A/N: So I wasn't even planning on working on this fic this weekend. The plan was a Choose Me update. But during my walk to and from the supermarket this morning, the next events for this fic just fell into place. It's funny, I knew what Sudou does and what happens to him and what follows after but I wasn't too sure how we get to that point. But my 3km walk cleared my head and here we are. There may still be a Choose Me update this weekend or there may end up being 2-3 chapters of this fic in a row instead XD We'll see how I feel tomorrow!

Akihito waved off his guards and bounced up the steps to Takato's apartment. He knocked on the door to announce his presence before just letting himself in and slipping his shoes off. A yell indicated that his friends must be in the lounge. He made his way further inside and discovered his two best friends on the couch. Kou was lying spread across the couch with his head in Takato's lap, arm thrown across his face as though hiding it.

"Hey guys! What's up?"

"Hey Aki, Kou's having an existential crisis."

"Really? Why?"

Takato laughed and poked his soulmate on the shoulder. Kou groaned but otherwise didn't respond. Akihito took a seat on the floor in front of the couch and looked at Takato curiously.

"So what's going on?"

"I was kind of hoping you might have some advice for our poor confused friend here and I thought a games night with beer might also help Kou with his drama." Takato poked his soulmate again. "Are you going to tell him or do I have to?"

"Aki-chan!" Kou wailed as he sat up and turned to focus pleading eyes on Akihito. "How do you date guys?!"

"Ehh?!"

"Kou apparently didn't realise that he liked both guys and girls. Which is funny because I've known that forever but didn't really think anything of it. Turns out I figured it out years before he did."

"But I don't know how to date another guy!"

"I'm pretty sure it's exactly the same as dating a girl, well, for the actual dating part. You'll have to ask Aki about the rest."

"Me?! I haven't exactly dated anyone. I mean, does Asami even count? We're soulmates and just kinda fell into it."

"Yeah, but you're the only guy I know dating another man! Help meeee!" Kou wailed dramatically, reaching over to grasp Akihito by the shoulders and shake him slightly. He was balanced precariously and would have fallen off the couch if Takato hadn't hauled him back up. "You've been on dates though right? You've told us that he's taken you out."

"Yeah but… Takato's right, what is that different from dating a girl when it comes to just dating?"

"You know that my dating record is crap right? I can't even date girls right, how the hell am I going to be able to date a guy?!"

"If you want proper dating advice, shouldn't you be asking Takato? I mean, he's married. He's been the most successful out of all of us when it comes to a relationship."

Takato chuckled, "Apparently my advice isn't wanted."

"All you told me was to just go for it and be myself and look where it's gotten me so far!"

"You just need to find the right person." Takato turned to Akihito and explained, "We were getting coffee at the place around the road from Kou's work and he pointed out that the barista was cute. I told him he should ask him out. And this is how the whole existential crisis happened."

"How did you not realise?" Kou groaned and covered his face with his hands. "I've never really thought about it but I'm pretty sure I've heard you comment on guys appearances before." Akihito shared an amused gaze with Takato while Kou flopped dramatically back down so he was lying across the couch with his head back in his soulmates lap.

"I dunno. I guess I always thought I should be dating girls. Okaasan is always calling me and asking me if I got a girlfriend. The guys are always talking about girls and trying to hook up with girls. Speaking of that, did you know Yoshida is now dating that chick from Flux? Everyone's getting a date but me!"

"Really? Which? I don't remember seeing him with just one girl."

"That's because you were drunk off your face Aki. She seemed nice though, I spoke with her a little before she left. She said she doesn't go clubbing much and was just out with her friends to dance rather than drink. They seemed to have a few interests in common, so hopefully it goes well for them."

Akihito pouted at drunk comment. "I wasn't that drunk." He mumbled.

Takato raised an eyebrow at him. "Really? You were slurring and couldn't walk properly. Speaking of which, you are only allowed one beer tonight. I am not looking after your drunk ass again anytime soon."

Kou suddenly sat up with a wicked grin in place, crisis forgotten for now. "That's right! Damn, I wish I had been seen it!" Akihito stared at his friends with wide eyes and a sinking feeling. "You're the funniest drunk Aki-chan! I had no idea you were so kinky!"

"What?!"

Takato looked pained. "You share way too much information when you're drunk. I appreciate honesty but I really don't want to know that many personal details."

"So Aki-chan," Kou leaned forward with a shit-eating grin. "I heard that you were learning how to deep-throat?"

Akihito spluttered and felt his face heating up. Takato groaned and stood up. "Okay, you guys are welcome to talk about this but I'm going to head to the kitchen and grab those beers. I've heard way too much oversharing already."

"Hey, it's not like we haven't talked about sex before." Kou pointed out. "This also might be useful information for me now!"

"Well, you ended up getting over that crisis pretty quickly. And I don't mind talking about sex but I would prefer the specific examples to stay out of it thanks. I'm pretty sure I'm going to meet Asami-san again and I really don't want to be thinking about Aki's over sharing dick information when I do."

It was Akihito's turn to groan and he covered his bright red face with his hands. "You guys suck."

Kou cackled. "Nope, we don't but apparently you do." He was still laughing even after he took a pillow to the face and was toppled from the couch.

It was a little while later that Kou finally calmed down and Takato had returned with a beer for everyone.

"So Aki, did you talk with Asami-san yet? When you were drunk you mentioned that you had found out about his past."

"Oh. Yeah, I confronted him about it the next day actually."

Takato gave him a small smile, "I thought you might. You're not one to sit on something for so long and I figured you might put your foot in it pretty quickly."

"Oh, I didn't know anything about this?" Kou sat forward, unusually serious. "Is this about that soul bond feeling you were getting?"

"Yeah." Akihito look a sip of his beer while he tried to arrange his thoughts in order. "It turns out his previous lover and best friend both died in front of him and he blamed himself. I had no idea someone could feel so much pain and guilt. He carried it around for nearly ten years, never talking about it. Asami also told me a lot about his past but he still skipped over a lot of things about what he does now. He seems to have started healing but I'm sure there's still so much about him that I don't know."

"Just give him more time, you've got him opening up to you now but it's not something you can rush."

"I know." Akihito sighed. "I just didn't like seeing him in so much pain. And after today I feel like I really should know more about what he does."

"What happened today?" Both his friends were shooting him concerned looks now.

"Ah, Mitarai from work took a photo of me and Asami together. He thought I was trying to bust him and wanted in for the money. I had to tell both him and my editor that it wasn't like that and he was actually my soulmate. Yamamoto-san warned me about Officer Mino. Apparently he is trying to bring Asami down and I should be careful. But I don't know anything. I know what he told me about his past but I have no proof or evidence of anything that he does currently."

"That's probably for the best Aki. If you don't know anything then they can't get anything from you. Although I doubt they would get past your guards."

Akihito frowned. "I really don't need three guards but I do feel a bit better having them around after that warning."

"You said Asami-san had lost his previous lover and blamed himself right?" Akihito nodded at Kou. "It might seem excessive but if he's lost someone before…"

Takato gave his soulmate a proud look. "Sometimes you actually make a lot of sense."

"Hey!"

"I guess. Oh, but something good did happen today! My normal guards are doing a training thing today as the whole team and so I had some of Asami's guards. One of them found their soulmate! It was really nice to see. They were both so shocked and happy. It just reminded me of when I met Asami. It's interesting watching it happen to someone else now that I know what it feels like."

Both of his friends let the sudden topic change go without comment thankfully. After the day he had had, he wasn't too keen sitting around pondering Asami's pain and why he had such a strict security force.

VFVFVFVFVFVFVFVFVF

Akihito was glad to have his regular guards back. He only had Asami's guards for one day but they were so stiff and boring. If he was to be followed around all day and babysat, he could at least enjoy the company.

It had been a week since the coffee shop soulmate incident and Akihito had been pleased to hear Suoh and Mae's first date had gone well. Suoh had actually pulled Akihito aside one time when he had gone into the office to meet Asami for lunch and thanked him for being the catalyst of their meeting. He had still offered his thanks even after the photographer tried to say he wasn't really responsible. He had even overheard Kirishima say that he had never seen the stoic bodyguard so happy before. The blonde giant could always been seen with a slight smile gracing his lips. Akihito secretly thought the whole thing was a little bit cute.

He had just exited the newspaper office with some more concrete information over where Ichikawa's next trade was taking place when he was stopped by a very familiar voice.

"Takaba Akihito."

He froze on the spot and slowly turned to the side to face someone he had been hoping to avoid.

"Officer Mino."

"It's been awhile since I've seen you in person. Nice work with the Kikkawa bust, you made a lot of people in my department very happy. Your photographic evidence combined with the evidence from our undercover agents led to a very tight case. No loose ends, no wiggle room. Just a straight ticket for Kikkawa to life in prison."

"Thank you. After working on the case for nearly a year myself, it good to finally bring it to an end."

The officer inclined his head slightly in acknowledgment. He was standing stiffly and his tone of voice was a kind of forced politeness. He looked like he was about to snap.

"I have been informed that you are now working on a case that might interest me." He paused but carried on after Akihito didn't reply. "One of our undercover agents heard your name mentioned along with a name that is of great interest to my division within the police force. I'm sure you know who I mean."

Akihito could see his guards hovering from the corner of his eye, they looked about ready to barge in. He gave a slight shake of his head to keep them back. "I am working on a number of cases right now that may or may not be interesting to you." Akihito replied stiffly. "But as of right now I have nothing solid. Remember that I am a freelance photographer, I will notify the correct people if I get a scoop worth selling or enough evidence to help put criminals away."

He tensed as the officer took a step towards him. "Oh, but that's not good enough. You are going to be my little mole and help me bring down one of the big bosses of the god forsaken underworld. You can even sell your 'scoop'," he sneered the word, "And get you're glory."

"I don't work for you." Akihito spat. "I work alone and whatever you think I'm doing, I'm not."

"I don't know where you get off being Asami Ryuichi's little fuck toy, or perhaps I do," Mino gave Akihito a cruel smile making the photographer flinch away. "But if you co-operate, I'll make sure you get everything. Money, recognition, you name it. Nothing good ever comes from playing in the big boys territory, kid. Even little pets like you can end up in Tokyo Bay."

"I don't care who you are. You can fuck off." Akihito stood firm, straightening his back and raised his eyes that blazed in defiance.

Mino stepped even closer, raising his hand as though to grab his shirt. "Why you ungratefully little-"

"That's enough!" Ueda stepped between the two and got up in Mino's face, forcing him to back up a few steps. "I would like to advise you not to harm Takaba-sama least I retaliate with force."

"Who the hell are you?"

"I am the leader of Takaba-sama's security force and am tasked with keeping him safe. It is a duty that I take very seriously. I do not care if you are a police officer, you raise a hand to my charge and I will personally take you down."

The officer looked as though he was going to reply but he seemed to notice the two other looming figures that were now flanking Akihito with murderous faces. He seemed to seethe in anger but didn't take another step forward.

"Takaba-sama huh? You think you're all that because you got in some rich guys pants? So much for the bright eyed youth who promised to take all the 'dirty criminals' down. Mark my words Takaba," He spat out the name with venom. "Willing or not, you'll be helping me take that bastard down." He spat on the concrete at Ueda's feet before turning and slinking away.

No one moved until he was out of sight. Ueda turned to face Akihito with concern. "Are you okay Takaba-sama?"

Akihito managed to give a small nod and suddenly realised he was shaking. He took a deep breath to try and calm himself down. It seemed to have the opposite of the intended effect because he suddenly burst out; "That fucking bastard!"

There was a pause as all the guards stared at him for a second before they all suddenly seemed to relax. Akihito was still seething in rage though. That man dared to threaten Asami! There was no way Akihito was going to take that sitting down. Like hell he was going to just meekly hand over his soulmate to him. If anyone was going to bring Asami down it was Akihito and Akihito alone. It would be his choice. His decision to weigh up and make. No one was going to make that choice for Akihito and no one was going to force him to dance to their tune. He wasn't some meek little puppet.

He didn't even realise that he was striding forward, attempting to walk off his sudden energy until a hand gripped his shoulder forcing him to a stop. Akihito looked up to find Ueda looking slightly alarmed.

"Oh no, I am not letting you run off now. I do not feel like going for a massive sprint across Tokyo rooftops again just so you can blow off some steam. We are going to get in the car and go to the gym and you can run and jump as much as you like."

Akihito sullenly let himself be led to one of the waiting vehicles and remained quiet until they reached the gym.

He proceed to lap all his guards when they joined in on the course and even set a new course record for the gym. He bet that record twice before he finally collapsed on a spare landing pad, energy and rage both finally burnt out.

All three guards were very relieved that they didn't have to chase him down considering he was at it for nearly an hour before he finally ran out of steam. One of them did manage to capture a video of the record setting lap and sent it around to the other members of the security force.

A mixture of awe, pride and no small amount of fear met the video.