanted. Why he forced three guards on Akihito at all times, a better security force than he himself had. Why Akihito not answering his calls had hurt him so much. Why he was so possessive. Why he didn't seem to want to let Akihito in. Why Sudou's possible betrayal had caused that dark tone in Asami's voice over the phone. Hurt once, then twice. Now he had even more to lose. Would Asami even survive if something happened to Akihito? He doubted it. Not after Kirishima's words.

"No matter what I tried I couldn't pull him out of his self-destructive spiral."

Yet the man was holding onto that pain still. He never healed, just hid it away. And that one morning it peeked out and Akihito not only saw it, he felt it. He remember the painful twisting in his chest and the neediness of his soulmate for the rest of the day. He remembered Asami's constant surprise every time Akihito let the man in to see all of him. Exposed himself under that gaze. Surprised because he was so blinded by his own pain he was hiding that he couldn't imagine opening up to anyone again.

Akihito slowed to a stop on a long roof top and bent over, hands on knees while he caught his breath. He didn't know what on earth he was going to do to try and help Asami heal but at least he understood what was behind everything. He was startled when he heard multiple thuds behind him and turned to find all three guards sitting on the roof desperately trying to catch their breath. Oh right. He had forgotten about them.

"Ta… Hah… Takaba… Sama… What?"

Akihito rubbed the back of head in embarrassment. His breathing was already almost under control so he didn't have any trouble replying.

"Sorry. I uh, just needed to clear my head."

All three guards groaned. Ueda looked up at him in astonishment. "And that… was how you… haah… clear your head?"

He gave an awkward laugh. "Yeah. I'm not a thinker you know? Moving helps me think."

"Takaba-sama. Next time, you tell me and we go to the parkour course in the gym. You can do laps. For as long as you like. Hell, I'll even join you for a couple. Just… Let's not do this again." Ueda groaned again. "I was not fucking ready for that. I thought we were doing so well with the whole parkour thing too. I was so wrong. So very wrong."

"Sorry." Akihito gave him a sheepish grin. One of the guards flopped down so that he was lying spread eagle on the roof top while the other was eyeing him disbelief.

Ueda shook his head slightly and pressed on his ear piece. "Every things fine. Everyone can stand down. Turns out he is one of those people that need to run to clear their heads. We have an agreement for next time that we do laps around the gym instead of a full tilt dash over Tokyo's roof tops." He shot Akihito a significant glance and he gave him a guilty smile in return. "Can we get a pick up at our location?" The guard took his finger away from his ear piece and spoke with finality. "We are getting a pick up from here and heading back to wherever you need to be. We're swapping the guards over until tonight." He ran a palm over his face and sighed. "I need a nap after that." Both the other guards chimed in with their agreement.

Akihito nodded and moved forward to start helping the guards to their feet, it was the least he could do. Honestly a nap didn't sound too bad right about now. They carefully made their way down the side of the building and didn't have to wait long before two cars and a motorcycle rocked up. There was a flurry of activity as they swapped cars over so that Ueda and the other two were driving back in one car and Akihito was ushered into another in which Kamiya was driving. He directed them back to his apartment and noticed that the motorcycle was escorting them. He really did have a tightly run security team. Well, now he knew why. The real why.

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Akihito did end up having an afternoon nap after he had made himself some lunch and was now feeling very refreshed and ready for the party tonight. It was Yoshida's birthday and he had wanted to go out clubbing. Last time they had met up everyone had agreed to go before Takato pointed out that a club is probably a security nightmare and Akihito should check in with Asami before agreeing. What had followed was an argument over whether Akihito could look after himself and make his own decisions and how that wasn't what Takato meant.

"I'm not about to risk one of my friends because they feel like they are bullet proof. You admitted that politician had a hit out on you only a few weeks ago! Worst case scenario we go back to oba-chan's place like we did for new years."

In the end Akihito had been forcibly restrained by his friends and Takato had borrowed his phone to call Asami himself. The result had been surprising, although in hindsight it really shouldn't have been. Asami had told them if they go to his club Flux, he'll send a limo to pick them up and they can stay in the VIP area with free drinks all night. All they had to do was message his secretary with the date, time for pick up and the names of those that would be attending. All of his friends had been floored and Yoshida was over the moon once he had looked up Flux on his phone. A free birthday in the VIP section of one of the hottest clubs in Tokyo right now. Which apparently made Akihito friend of the year and he was constantly getting excited messages and thanks from all of his friends that were going. Even though this really had nothing to do with Akihito and all to do with Asami. He wasn't about to kick up a fuss though, not on Yoshida's birthday and he really was looking forward to the evening. It was going to be fun. He would just need to keep his thoughts off his soulmate for a few hours.

Dressed up in the same fancy clothes that Asami had brought for him to wear to Dracaena, Akihito tried one last time to get his hair to behave and stay behaved when a message popped up on his phone saying that the limo had arrived for whenever he was ready. Giving up on his hair, it was good enough, Akihito snagged his things and locked up his little apartment. He skipped down the stairs and sure enough there was a limo waiting out front. One of his neighbours was ogling it from the sidewalk and Ueda was casually leaning against the passenger door. Upon seeing Akihito, Ueda stepped aside and opened the door with a small bow and murmur of 'Takaba-sama'. Akihito paused before getting in.

"Isn't that a bit much?"

"Not at all. I was told it was full VIP service for tonight Takaba-sama." Akihito groaned and Ueda grinned at him. "Now if you don't mind sir, I believe we should be going." His eyebrow twitched at the 'sir' and Ueda's grin just widened.

"This is just payback for this morning isn't it?"

"I was told it was VIP treatment tonight from Asami-sama himself. What does it matter that I have a little fun with it at the same time?"

"Yoshida better damn well enjoy tonight." Akihito grumbled as he slipped inside and let Ueda close the door for him. He really hated be treated like this. He was just a person and not even the one who was paying for all this. Although he probably owed it to Ueda to have a little fun after the impromptu run that morning.

The limo smoothly took off and it wasn't long before they arrived to pick up Takato. He had stayed to have dinner with his wife before they headed out for the evening. Next stop would be Yoshida and three of their friends that had been at his place for the afternoon. Then two more single pickups as they had to work late and then on to Flux with the eight of them.

Takato just raised his eyebrows and grinned as he was let into the vehicle but when they stopped to pick up the group of four, neither Yoshida nor Kou were willing to stop gawking and exclaiming over the limo. Of course the excitable duo had to explore every inch of the space, gleefully helping themselves to the stocked alcohol in the little minibar and playing with all the buttons on the little remote they found. Akihito quickly confiscated the remote after they kept rolling the privacy screen up and down much to Ueda's and the driver's amusement.

They finally picked up the last of the group and were making their way to the club when Akihito finally got cornered by Kou and his embarrassing questions. The group were discussing how 'awesome' it would be to pimp out the limo with strobe lights or a disco ball much to Akihito's horror.

"Guys, it's not my limo you know."

"That's right. It's Asami-sans. Hey Aki-chan," Kou had a rather terrifying glint in his eye and a wicked grin. "Does Asami-san give you rides often?" He waggled his eyebrows suggestively and Akihito immediately went wide eyed and blushing.

"Wha-?"

"Well, it's just there's a lot of room in here and from what you've let slip, having some fun in the limo is totally something you would do."

"No. No, no. No." He waved his hands in front of himself in hot denial, refusing to think of all the times that, yes, things happened in the limo. His bright red cheeks were probably giving him away but thankfully a few of his friends came to the rescue.

"We really don't want to know about that!"

"Aw, stop embarrassing him man, he's the reason we get to go out tonight!"

It was Yoshida who ended up putting a damper on Kou's scheme's with; "No teasing Aki tonight. He is the one behind this awesome birthday so he can have a night free too!"

The limo pulled to a stop not long after and Ueda was pulling open the door to let them all out. He shut the door after the last person and waved to the driver before gesturing towards the entrance of the club. "If you and your guests would follow me Takaba-sama."

Akihito heard a snigger from somewhere behind him, probably Kou, and a low whistle. He sighed and followed after Ueda as he led them through the door, straight past the long queue and around the dance floor into a more secluded VIP area. As they seated themselves at the booth reserved for them, Akihito took a chance to look around.

He could definitely see why Asami had picked this place. Like Dracaena it was aimed more at Akihito's age group and had an upstairs balcony filled with people and tables. Unlike Dracaena it wasn't catering to the young money and while everyone was dressed in their best, there were no glittering jewels and far less high fashion brands to be seen. The atmosphere of the club seemed to be focused on the music and the massive dance floor taking up the majority of downstairs. He could see the live DJ from where he was sitting and the place was decked out in glowing green and blue neon lights. Suddenly the dance floor lights switched off and a strobe light flickered across the press of bodies. Akihito grinned to his friends. The atmosphere in the club was electric. With a collective whoop of excitement, they parted ways, some heading for the first round of free drinks at the exclusive VIP bar with the rest heading off to the dance floor with Akihito in the lead.

It was few round of drinks and multiple trips to the dance floor later that Akihito found himself collapsing in their booth next to Takato. He had claimed another beer to try and sooth his parched throat and maintain the liquid feeling in his body. Unfortunately just as he had put his drink down and turned to talk to his friend, he noticed that they had company. A woman with long dark hair, a little too much make up for Akihito's taste and a very revealing dress had sat herself in the booth next to him. She had been trying to dance with him on the dance floor for some time now, which Akihito didn't mind so much but didn't actively encourage. He danced with everyone and was more dancing for him and sake of dancing than to actually dance with anyone. Unless Asami was involved in which case that was a whole different story. His thoughts had drifted to his soulmate and their dance at Dracaena before he was pulled back to the present by the women leaning up into him and getting into his space. He tried to reel back but her arm was tightly grasping his and she looked up at him with what was probably supposed to have been a seductive pout. Uncomfortable was all Akihito felt.

"Hey, what are you doing?"

"It just seemed like you might want some company." She shifted so that her breasts were now pushed up against his arm and Akihito felt a little bit of disgust creeping in behind the discomfort.

"You might want to try that with someone else. He's gay." Takato rolled his eyes as Akihito protested the label. "You've never slept with a women and your romantic soulmate is a man. You may as well be gay. It's an easy explanation to get the girls off you too"

When the woman still didn't move, Takato waved Ueda over. The guard had been hovering close by, looking suspicious of the unknown woman's intent.

"Excuse me miss, but this area is for VIPs only. If you would please allow me to escort you out."

The guards tone let everyone know in no uncertain terms that it was not, in fact, a request. Akihito breathed a small sigh of relief when she removed herself from his arm and followed Ueda looking sulky. She flashed a look over her shoulder and winked before being led away. He frowned after her before turning back to his friend. It wasn't long before more of their group joined them at the booth and the incident was soon forgotten.

It was later when Akihito was making his unsteady way to the bathrooms that he remembered the woman. He had just moved down the corridor and located the bathroom sign when suddenly he was being turned around and forced back against the wall. She was suddenly right there, pressing herself up against him and giving him that same look as earlier.

"Hey there honey, I think it's time we had some fun, don't you?"

Akihito tried to struggle but he was disorientated with the alcohol flooding his system. All he knew was that he really didn't want her that close to him. She was pressed up against his chest and was slowly grinding herself against his hips.

"No. Just… Back off." He tried to move away again but she was able to easily pin his inebriated form in place against the wall.

"Sorry honey, but I have something for you." She leaned up closer to him and parted her lips. He could see something that looked like a pill sitting against her tongue and he turned away. He couldn't think straight but he knew he didn't want that. Whatever that was. She was still trying to force her lips against his when suddenly she was yanked backwards.

Ueda had her by the hair and there was a cold, hard look in his eyes. The woman was choking on something and gasping but Ueda just held her firm. Akihito leaned heavily against the wall as he watched wide eyed. He could see the moment she gave up and just swallowed whatever it was that she had been trying to force on him. She sagged a little against the hold and Ueda tightened his fist.

"I think you've overstayed your welcome. Come with me quietly and I'll let you leave the premises with some level of dignity."

She gave the smallest of nods and Ueda let go of her hair and instead firmly grabbed her shoulder. Akihito could see that she was trembling slightly and suddenly realised why.

"Wait!"

Ueda turned back to Akihito in surprise.

"She was trying to get me to swallow something." The guards face turned murderous. "That's what she was choking on. She swallowed it instead." He nodded.

"Thank you for telling me Takaba-sama." Ueda waved at someone out of Akihito's line of sight and another guard approached. "Teiji, please see Takaba-sama back to their table once he is ready." The slightly smaller guard nodded and moved to let his team leader past with the woman in tow. Akihito took a deep breath and pushed himself unsteadily off the wall and finally made his way into the bathroom. He was suddenly incredibly glad that they had gone to one of Asami's clubs.

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Sudou leaned back in his chair with a huff of annoyance. He hadn't really been holding his breath that this particular plan would work but it would have been such a perfect thing if it had. The little tramp had tighter security than he had planned for and even then, they were far more vigilant than expected. He was used to tight security that had cracks to sneak through. This team however had only the barest of discernible cracks. He watched the security feed from Flux on his laptop and listened to the chatter over their radio. Nothing had come up about the woman over the clubs radio. It must all be going through Sion's channels directly. He clicked his tongue in irritation.

It had been such a good plan too. Get the little hussy while he was all defenceless with the alcohol, slip him a little liquid ecstasy and watch as he did the one thing Asami hated most. Betrayed him. Not only that, betray him with a woman. Sudou shivered in delight as he imagined those deadly golden eyes frozen over with hate as he looked down upon the tramp as he begged for forgiveness. At worst he would throw him out the door. At best he would end up at the bottom of Tokyo bay. Looks like he would have to ramp up his efforts however. It was well worth attempting to get him out of the way the easy way first. Such a shame it didn't work.

At least nothing could be traced back to him. The woman was hired through Seina, another of the poor lost souls barely free from the human trafficking circuit. And Seina had used her real name, not her fake name. No, little Suzuki Seina was not a real person. Nor were her papers and licence real. All forged by Sudou after he 'rescued' her from being trafficked. He had her cast off her old name under the guise of new beginnings but occasionally it proved quite useful. The woman was so grateful to Sudou as her saviour, she was willing to do almost anything to help him out. She was the second 'rescue' that Sudou had planted in the club and both had proven to be not only extremely loyal to him but very resourceful as well.

Unfortunate that this plan had been unsuccessful. But Asami was due to another inspection of his club soon in person and the thought was thrilling. Only a little wait and those eyes would be back on him. He could wait a little. After that, he had a new plan to action. And this time, those beautiful, cold golden eyes would be forever fixed on him alone.

AN: Liquid Ecstasy is slang for a date rape drug, GHB or gamma hydroxybutyric acid.