Hello, next one's up!
This is a long chapter! Hope you enjoy it :D sorry for any mistakes, my brain wasn't working well when I re-read it. Thanks a bunch for all the reads, reviews, follows etc etc…..
Warning: swearing. (Pretty much just Yaoi in the next one)
}xXx{
Kaede grumbles, sluggishly crawling back to consciousness from being subjected to both a deep, rumbling voice above him and gentle taps to his face as he lies passed out in what seriously must be the comfiest fucking bed he's ever been in, after what was literally the best fuck(s) of his life. Period. Yeah he had gotten a little carried away last night with the sheer freaking sex god that is Asami Ryuichi but really, who can blame him? The man is a fricken demon in the sack.
The boy gives a lazy grin as he lays there resolutely refusing to open his eyes, hoping the man will just try and make him instead.
But for now at least it seems that Asami has had enough, the man dressed and seemingly ready for work as Kaede finally relents and cracks a bleary eye open to rest upon the all too tempting crime lord, the man chuckling and stooping down finally to capture the mysterious boys lips with his own. The kiss is slow at first, sensual - but soon gaining in ferocity as Kaede moans under him, trying to pull him down and on top only to have Asami laugh again and pull away instead. His eyes twinkling in amusement as he let's the boy know he really does have an important meeting in less that forty minutes. In other words, thanks - but get the hell out.
"Oh shit uh, sorry - I'll just…"
He gets out of bed, a little tender and sore in all the right places and luckily Asami hands him his clothes before he has a chance to fall and flail around too much looking for them.
"If you don't get dressed quickly I may be forced to change my mind."
He smirks as he disappears off into the bathroom to efficiently route through his medicine cabinet, Kaede shouting after him as he hops into his briefs.
"Ah crap, I need painkillers, my ass is killing me!"
Asami appears once more, levelling the boy with a smirk.
"You aren't expecting an apology are you?"
"HA! No, but then again yeah - how can you possibly make it up to me?"
Kaede shoots a devilish grin over his shoulder at Asami as he all but hobbles into the bathroom, the man setting some pills down on the counter next to the boy currently cradling his ass, along with a glass of water. From there it just takes that and a quick thirty seconds to take a leak before he is ready to go, the two making their way down the building in the elevator chatting about nothing in particular - greeting Suoh at the limo, the guard appearing to have one hell of a stick up his ass for some reason this morning.
When the pair are seated in the car and it finally pulls away Asami hands Kaede a can of juice, also drawing out his phone so he can get the kids number. Surprised he's doing things the normal way for once and not automatically gathering all the information he can on the boy - especially after having fucked him for hours and without protection, just like the others.
He makes a note to have Kirishima book him another physical later, just in case.
The limo pulls up to a non-de-scrip café in Shinjuku as per Kaede's request and the boy slides along the seat to uh, express his thanks for this morning and last night. He works his way onto the mans lap and drives into the man's mouth, ferocious and wild and Asami notes that this one is really nothing like Akihito, really - so forward, so eager. Honest? He's not sure about that yet.
After a few good minutes of tongue fucking they finally part, mostly as two sets of lungs are burning and Kaede's lips are threatening to fall off but they agree to meet again sooner rather than later - both eager but for entirely different reasons.
In Sion, Kirishima is stood ready and waiting at Asami's desk with the obligatory pile of files as the man enters, setting down his briefcase and hanging up his coat before eying his right hand man speculatively - noticing that he looks fine but not so well rested as he would have expected after a day off but he looks healthy none the less. The bespectacled guard bows low and greets his boss, apologising for his absence again as Asami's second most trusted man, Suoh, trudges into the room - a thousand invisible storm clouds raging atop his scowling head.
"Suoh, did you look into that matter?"
Kirishima cocks an eyebrow, looking mildly at Suoh who's scowl just deepened. He makes a note to get to the bottom of it as soon as possible.
"Not yet Asami-sama, my initial enquiries where met with dead ends I'm afraid. All removal companies appear booked up for the foreseeable future."
The man 'Hmm's', working his forefinger absentmindedly over his chin. Not quite convinced.
"All removal companies, booked up? In Tokyo?"
"Yes, Asami-sama."
Suoh takes the opportunity while Asami seems to be pondering something and looks pointedly at Kirishima who only takes a swift moment to realise just what the hell is going on. That his boss really might be considering removing all traces of Takaba from his apartment, from his life? He mentally shakes himself, knowing that jumping to conclusions would just be foolish - but his comfort is short lived when Asami 'hmm's' again and swiftly opens up the very bottom drawer on the right side if his desk - thank goodness he had slipped the file back in there just moments ago!
"Kirishima…"
The man trails off, which is in itself so unusual that his two best men tense, looking between Asami and the folder with no small amount of trepidation. He seems to debate with himself before taking a breath and flipping open the file, dozens of photo's of Akihito - his Akihito. stacked inside, along with sheets and sheets of statistics and gathered intel on the boy. The two onlookers look at the folder gravely. If he only knew - but soon, soon.
He closes the file, the men sure that neither of them are actually breathing as he seems to consider something - finally reaching out and offering the file up to the guard beside him.
"Have that destroyed would you?"
Kirishima takes the file, wordlessly - tucking it on top of the others that he is holding against his chest and looks to Suoh, still wordlessly and Asami dismisses them soon after, saying he'll look at the rest of the files Kirishima has later on, leaving the men with no choice but to leave his office shaken - their resolve utterly dashed.
They move on down the hall and to towards Kirishima's own work space, away from any prying ears or eyes as he sets the files down on his desk. The one reading 'Takaba. Akihito' on top.
"How is the kid?"
Suoh asks, looking at the file as though he were seeing each of the photo's burning through the manilla cover, tension laced through his jaw and the scowl now threatening to be a permanent feature.
"He's better, it was a total oversight on my part last night I'm afraid. I was - distracted. I've got him locked in the spare room now, all the Pocky and Soda he can eat and drink. I used the last of the pills this morning so he'll still be out cold."
They smile, the image of Akihito waking up to find a small mountain of his favourite chocolate snacks and cheap soda has their moods lighten just a fraction. Suoh notices though that there might be one tiny oversight to Kirishima's plan…
"How's he uh, 'gonna take a leak?"
At that surprisingly Kirishima's small smile only widens sadistically, the man popping the folder in the drawer for safe keeping for now. One word is all he needs.
"Bucket."
}xXx{
As soon as his men are out of the office Asami's finger is threatening to push down on the intercom, a simple 'on second thought Kirishima, bring the file here.' all that would be needed to have the last remnants of Akihito back in here with him. Seeing his photo had brought it all crashing back in ways Asami loathes himself for, this seeming weakness that has him missing somebody, anybody this much. No.
He curls his hand into a fist, removing it from the vicinity of his office phone all together. He shall conquer this, he shall.
He lights a cigarette, taking one, two, four deep drags before he rests it in the crystal ashtray and resolves to keep the momentum going today, putting in a quick call to his house keeper to bypass Akihit-the spare room when she goes in to clean up and change his bed as usual. No point in treating the room like he'll come back. Because he won't.
He hangs up the phone and takes a few more deep, calming drags and feels the sweet nicotine hit his system, next on the list to purge all memory, all thought of that person from his mind, from his entire being. He forces himself to recall last night, those eyes, that voice - the way Kaede's body had been so open and the boy had been so eager for him, honest about his wants and needs unlike someone else. The way that Keade, from the off set, had sought Asami out - had him in his sights, not the other way around like it had been, like with someone else.
He'll have the boy again, he decides - tonight, soon. Again to keep the momentum going. He'll have Kirishima assist Suoh in tracking down a blasted company that isn't booked and curses the peculiar sudden surge of people moving house in Tokyo - for them to be all booked up.
He doesn't see any other possible reason, it's not like his two best men would lie to him - is there?
}xXx{
"Ja, ittekimasu."
Kirishima finally steps out of Asami's office after what seemed like the longest afternoon in history, for his thirty minute break. The man already preparing to rush home to collect a certain someone before finally putting the plan into action.
Today is the day they reunite Asami with Akihito, for better or worse.
He really doesn't want to overthink it for once, over analyse any possible turn of events and outcome for the fear of if it should all go terribly wrong, that it may be too late and yes that Asami should have moved on, leaving Takaba to be tossed out of the apartment to pick up the pieces and fend for himself once more on the cold streets.
Suoh and Kirishima being left to face the wrath of the king of Japan.
He collects the new, smaller stash of sedatives from Suoh and rushes on down to his car, the drive taking mercifully less time due to it being too late for rush hour, but too early for those rushing to get last trains or busses home.
Akihito is sat waiting for him, much to his surprise, though also and perhaps unsurprisingly nursing his back and stomach in his hands, Kirishima having neglected to give him any painkillers this morning after last nights thorough stomach pumping. He gives the boy two now though, the pills making his face light up immediately as he snatches them from Kirishima's palm and downs them with more cherry soda. The only guard seeing then the sheer mess in his usually pristine guest room what with the scattered, empty Pocky boxes and equally empty soda cans.
Not to mention the stench of urine and goodness knows what else coming from the bucket in the far corner.
He has the boy follow him out of the apartment, not needing to take anything with them as all Akihito needs lays within his own room in Asami's apartment and they get into the car without a word. The air charged with an unusual excitement which is rolling off his passenger as he looks eagerly out of the windshield, looking forward to returning to Sion. His haven. He doesn't notice though that they drive the other way, Kirishima's own apartment nestled decidedly and conveniently half way between Asami's flag ship business and his home, lest the man need him to be present at either place quickly and he makes quick work of driving, pulling up somewhat haphazardly in his own Merc.
Expecting imminent distress, discontent or disruption from the boy Kirishima undoes his seat belt quickly as he stops the engine, ready to shush or even wrestle the boy into the penthouse if needs be but before he does either he's struck by the look of awe on Akihito's face.
He's staring, disbelievingly and curiously at the building, the one that houses Asami's apartment. He knows it, he does. Somehow.
Not wasting time Kirishima gets out and bids Akihito to do the same, the boy casting the same awestruck look upon everything he comes across, concierge included as they make their way upward, the halls, the elevator, he has memories stored away for each one of them and somehow they are trying to get out, trying to make themselves known to Akihito who at the moment just interprets it all as noise - those voices in his head.
The guard finally reaches the door to the place that will whether for good or bad hold all the answers and he unlocks it with a derisive 'click' - that final little noise mocking them with it's finality. All their work leading to this moment. He's almost remorseful that Suoh couldn't be here too, though fortunately he's stuck with the extremely important role of keeping Asami busy with a long list of nonsense Kirishima had left him with. He lets Akihito in first, reaching around him to flick on the lights and directs the boy to take his shoes off. Akihito still looking stunned, looking confusedly torn between extreme fear and giddying elation.
He gives the kid a rudimentary tour through the apartment, so glad the cleaning lady would have removed all traces of whatever the owner of the place may have done with that boy Suoh mentioned from last night, not wanting to have Akihito greeted with something that may only damage him further. The pair look at the kitchen, the lounges and even peek into Asami's study when Kirishima unlocks it and although Akihito gives a few looks of recognition, his face twitching, wincing as if in pain Kirishima hopes the next two rooms will help him.
Akihito's own bedroom, the master bedroom.
They reach the master bedroom first, the door opening to an ominous darkness which Akihito steps into tentatively, looking back to Kirishima over his shoulder with the whites of his eyes betraying the first few real signs of fear. The guard finally flips on the soft overhead light, bathing the room in gold, the sleek chrome glistening in the warm tungsten glow. The crisp white sheets, soft cream carpet. The view, that view from the window. The view Akihito remembers having at his back as Asami held him hard and fast against that very window. Him calling Asami's name feverishly, wantonly.
He shouts out and almost falls to his knees at the sheer flood of love, at the memories that well up inside him, eyes wide - a film of his life playing before his very eyes. His most vivid moments brought back in colourful, loud Technicolor and through it all. Asami. Yes, he had been trying to get back to Asami!
After several moments he shakily makes it to the bed, to the side that somehow he knows he used to sleep on and tentatively sinks down onto it like he knows he used to, Kirishima forgotten at the moment as all Akihito can see is memories. How many times had he laid here and watched the older man sleep, wanting to much to touch his face, his hair and lips? How many times had he wanted to kiss him awake, but had been too timid to do so? Instead spitting and hissing, cursing the man out in his embarrassment - but it had worked, for them. The fight, the pleasure, the pain. And it's pain he feels now. Pain from wanting to see Asami so, so badly. He runs his hand over the opposite pillow, Asami's pillow and clutches it close, breathing in brokenly the smell of fresh linen yes but also the lingering smell of the man - warm, spicy and smokey. Asami.
He feels giddy as he remembers, so much - too much. He remembers that he was waiting, waiting for Asami when someone, a man came and told him Asami had been hurt badly and that he should come quickly and he had followed - panicked - asking if Asami is ok and the man had just told him to hurry and had lead him a different way out of the building, through a series of dark stairwells in the service area and Akihito didn't think to question it until half way down - when by then it was already far too late and the man was already readying the chloroform in his hands.
From the doorway Kirishima watches Akihito nuzzle the pillow in his arms, finding himself hoping for the boy that this evening turns out like he and Suoh hope as he turns to raid Asami's drug cabinet and remove it's contents to re-home them in the locked study, where a certain little pick pocket's hands can't get to them. He locks the door behind him and triple checks the handle before heading back to the living room, this time finding the boy sat nervously on the couch, limbs jittery and teeth indenting his bottom lip, eyes shooting up when he sees the guard come into the room where he takes out his phone. Sending one solitary text to his partner.
'He remembers.'
Akihito rises unsteadily from the sofa and Kirishima notes he'll have to give the kid another pill soon, the once photographer looking increasingly agitated, off colour. The boy in question attempts to talk, opening his mouth once, twice, taking a pause and furrowing his brow before trying again.
"…Kirishima….how long have I…?"
The answer is a little slow in coming as Kirishima pockets his phone and regards Akihito, features taking on a grave severity as he debates softening the blow somehow but unfortunately, facts are facts.
"Two years, just over."
Akihito nods slowly, a deep shuddering breath as he prepares himself to ask the next question - expecting the worst.
"Where is Asami? Is he ok?"
He's surprised when The guards eyes soften slightly, thawing under cold glass.
"He's fine Takaba. Would you like to see him?"
There's silence while Akihito sits back down and casts a nervous glance around, around the place that hasn't seemed to have changed even after two years, if what Kirishima says is true. Two years. Would Asami even want to see him? He feels the weight of it all, of the horror and sheer hell that was his journey - the hell and horror that had preceded it. The time he was taken from Sion and cast off into the abyss. He feels conflicted, guilty, terrified - so many emotions he cannot begin to understand because although he knows he should be more affected, altered by these long months, years - he's just so fucking sure of one thing.
He's sure that he wants to see Asami again, that he wants to be held by Asami again and that he wants the man to take it all away - leaving only the two of them and leaving the whole world behind.
He nods once, vigorously and looks up to Kirishima with his eyes ablaze. He's sure, certain even of just this one thing, even when he was sure of nothing else he had known it and he had been sure enough of it when he was lost to even himself. That he had needed to get back to Sion, to Asami.
And he's fucked if he's going to back down now.
"Good well, he's kept your room as you left it. A mess." He smiles in mock disapproval as Akihito snorts with pleased laughter.
"Take one of these meds and water, sleep it off and we'll -"
He's cut off relaying the plan when his phone rings, a soft curse following him plucking his cell out of his pocket and setting eyes on the caller ID, realising just why the person is calling. He's late back to the office.
"Asami-sama…yes I'm sorry, just running a small errand…"
He says turning slightly and catching Akihito's eye again, the boy perked up and listening intently to the low, familiar voice berating the bespectacled man down the phone line.
"Hmm…yes, well you see I'm looking after a friends Chihuahua, hmm yes, it's a yappy little thing…"
Despite himself Akihito cracks another smile, the pointed look thrown his way by 'glasses' reminiscent of old times. He flips him off though, just for good measure which Kirishima sees and laughs at - the sound not going down too well with his less than impressed employer.
"Ehem, yes I understand, it won't happen again Asami-sama…Right away."
So from there he pockets his phone, picking up where he left off with explaining to Akihito the plan for now - to have Akihito take a pill and sleep it off just in time for Asami to make it home when he and Suoh convince him to finish early. Akihito agrees, nervous as hell as he's really not sure Asami would even want to see him - Kirishima oddly quiet on that topic but already the wheels are in motion. All three men involved knowing it's now or never. He takes the pill and settles on top of his old bed.
He's out like a light as Kirishima envelops the penthouse into darkness once again, leaving to face the music with his irate boss.
}xXx{
"Suoh…" Asami muses from the back seat, looking out into the cold Tokyo night from the back of the limousine. "…Did you book a removal company yet?"
A small grunt to the negative from the blond behemoth in the front seat and Asami sighs, the fingers of his left hand tapping restlessly on his knee as his other twirls his iPhone absently, debating whether to call Kaede again to distract him for the night - no, not to distract, to indulge - moving on, remember? He collects himself and taps out a swift text before lighting a much needed cigarette, inhaling deeply. Noting to himself that while progress may be halted in one respect does not mean that it should also be in another.
He'll have the boy again and forget all about those eyes. The ones that haunt his dreams every night, the usually fierce ones that had cried in his dreams last night. But Asami forges on like only he can. quashing any silly ideas of sentimentality or notions on love. Such a concept should never even be considered by a man such as he. The king of Japan.
"I see…ensure you succeed tomorrow, no excuses. And after you've dropped me off, collect Kaede. Bring him to me."
"Yes, Asami-sama."
Suoh says as he and Kirishima exchange terse glances, ones that say - 'this may very well be our last night on Earth…good working with you, buddy.' But they both face forward, knowing not only that it's far too late to back out now as Takaba is already likely waking up in Asami's apartment but that they would do it all over again anyway, they would still try to right that wrong that was committed two long years ago.
Their thoughts are interrupted by a quiet beep from Asami's cell. A text from Kaede. Punctuated with a wink emoji that immediately has Asami thinking of someone else that used to leave him silly little drawings on notes, childish emoji in texts and he struggles to push even that thought aside, of Akihito. He curses softly and moves over to the limo's bar, pouring a generous two fingers of whiskey and gulping it down before pouring one more as his men look on with concern from the front of the car, now reassuring glances being sent each others way.
Oh yes, they think. They're doing the right thing.
. . . . .
The phone rings seven times before it's picked up. An irritable German accented Japanese coming down the line in a seemingly bored exhale.
"Is it done?"
"Uh naa, not yet, I'll do it tonight - we're meeting again and I have a foolproof plan now. This is going a little too easily though, he's actually so eager it's not even fun…"
"Whatever, just make sure you do it. Contact me then to confirm as usual and I'll let Dürer know immediately."
"'Kay then, 'seeya'"
The line goes dead, the one with the codename 'Kaede' holding the phone to his chin in contemplation over the past few days, shadowing and studying - finally seducing Asami Ryuichi before failing to drug him. Not that he regrets a thing as it had been so fucking delicious, but perhaps too easy. It's a shame, it really is - that not only is this Asami guy a good lay but he had seemed kinda' sweet too. Well, as sweet as the guy who dismembered his employers father can be…
Oh well. Another day and all that….
. . . . .
"Ja, Asami-sama, we'll just be uh, going…."
The man nods, dismissing his men so they can bow out and close the front door behind them and locking it as their boss can't be too careful these days. They silently wish Takaba the best of luck as they head to the usual bar - needing a beer. There's no way they'll be collecting the boy Asami had ordered them to get until they hear that it's absolutely necessary, only if he in fact does send Akihito away.
Asami makes his way though the apartment. Silent, dark. Losing his jacket, vest, guns and holster before Heading to the kitchen to fix a drink, reaching the living room where he turns on the nearby standing lamp and looks out to the view Akihito had loved so much, thinking that he really will ensure that Kirishima and Suoh acquire a van tomorrow. He may even ask to see if the file has been shredded, noting to himself that it could be more therapeutic if he were to have rid of it himself, seeing those many photo's of fierce brown eyes disappear into the whirring machine. Getting sliced and destroyed.
He pours another drink and takes another sip, his breath fogging up the glass slightly as he feels the gravity of it. Never seeing him, again.
He casts his eyes over his glittering city for a long time, standing in absolute silence and amongst the sinister shadows, long and distorted shapes cast over the walls and floor. His own face.
He drinks until the bottle is half way gone, until all thats left in the is the partially melted ice at the bottom of his tumbler. Alcohol not numbing this feeling. This pain.
"A…"
Theres the tiniest of noises, too quiet to be heard over the soft clink of ice cubes at the bottom of Asami's glass as he swirls them around, looking down at his glass deep in thought. There's a slight swallow before the noise happens again, slightly braver than before but still soft, still so sweet.
"...Asami…"
The man swears his heart stops and despite himself he freezes, muscles tensing and breath caught in his chest as if moving even in the slightest would break this illusion forever. He swallows a thick lump in his throat and closes his eyes for a moment, in prayer - and looks up from his tumbler into the glass before him - his sharp, unbelieving gaze such a stark contrast to the soft reflection in the huge window. The reflection that had all but whispered his name. So familiar.
It's an apparition, a spectre, finally a waking dream and an image of the boy who had been haunting his thoughts for two years - but what a welcome one it is and somewhere he hears yet another noise as he stares at the reflection in the window before him - of Akihito, here. It's a dull thunk and he realises his glass has at some point slipped from his hand to the floor. Diluted Whiskey soaking into his luxurious imported carpet.
He finds he can't move, turn, do anything that could break the spell and doesn't dare take his eyes away for even a moment, not daring to even blink as he tries to drink in this vision, this bewitching, cruel trick of the light that's making him recall the person he so desperately wants to purge from his mind. His heart.
He gasps when it talks again.
"Asami I -"
It says, hand clutching the elbow of his right arm nervously as tears finally fall silently, a heart wrenching smile, so warm it makes Asami's chest ache and the creature opens his mouth a few times to try and speak until finally and with a small sob it finally does, with tears framing it's face. A small smile. Saying the only thing that matters.
"Ta-Tadaima."
I'm home.
It's only then Asami turns around, left foot stepping into the icy, whiskey coloured ice and water melting into his cream carpet, not that he notices in the slightest. The man too overwhelmed, too overcome. It could be a dream, it could still be an apparition or Asami could have finally gone crazy but the fact remains that he's seeing Akihito. His Akihito, just a few feet away and crying. crying for him.
He takes the first tentative step forward, half expecting the vision, the ghost to just vanish but it doesn't. Nor does it do so on the second, third or forth step and on the fifth - he's right there - he's close enough to touch. It may be hours before Asami gathers the courage to reach out a hand, his eyes closed - his fingertips daring to brush against Akihito's cheek so softly, a breath coming suddenly hard and fast upon contact with that familiarly soft skin, the shock of it burning under his eyelids until he dares to look again - into those eyes - those eyes that have tortured his dreams and nightmares, for two years.
His hand greedily claims Akihito's cheek and the boy leans into it, warm tears hitting his fingers and rolling onto his wrist as he only looks on in wonderment.
"How…?"
He finds himself asking Akihito - anyone. He's dead, hasn't he been dead? Isn't he dead? How is Asami touching him like this? Why is the touch of his skin so real? If he rubs a thumb over Akihito's soft lips like this how can he feel his breath? Breathing. Akihito is here and he's breathing.
He feels braver now, fortified and strong and he reaches up his other hand and cups Akihito's face completely. Eyes searching his, asking - pleading that if this is fake, even if it is a dream then please, please don't ever let it end.
In a moment that seems to take far too long to come Asami presses his lips to Akihito's and it's impossible to tell whose are trembling more. He brushes his lips over Akihito's again and again, relishing the feel of warm skin and fluttering breath. Finally pressing kisses to the boys tears, his eyes and temples before finally letting go only to envelop the smaller body completely in his arms. Holding him so tightly as Akihito does the same. Two years. Two fucking years. He can't stop pressing his face, nose into Akihito's hair, the strong smell of hair dye still not gone completely but he can still tell - can still it's his Akihito. Here in the fucking flesh.
They stay like that for a long time, both unwilling to break the moment, both wishing they had never been apart until Asami's phone rings and he ignores it for a long time, until Akihito laughs and tells him it might be important.
He tuts but doesn't let go of his photographer completely as he answers - his eyes still locked on him lest he ups and disappears again.
It's Kaede on the line and he answers without letting the boy get a chance to speak, eyes firmly on and an arm still securely around Akihito as he talks clearly and succinctly into the phone.
"-Your services will no longer be required. Don't call this number again."
And he hangs up, throwing the phone to he doesn't know where before capturing Akihito in his arms again. This time greedily seeking out his lips also, all out grinning against them as the breath catches in his throat as reality truly crashes down on them both.
"Okaeri, Akihito."