Kirishima wondered how he ever thought that Takaba Akihito would be out of his hair within a month. At the time, he had dismissed the young man as nothing more than a play thing for his boss to pass the time. He mistakenly assumed that a few evenings would be all it took to satisfy Asami's curiosity before he was moving onto someone else.
That was how it had always worked, after all.
Until this bright eyed, optimistic brat invaded their lives by utterly captivating the most powerful man in all of Asia.
Not that Takaba Akihito cared about that.
Oh, he certainly cared about Asami, regardless of his wailing and carrying on. He might call his boss a great and varied list of names, usually starting with bastard and ending with pervert, but it seemed to be no more than their game. They seemed to live to tease and bait the other. A playful competition with no defined rules beyond name calling, disconnected phone calls, and gifts of all things. Takaba hated unnecessary or expensive gifts and Asami used the weapon well. Although a well placed bribe of high quality sushi would have Takaba easily agreeing to a vast number of things.
It was surprisingly useful knowledge for Kirishima.
No, he wasn't sure how he managed to miss the now blindingly obvious signs but he can't say he was disappointed in his boss's choice. Not when they looked at each other like they did. It was like when they were together, everyone else in the world fell away and there was only each other.
There had been a small accident while they were out eating lunch with a few close business associates. Takaba had been invited along as all the others had brought their wives and it was easy to see how he set everyone else at ease. The tension had been resolved almost before it settled in and there was more than one smile floating about the table. Unfortunately one of the waitresses had tripped and her serving tray had gone flying, resulting in a mess but also a small cut from a flying knife on Asami's cheek. Someone had fetched a first aid kit and now Asami stood leaning slightly against the table with an arm around Akihito who stood far too close as he fussed over the small wound.
No one was ever allowed to fuss over Asami, it was one his pet hates. Yet here he was, giving his lover a soft, teasing look as he let him care for him. Akihito chattered away playfully mock teasing as he fussed, and the look he was returning was just as soft and teasing.
Both gazes held so much love and adoration Kirishima honestly wondered how he could ever have been so blind. They both stood as though trapped in their own little world, just like they often did, while the few onlookers watched with small smiles.
For all their differences, they seemed to fit together perfectly.
It was a relationship that many fought hard to protect. And if there was anyone in the world that thought love made someone weaker, they were sorely mistaken. Asami's empire had never been so strong. He knew he had a weakness in Takaba. So he ruled with an iron fist and expanded his empire ever higher so that he could wield enough power to protect his own. He was even more brutal and unforgiving than ever before to those that went against him.
He was now truly Tokyo's uncrowned King of the Underworld.
Interestingly enough, that small bit of perceived weakness made Asami's staff all the more loyal. Suddenly he wasn't a cold hearted, unfeeling, genius who expected impossible things of his staff. Suddenly he was human. Suddenly he had emotions and fears and worry. The staff saw it, only brief glimpses here and there, but it was enough. The staff saw it and Asami won over their hearts and trust like he never had before and each of them would give their lives to protect his bright bundle of joy.
Takaba Akihito himself just cemented that feeling from the staff. From his upbeat, quirky personality to his genuine care and interest in other people. He would pop in with homemade bentos and scold his lover for not eating well enough. He phoned in for Asami and made him actually stay at home and rest while sick. Asami actually let him do it with only a token protest and a childish demand for attention.
The pair of them were the most love sick couple Kirishima had ever seen, although they would both protest that sentiment violently.
He just hoped that he would not be required to plan their wedding.
Kirishima did not get paid enough to deal with that. At least he knew it wouldn't be happening for a while yet. They were the most stubborn fools, after all.
But everyone always said that love is blind.