DISCLAIMER: I do not own Finder or any of the cannon characters, this is purely just a work of fiction. This is my first fanfiction, so be gentle but comments are appreciated! If you like, please leave comments!

Chapter 8

Asami stares out across his city from his top floor office window. His last appointment had just left minutes earlier, but he couldn't remember any of the details. Recently his days were all fading together, feeling so grey and dull. No information stayed in his head, no matter how serious or important it was. His mind was too busy with personal thoughts.

"Asami-Sama….Ryuichi." Kirishima said, trying to gain the crimelord's attention.

"Yes Kei, what is it?"

"Sir, I think you should go home and I'll handle everything for a few days."

"What are you trying to say, Kirishima?" Asami spat between his gritted teeth.

Not deterred, Kei continued. "Sir, you haven't been yourself since the "incident", and I thought you could use some time off to better collect yourself."

"I don't need you to tell me that, but I don't have anywhere else to go…" Asami's voice cracked. Kirishima gave him a sad smile.

"But if you would just-"

"Kei, call Suoh and have him drive me home."

"He's already left for the day sir, but I could ge-"

"Again?! That's the third time this week Kirishima! What is he doing?!"

His secretary dropped his gaze. "I don't exactly know, but I'll get another guard to take you home." Kirishima answered uncomfortably.

"Don't play dumb with me, Kei! You know exactly what he's doing, don't you?" The crimelord's temper flared, "You know what? Just get out. I'll drive myself home."

Kirishima pulled out his phone. "Sir, your car is outside on the left."

Asami watched as Suoh walked out of "his" penthouse building carrying a large box. Just what are you taking from my place, Suoh? Asami watched as Suoh carefully placed it in the car and drove off. The crimelord followed his guard to his second stop and from the look of it, he knew this was an illegal deal. Bad part of town and in a dingy alley.

His most trusted guard looked over his shoulders as the deal went down. He handed over an envelope of money for a large brown bag. Asami's suspicions were proven true. What in the hell is going on? He continued following Suoh now to his third stop.

Suoh parked his car and proceeded inside the building. Asami knew exactly where he was headed as he exited his own vehicle and tailed the guard into the large building. He strode out of the elevator to the front of the door he saw Suoh disappear into. Reaching out, he threw the door open to see the guilty parties.

"Sir, I can explain…" Suoh cringed.

"No you don't, it's my fault not yours." Came a small voice from the bed.

"What is going on my Akihito?" Asami questioned his sick lover as he stalked over to the bed to see the contents of the brown bag.

"American candy?! You had Suoh do a dirty deal for American candy?!" Asami yelled accusingly,

Akihito tried to quickly save himself. "Ryuichi, what are you doing here anyway?! I thought I told you not to come until 8pm, and it's only 6pm right now!"

"That is not the issue here. You're not supposed to be eating solid food yet, much less eating junk food Akihito." Asami sternly said.

Sad eyes looked at him. "I've been eating nothing but rice porridge for two weeks! I can't go home, I can't work… I can't even go to the bathroom without help." His lover cried. Crap.

"Suoh, go to the penthouse and take care of Akihito's rabbit." Asami said as he climbed into the bed with his sobbing boy. The guard silently left the room, leaving his boss to comfort the crying Aki.

Asami brushed his tears away gently. "I know this is hard, but don't do anything to set yourself back, Kitten."

"I know, it's just so frustrating! I want to actually chew my food…" Aki pouted.

"As soon as the doctor says you can have solid food I'll bring you something good. Okay, Sweetheart?"

"D-Did you just call me…"S-Sweetheart?" Akihito stuttered.

"Are you not okay with that, "Sweetheart?" The man winked.

Akihito blushed. "Please stop. I don't know what's gotten into you!"

"Can't I use terms of endearment to my lover?"

"No…it's just…I'm not used to it! A-Anyway…so what are you doing here this early, Asami?" Akihito asked quickly, trying to change the subject.

"Akihito, I would be here all the time if you hadn't forbid me from it."

"Asami, if you hadn't beat up the nurse who was helping me, I wouldn't have had to, Asshole."

The crimelord crossed his arms over his chest. "He was taking your clothes off, Akihito!"

"No, he was helping me get a shower, Asami! And you weren't here yet!"

"That is not the point! He was stripping you after I told everyone that I was the only one who was allowed to bathe you!"

The photographer scoffed and rolled his eyes, clearly annoyed at the older man's overprotectiveness. "Are you being serious?! You broke his nose and tried to fire him! Your jealousy knows no bounds, Asami!"

"It's not jealousy and you know it! I don't trust anyone with your care." Asami stated.

"Bullshit! I saw the look in your eyes. I'm not blind and I know you better than you think!" Akihito was standing his ground on this subject.

The door to the room flew open, not surprising either of the two men.

"Not now Rin!" They said in unison.

"But sirs! This is very important!"

"What?!" Asami spat out.

"Asami-Sama, that nurse deserved to be punished! He has been stealing from the patients and inappropriately touching the nurses in the hospital."

"And how do you know this?"

Rin held his hands up in an innocent manor. "The nurses are always gossiping to me sir, so they were all telling me about it while touching me….I don't like them touching me…" No one commented on the last part. Actually, no one cared.

Asami looked over to his lover, clearly giving him the "I told you so" look. "I should have broken both of his hands too. Thank you Rin, you may go."

Akihito frowned, having a look of disgust on his face. "That dirty asshole, and I was just defending him too! Make sure you report him to the police and maybe you should have broken his hands." The boy said, getting riled up a bit.

"Kitten calm down. I'll make sure he is taken care of." He assured his lover, "Now that has been settled…I'll be staying here with you."

"What, did Glasses kick you out of Sion because of that bad mood of yours? Is that why you're here early, hmm?"

"No! I noticed my guard acting suspiciously and decided to find out what was going on." Asami countered, trying to cover the embarrassing truth.

"Uh-huh. Somehow I just don't believe you." Aki said with a toothy grin. Such a brat.

"Oh, do you really want to start this right now, Kitten? Because I'll have you kno-"A soft knock at the door interrupted Asami.

"Gramps! Just the person I was needing to see!" Aki chirped with a growing grin.

"What is going on in here? The nurses told me to leave you two alone because you were arguing loudly, and I've told you both that this isn't the time or place for fighting. This is the last time I warn you about getting my patient upset, Ryuichi. I thought we understood each other after the last "Incident." The doctor firmly made his point while looking over his glasses at Asami.

"That was justified and now I can prove it!" Asami glared.

"Yeah, I don't care. Just stop upsetting Akihito, he doesn't need it."

Closing his eyes, Asami mentally willed his temper down as a long sigh left him. He turned and looked at his boy. "You're right, he doesn't." Dr. Beekley looked pleased with this.

"Now Aki, what was it you wanted to ask me?" Gramps questioned.

"Um…would it be okay…if I ate something besides porridge?" Aki asked guiltily.

"What are you wanting?' The doctor asked as he sided up to the bed. Dr. Beekley eyed the large buffet of junk food on his bed.

"I'm feeling better! I'm no longer feeling nauseous or vomiting! I'm a little weak but…maybe some solid food would help that!" Akihito explained pleadingly.

"Most of this is over processed crap…" Akihito started to look defeated, that was until the doctor lifted the Reese Cups package and tossed them onto the boy's lap, "But this shouldn't be too bad…these would be better though." He held up the box of all natural gummy snacks.

The old man's face softened as he looked at them, a gentle smile on his face. "My grandson loves these too."

"Finally, something I can actually chew!' The photographer's eyes lit up as the box was handed back to him, and immediately he tore into it.

"Are you sure that isn't going to hurt him?" Asami asked worriedly.

"I mean, he shouldn't eat the whole box but one measly package won't hurt him."

Asami sat on the edge of the bed, relaxing with a smile as he watched his adorable lover happily munching on his fruity sweet snacks.

"All the tests have come back and I think that you'll be healed enough to start chemo treatments soon."

"Great, the sooner the better. I'm ready to get this over with!" Akihito stated confidently, popping a blue gummy into his mouth.

"Alright, then we'll start tomorrow morning. Please get some sleep, you haven't been getting enough recently and that won't do." Gramps said sternly.

The smaller boy nodded. "Yeah, I'll get some sleep…" With that, Gramps left, leaving the lovers alone in the room again.

"Finally alone again," Asami broke the silence, "Now Kitten, why aren't you sleeping?" Aki blushed and turned his head away.

"It's…just so quiet and you know…lonely." Aki mumbled admittedly.

"Well then why won't you let me stay with you? I've asked you every night and you keep telling me no. Why is that?"

"Because…I don't want to inconvenience you anymore than I already have. You come here twice a day, you have your work to get done, and I know that if you don't get enough sleep it could distract you which could very well cost you your life. I couldn't take that, Asami. Not because I'm being selfish about wanting you to spent the night with me." Akihito trembled as he revealed his inner most fear and thoughts. Finally, He's opening up.

Asami pulled his lover into the most emotional kiss, his lips brushing the others so gently. He trailed kisses softly across his lover's cheeks and lips, stroking his back soothingly.

The crimelord began to whisper. "Ask me to stay and I'll sleep beside you tonight and every night that follows."

"Stay." Akihito whispered back as Asami laid back on the bed, pulling Akihito into his arms. They laid there like this for a long time, Asami's boy snuggling into his chest as he got comfortable. So cute.

"You were right, earlier I mean, about Kirishima making me leave. He said I was too distracted to work." Asami noticed the guilty look on his lover's face. "It's not because I'm tired, Kitten. I need to be here with you, not at Sion and not in our home alone. I need to know you're okay, because every waking moment that I'm not beside you my mind is filled with worried thoughts." Asami sighed as he was finally able to admit the truth.

"Okay." Aki said as he snuggled once more into his favorite spot, against Asami's chest. The taller wrapped his arm around Akihito's waist as he leaned back on the bed. After several minutes it was Aki's turn to break the silence.

"Is this why you upgraded my bed into this ridiculously large king sized hospital bed?"

"Yes," Asami confidently said, "And I wanted you to be comfortable."

The photographer grinned. "Thank you, Ryuichi, and I'm sorry about the "incident." I should trust your judgement more."

"It's fine, don't worry about it. That's what I'm here for, to protect you even when you're being a little brat about it." He teased as he leaned down and kissed the top of Aki's head. "So, is there anything you need before we call it a night?"

"Well….no…but could we maybe watch a movie before we sleep?"

"Of course, anything you want Kitten." Asami said without missing a beat. "Is that what you had Suoh get you from the penthouse?"

"Sort of? I asked him to bring my PlayStation, games, and some movies. There's nothing really to do here so I thought…"

"You don't have to defend yourself. I understand, but you could have asked me instead of having Suoh sneak about for you." Asami mused.

"Yes, but I really didn't want to bother you. You were working…"

"Kitten you are never a bother to me. Now what movie are we watching?"

"How about the one with tornados and sharks?" Asami gave the boy a bewildered look.

"Is that actually a movie?" He asked, laughing.

"Yep, and there are sequels!" Of course there are. Asami smiled as he gently untangled himself from Akihito, standing up from the bed.

"Alright, I'm going to get Rin to get this set up and I'll be right back."

"Where are you going?" Aki asked, sitting up.

"I've got some phone calls to make, then I'll be right back."

Dramatically the boy flung himself back onto the bed. "Ugh, fine! But if you take too long then I'll start without you!" Aki said cheekily.

"Oh I won't be long." Asami said, leaving the room.

Asami made his way to the smoking area for his final smoke of the night. As he neared the end of his cigarette, he noticed Dr. Beekley walking towards him.

"Mr. Asami, may I have a word with you?" He hasn't called me by my last name since last week…something has to be wrong. Shit!

"What can I do for you?" Asami asked, keeping his voice calm.

"It's not what you can do for me, it's what you can for him."

"I'm listening." Asami raised an eyebrow.

"How long have you been smoking?" Oh. That's what this is about. Asami was not surprised by the question. He had been asked that by every doctor he had ever seen. He was just relieved the doctor wasn't coming to give him bad news.

"Is that really what you wanted to talk about?" Asami sighed, "I've already been thinking about quitting."

"Well maybe instead of thinking, how about doing?"

"Akihito's cancer wasn't caused by something he did."

"But you are just asking for it and Akihito doesn't ever need to be around smoking again. Second hand smoking is more dangerous than first hand."

"I know that! I would never do anything that would jeopardize Akihito's health! Why do you think I always smoke outside and away from him? Very rarely do I light one near him!"

"Do you not think that he needs you to be healthy too? You told me that he would do more if it was you. Don't make him go through this on the other side."

Asami stood silent for several minutes before finally speaking. 'I'll stop starting tomorrow. Now I have a movie date to get to." He said gruffly.

"Remember, we will also be starting his treatment tomorrow so don't keep him up for too long." Gramps smiled.

Asami turned and left, heading to his boy's room. He looked in through the doorway at his lover. The things I would do for yo- no...for us. Asami thought to himself, smiling warmly.

"Are you feeling okay?" Asami asked, eyebrows knitted together as he watched his lover who was receiving his first treatment of chemo.

"Yeah…it just burns a little, but I'm okay." Akihito looked away. Asami laid beside him, holding Aki's hand in his own much larger one.

"It's going to be okay. I'll be beside you the whole way." Asami assured, his thumb gently tracing over the hand he held. Akihito relaxed against Asami' shoulder, closing his eyes.

"I know."

BONUS:

Aki:/Suoh I have another job for you! ;)

Suoh:/Oh god, what is it? Is the boss going to be angry again?

Aki:/Nooo! Of course not! Just…don't tell him! ;D

Suoh:/ O_O What is it?

Aki:/Could you bring Richi up here pleeeeease? I miss her!

Suoh:/No! :(

Aki:/Pleeeeease!

Aki:/ It'll make me feel better!

Suoh:/NO!

Aki:/I'll tell Asami what else you smuggled up here!

Suoh:/….I'm on my way.