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Chapter 23

December 23

Akihito's POV

Lights out, movie playing, Akihito snuggled up against Asami as their children slept upstairs. It was the first time in a while they had time to lay here like this, but with Christmas just a few days away Asami took a week off work to stay home with the family. It was nice, but he knew everyone was on edge. Six weeks after the incident and apparently there was no luck in locating that bastard…and that had everyone stressed out. He heard Asami, Kirishima, and Suoh yelling about it the week before, they are all losing their patience…which is understandable. Akihito felt the same, he just knew he couldn't afford to get angry like them. Not when he had Masa and Kiyomi to take care of. Wait a second…Christmas! Ah fuck! How did I forget about Christmas?! And it's Kiyomi's birthday as well! Dammit I'm terrible excuse for a mother! Oh goddammit now I'm doing it! Father! I meant Father!

"Asami…we should probably discuss Christmas…shouldn't we? I mean it is a few days away…" The crimelord shifted, looking down at him.

"I haven't even stopped to think about it really, but I suppose you're right. What all do you propose we do for the holiday?"

Akihito thought back to the Christmas's he and Asami had in the past. Usually they would just exchange gifts, watch a movie, and then have beautiful, rough sex. But now they were a family with very small children…some things had to change. "Um…well we're going to need a tree of course…and decorations for it. Gifts for everyone…lots of food…um…we can make a gingerbread house so Kiyomi can decorate it…and there's always Christmas movies playing on the television around this time of year…"

"I can have the tree arranged…and the gifts. I'll ask Kiyomi in the morning what she wants, and I'll have it here by the end of the day, wrapped and ready. Suoh can handle the tree…as for decorations….I'll figure that out." This is usually something we would ask Mayuri to do…

He slowly nodded to Asami's words. "I'll take care of the food…and Kiyomi and I can spend tomorrow making decorations for the house!~ It'll be cute!~ I used to do it all the time with my grandmother when I was a kid since we didn't have the money to buy them. Our house was always…interesting when it came to paper and popcorn decorations." Aki giggled a bit.

"Not a bad idea, it will keep her busy. She's been restless since school let out on break, and I can only give so many piggy back rides and pretend to be a prince so many times before my sanity wears thin."

The blonde laughed, grinning ear to ear. It was true, their little girl had been needy for all of Asami's attention lately. She was definitely a "daddy's girl", something Akihito was both jealous of and found endlessly, adorably amusing. "Yeah, it will definitely do that. And we'll do the ginger bread house too…it should be fun!~" Akihito paused, before turning to Asami. "Um…I need to go shopping myself tomorrow too…"

"I'll go with you then."

"No, I mean…I need to go by myself…" I'm shopping for you, idiot.

"…That's not happening."

Akihito sighed, looking up at his lover. "Come on, I'll take Rin with me if that makes you feel better. I'm sure if I just call and explain it will only be a few hours he'll come with me…" Rin took a few days off for Christmas too…he assumed for family reasons but had no real idea. Such a mysterious guy…

Asami sighed, rubbing his forehead. He looked like he wanted to object, but didn't. "…I'll think about it. I'll give you a definitive answer tomorrow." Well…if not I'll just do it online…I'll just have to find a way so he can't see the transaction…but I'll figure it out.

"Okay…" He cuddled back up as the conversation fell silent. I'm tired…

December 24

Mayuri's POV

Mayuri stared at the ceiling as he laid in the very plush, comfortable bed provided to him by Ryu. After multiple surgeries on his legs and six weeks in the hospital…he had finally been allowed to come home. By home, he meant the guest house at Ryuichi's and Akihito's. It was apparently the safest place for him…and they had it renovated completely for handicapped ease. Mayuri was both thankful and depressed about it…The leg that was less damaged had started getting a little feeling back…but all that feeling was pain. It felt like every nerve was on fire, and there was nothing he could do to put it out. It was…excruciating. A part of him was happy he couldn't feel the other leg…because he could only imagine what that would feel like. But at the same time…he had never felt so frustrated and angry at himself over not being able to do something in his life. Everyday tasks now seems almost impossible to do without help…and that just ate away at his pride. His frustration was only maximized knowing that no one could find the evil son of a bitch that put him into a wheelchair.

Ever since he had gotten home, he had either been laying in the bed or at the work desk in the corner of the room sewing. It wasn't that he didn't want to get out and do things…it was that he felt like a burden having to constantly call someone to help him. It already made him feel bad enough having to call someone just to go to the bathroom…but have them push him across the yard in a wheelchair? They had better things to do…Not to mention he was devastated over what he and Kazumi ended up having to do. With what happened…they ended up sending Sammy away to live with a friend. Whenever Kazumi wasn't around, Mayuri found himself crying. He missed their big baby…but he knew it was dangerous for him to be around. I hate you Jun…I hate you so much.

It wasn't the worst thing in the world though, at least he had the time to sit and sew again…and catch up on some of the television dramas he had been neglecting to watch. Bright sides, right?! I've always sucked at bright sides…

His eyes cast down to his clothing, and immediately he felt depressed again. Not only had he been stuck in this room…he was stuck in baggy pajamas as well. Ever since Mayuri was in middle school he had made a point to dress in bold colors and designs…always to be different and to shine through them. Now here he was, stuck in basic, bland colors and big t-shirts that didn't show off his figure what so ever. Despite it upsetting him…Mayuri never complained about it to his husband. He knew Kazumi was doing his best…he really did. It was hard to dress someone whose bottom half was nothing but dead weight, and putting on baggier clothing had proven to be much easier than his usual tight fitting jeans. Not to mention it went over the leg brace a lot easier as well.

The sound of the front door opening caught Mayuri's attention, and he listened as he heard footsteps approaching the door. His arm instinctually moved towards the bedside table where his gun was held, not taking any chances. When had he become so paranoid? Oh right, when he got crushed between two cars. The bedroom door was pushed open, and he relaxed when he realized it was just Kei. He looked behind his glasses clad friend, expecting to see Ryu behind him. To his surprise however…it seemed like Kei came alone.

"Hey Kei!~ What's up?~" Mayuri chirped, putting on his usual cheery grin. He hated to worry his friends, so he always tried to look happy for them.

"Suoh called and wanted me to check on you. He's still out with Asa- Ryuichi...And Takaba insisted I bring you some of the cookies he and Kiyomi made…" So they're going to worry about me anyway, aren't they?

"Oooo!~ Cookies?~ You're speaking my language now!~ Bring em over!~" He reached out and made grabby hands for the plate, and awkwardly Kei walked over and passed the plate over. Mayuri's excitement kind of faltered when he saw what kind of cookies they were. Ew….Gingerbread. Still…it was made by his niece so of course he had to eat at least one. "You can sit down, you know. I'm not going to bite!~"

Kei looked very uncomfortable, but took a seat at the end of the bed. His eyes kept glancing over as he munched on the somewhat tolerable cookie until finally he couldn't take the silence. "Kei, what's wrong? I'm not stupid, I know you have something on your mind."

"…We aren't stupid either, Mayuri. We know you're not okay, and it's entirely reasonable for you not to be. But keeping it to yourself and refusing to let anyone in…it's worrying everyone. Usually you talk to Suoh about everything so Ryuichi and I don't worry too much, but you haven't even been doing that."

Mayuri sat in silence for a long moment. His friend's words didn't come as a shock, but he didn't expect it to be Kei who approached him about it. Ryu or Kazumi yes…but he and Kei didn't talk about serious things a lot. "I'm dealing with it, Kei. And…what's done is done. There's nothing any of you can do to fix it so there isn't a point in worrying."

"…You don't understand the concept of worrying, do you? We're worried about more than just your physical pain and inabilities, we're worried about your mental pain too. You haven't left the guest house since you got to come home, you just sit in here and mope when we aren't with you." Mope? Me? Never.

"Jeez Kei!~ You're just telling me how it is, aren't ya?~ Well if you want me inside so bad, then fiiiine!~ But only on one….liiiittle condition."

"Anything, just name it."

"Hehehe…you really shouldn't have said that!~"

A Few Minutes Later….

"…They're all going to kill me. I'm going to be dead for doing this, I really hope you know that." Kei muttered as he set Mayuri onto the passenger side of the Gator golf cart.

"Oh don't be so over dramatic!~ It's going to be fuuuun!~ I've been wanting to take a ride in this thing since Ryu sent me the picture of Aki and his grandad ridding around in it!~" Mayuri giggled at the memory of the photo. Akihito's expressions were always so cute!~

"Yes, I'm sure. But it's very unsafe, there aren't any buckles or even doors! If we were to hit something you would go flying out."

"And what's that really going to do to me? Come on Kei, you can't be scared of living! So shut up, get in, and burn some rubber!"

Kei let out a long sigh, but reluctantly hopped in and shoved the key into the ignition. "The ground is wet…we're going to destroy the yard…" Shaking his head as he muttered this, the secretary started the Gator and took off at a…slower than what Mayuri would prefer speed. But beggars can't be choosers, or at least that was how the saying goes.

Rather than sit in silence, he decided to make conversation. "Isn't all of this so weird? Did you ever think that our Ryu, little teenage playboy Ryu, would ever settle down and have kids? I mean come on! Ryu with kids?!"

"I can agree, it's surreal when you think back to how he used to be. But I'm more surprised that Akihito ended up settling down. That little brat put Kazumi and I through hell because he wouldn't stop running away from Ryuichi." Oooo am I sensing juicy stories?~

"Oh?~ And just how did he manage to run away from Ryu?~ Once he has his eyes on something he wants, it's almost impossible to get it away from him!~"

Kei's eyebrow twitched behind his glasses, and Mayuri just knew he was thinking back to all the times in the past Akihito had gotten him into trouble with Ryuichi. "You don't understand. The first time we met him….he jumped off the side of Sion to get away from us. No harness, no nothing." Now I know exactly what attracted Ryu to his little Kitten!~ How interesting!~

"And now here he is, a little house wife!~ What a happy ending to that romantic story!~" Kei snorted at "romantic story."

"Of course you would think that." Kei muttered as they pulled up to the back porch, and it wasn't two seconds later that Akihito burst out of the door, his scolding "mom face" already on. With the engine still on, he couldn't hear what the photographer was saying to him, but he knew he would find it hilarious. Being scolded by Ryu's little Kitten…How adorable!~ Akihito looked irritated as he stomped over and took the key out of the Gator himself, shoving it into his pocket before looking at Kei accusingly. Hehehe, you're in trouble!~

"Kirishima! What the fuck do you think you're doing with Mayuri?! There is no way the doctor is okay with him riding in this metal death trap!" Akihito snapped, hazel eyes slitting into a glare.

"Metal death trap?~ So hypocritical Akihito!~ You ride this thing all the time, and you go as fast as you can on it! Kei was going snail slow with me, so don't be uptight!~"

Aki pointed to behind them, and slowly both of naughty parties turned to see what he was gesturing to. "Snail slow?! Snail slow doesn't destroy my yard!"

Mayuri cracked a grin, nudging Kei with his elbow. "See? Little house wife, told ya!~" Kei chuckled beside him whilst nodding his head in in agreement.

"I'm not a freaking housewife! I just don't want you to be in a death trap, and I don't want holes in the yard that Kiyomi could trip in!" Huh, now I actually feel bad.

The back door opened again, and seeing Ryuichi and Kazumi….he knew that now they were seriously in trouble. Kazumi was already storming over, and Ryuichi was shaking his head disapprovingly. They're already back?! How long have they even been gone? His plan to surprise his husband by being in the house when he got home with foiled, and now he had to actually worry about Kei's life being on the line. When it came to him, Kazumi didn't look things over for anyone. Especially not when said person was putting him in danger….even if that danger was his doing and not theirs. So overprotective…. "Kirishima…Why is Mayuri in the Gator?" Kazumi asked, voice scarily calm.

"Oh don't get all puffy at Kei, Kazumi!~ He was just bringing me up to the house, and using the wheelchair would have been more dangerous with all these holes in the yard!~" Mayuri chirped, making grabby hands for his husband to pick him up. Kazumi quickly obliged, lifting him up into his arms with ease.

"HOLES THAT YOU JUST MADE!" Akihito raged, before turning to Ryuichi and once again pointing out to the yard. "They made holes all in our yard Asami! How am I supposed to let Kiyomi go out and play in it when she could trip and break an ankle?!" Ryuichi slowly turned, meeting Kei's eyes as he raised an eyebrow.

"I'll get it fixed sir…" Kei quickly exited the cart, taking this as his chance to escape with his phone already to his ear. He couldn't blame him, if it wasn't for Kazumi's arms currently being weight down by him, Mayuri was fairly certain his love would be strangling his coworker. Don't worry Kei, I won't let them hurt you!~ Mayuri looked up at his husband, grinning.

"So how was the shopping?~"

December 25

Akihito's POV

With the living room covered in paper decorations, a huge tree lit up with bright colors, fake fire playing on the television, and of course the smell of fried chicken coming in from the kitchen…it really brought in the Christmas atmosphere to their house. Most of the living room floor was hidden under toys, clothes, and wrapping paper that the children had already opened. On the coffee table was their mostly eaten breakfast, a Christmas cake Akihito had managed to order last minute at that cake shop he loved so much. It wasn't his favorite orange ogura cake, but it was still pretty damn good. Kiyomi had long since left the living room with a loud squeal when Rin offered to help her set up the desktop gaming computer Ryuichi had gotten their daughter. Akihito had been surprised when his lover told him that Kiyomi had come to him with a very specific computer in mind, actually knowing what kind of specs she wanted and all. She was so smart for a seven year old, and it made Akihito proud. Masahiko on the other hand, though he had gotten so many little baby toys and clothes, he only cared about playing in the wrapping paper…and they happily let him do so. Their little five month old baby was grabbing and ripping at paper, laying on his belly as he did so. At his age babies were supposed to already be trying to sit up…but the doctors had long since warned them that he was going to be a bit physically delayed for a while. So…they just had to be more patient with him. Fei had flown in late last night with Tao, and apparently they were all going to have their Christmas tonight with Kei at his place, something the photographer found to be creepily sweet. He still just didn't understand that whole dynamic at all…but Tao seemed to like Kirishima so he guessed it was fine.

Speaking of Tao, he was apparently more than happy with the Nintendo Switch he had gotten him for Christmas, because he hadn't put it down since he opened it up. His eyes were glued to the screen as he played Zelda, his tongue sticking out of his mouth in concentration. They weren't going to hear from either of the two older kids for the next week with their new toys, he just knew it. Since the kids had opened their presents, the adults had started exchanging theirs. Akihito had been nervous about presenting his gift to Asami because he honestly wasn't sure if his lover already had what he got him or would even like it. But how wrong he had been considering the moment Asami saw the slate grey, Burberry briefcase his eyes had lit up. Apparently it was something about the leather that he really liked…Akihito wasn't really sure. All he knew was that it was expensive and he wanted his man to carry it around. Always trust your gut. Now what Kiyomi had snuck inside the briefcase without them knowing was what sent everyone into laughter. It was filled to the brim in things she drew and colored for her Daddy. It was so cute!~

Now when it came to what Asami had gotten him…Mayuri had just eaten that right up. For the last month he had been complaining about their cook ware not being what he wanted. The pans were too small, food would stick, some of them didn't heat up properly…the list went on. So for Christmas Asami had gotten him an entire new kitchen set, and it was perfect! If only Mayuri hadn't made the "housewife" comment. That had sent him into, admittedly, a big hissy fit. But receiving reassurement from Asami that he wasn't just his little housewife in the kitchen made him feel better…

With almost everyone done with gift giving, all they were waiting on was Suoh, who had left some time ago to go retrieve his for Mayuri. Everyone but the fashion designer already knew what it was, and just thinking about it made Akihito tear up. Their relationship, though odd, was so sweet and loving. There was never a doubt in any of their minds that the two were always thinking about the other, and this was only further proof of this. The front door opened and in walked Suoh…and behind him was their big great dane.

"Oh…Oh my god! You got Sammy back?!" Akihito could see tears filling in Mayuri's eyes, but they didn't fall. Mayuri never cried in front of them…even though he had been given so many reasons to do so.

"I never gave him away." Suoh said softly as he led Sammy over. Instead of bounding around and knocking things over like that big goof ball always did, he was much calmer as he approached Mayuri, his tail still wagging. Mayuri looked confused, until he saw what his dog was wearing. A service dog vest…

"You…got him trained as a service dog?" Mayuri asked, his shaky hands stroking the velvety black fur on Sammy's head. The blonde behemoth nodded, giving his husband a confident smile.

"Trained and certified. He's been training to help you learn how to walk again…because you will. You will walk again, Mayuri. We all know you will. You won't be stuck in that chair forever, but for the time you are…Sammy can help you." Now the tears actually fell, and it made Akihito's heart confused. It both hurt his heart and made him happy. He had felt so bad for the lie they had all been telling Mayuri about his dog…but it was worth it for this.

"…You really think I can walk again?"

"I don't think, I know. There is no doubt in any of our minds. You're too stubborn not to. And when you do…you'll have a bedazzled cane waiting on you." Mayuri grinned through his tears, shaking his head.

"You know me too well you ridiculous idiot…"

With all the kids in bed and all the other adults heading off their separate ways to the night, it was finally time for Akihito to give his lover the…private Christmas present he had planned for him!~ No doubt Asami would love it, and as long as that was the case it was entirely worth the slight humiliation. Akihito had just finished putting Masahiko to bed as he walked into their bedroom, expecting to see Asami on the bed. But instead there was a note, and reading it sent chills down the photographer's spine.

Akihito,

Come to the playroom for your second present….don't keep me waiting.

Just what is that bastard planning? Blushing dark, he crumpled the note up in his hand as he made his way to the slightly ajar playroom door. His eyes fell on Asami, who was laying on the huge canopy bed in the room, a small box wrapped in black and red paper sitting on the bed beside him. Akihito gave his lover a curious look as he made his way over. "Am I actually going to like this present?" He questioned, not quite trusting this. That mischievous smirk always gave him chills…

"Oh I think it's going to be the best Christmas gift I've ever given you." The crimelord confidently said, pushing the box towards him. Haughty bastard…

All too cautiously, Akihito sat down on the edge of the bed and lifted the lid off the box. He parted the tissue paper to grab what was inside…only too look at Asami in confusion. A pair of large, thick leather cuffs. Not sure what they were for, he tried to put them on his own wrists, and they were three sizes too big. "Um…I think you ordered them too big Asami….these aren't going to fit me. They would fit you, but definitely not…" Akihito stopped midsentence, his eyes going wide. "Are these for you?!"

The grin on Asami's face gave him his answer, and he immediately lit up like a Christmas tree. "You've spoke multiple times about wanting to have control for a night…so I present you with your present. Tonight it's all on you, Kitten." Never in Akihito's life did he think Asami would actually let him do this…but now that it was happening he was not going to let this opportunity go to waste! Finally, after all his sexy wet dreams, he was about to live out one of his greatest fantasies. Knocking the box to the floor, he straddled his lover and pressed a teasing kiss to Asami's neck.

"Then you better put your arms up." He whispered into his ear, the power of being in control really putting him into the mood. Apparently it did something for Asami as well, because the man lifted his arms up to he could cuff them to the bed posts. With a smile, he pressed a kiss to the crimelord's neck. "I've got you a present too…just give me a minute to go and get it!~"

Asami raised an eyebrow. "It better be the best present ever if it's worth leaving me tied up like this." There was underlying threat there, but Aki wasn't worried…he knew Asami would forgive him over this gift.

A few minutes later, probably a lot longer than Asami anticipated it to take, Aki finally arrived back into the playroom. From his spot at the door, he could already see how impatient his lover was becoming, his eyebrow twitching in annoyance from being left. "Sorry it took so long…but this needed a little…preparation before I could show you." Akihito purred, smirking as he made his way over. The irritated look immediately melted from Asami's face, and was instead replaced with a hungry one.

Those hungry, lustful eyes shamelessly looked Akihito over from top to bottom. From the black cat hears clipped into his hair, to the thick cat collar around his neck with the little bell, and then finally to the black tail nestled nice and snug in his tight ass. "Worth the wait?" Akihito purred as he crawled onto the bed, straddling his love once more. He could feel Asami's growing erection pushing against his thigh.

"….Definitely."