Rating: R
It was two full days after he left Akihito the morning after his party before Asami had the first serious thought that something was wrong. He had an unexpected issue come up with his developing North American routes, and he'd called and left a message for his young lover, explaining that he wouldn't be seeing him that night. In fact, he hadn't made it home at all until late afternoon of the following day, and he was in no condition to see Akihito at that point. He was in desperate need of shower and sleep, not necessarily in that order.
The first inklings that something might not be right came when he awoke, refreshed and missing the warm presence of his stray cat curled against him. One phone call and he could have Akihito naked and in his bed within an hour.
He reached for his phone, somewhat surprised to see no messages or texts from Akihito, but he rationalized that the boy could still be somewhat shy about imposing on Asami's time. Still, nothing could usually repress Akihito's unquenchable spirit for long, and he seemed to relish sending inappropriate messages at odd hours of the day.
Asami frowned, firmly telling himself he wasn't sulking at the lack of contact. His fingers clicked over the buttons with a deft touch.
[[I'm sending a car for you. Be prepared.]]
A smirk lifted the corner of his mouth as he imagined Akihito's reaction and waited for the cheeky reply that was sure to follow. He kept waiting for a full three minutes. Akihito must not be near his phone. He would never ignore a text from him.
Not bothering to speculate, Asami pressed a button and listened to the dial tone impatiently. It rang and rang, finally rolling over to Akihito's voicemail. Instead of prompting him to leave a message, it gave him the information that the mailbox was full.
A deep line appeared between his eyes. He couldn't think of any reason why Akihito would have ignored or missed enough phone calls to overload his inbox. Perhaps he'd lost his phone. That wouldn't be unlikely the way he traipsed all over the city. Asami had seen for himself the lengths he'd go to for a 'perfect' shot.
He made another call.
"Kirishima. What time is the Towa meeting?" He frowned. "I see. Hm? No, that's fine. Have the car sent around in half an hour. Also, I want one of Suoh's men-make it Koga-sent to Takaba's place." Asami listened. "It's probably nothing, but have Koga be on alert. I want to know if Akihito is there, and if not, I want to find out where he is."
He flipped his phone closed and began to prepare for the day, forcing his thoughts to the upcoming negotiations.
Halfway through the meeting with Towa, Kirishima approached Asami, bending to whisper in Asami's ear. Asami rose, making a brief apology to Towa and exiting the room with Kirishima in tow. Back in his office, he didn't waste words.
"What is it?"
"Sir, Koga went to Takaba Akihito's apartment. There was no sign of the boy. But there was something odd." Kirishima cleared his throat. "The front door was unlocked."
Asami frowned. "Forced entry?"
"It appears not. Nothing was disturbed inside. The futon was unmade on the floor. A dirty cup in the sink. Nothing else was out of place other than typical clutter."
"His cameras?"
"Well, I can't be sure, but it looked like most of them were in their display case."
"Is there any evidence that he meant to be away? Was his toothbrush in its holder? Did he speak to the neighbors?"
"None of the neighbors have seen him since the day of the party. They didn't notice anything unusual. The building has no security cameras."
The disapproval in Kirishima's voice made Asami smile grimly. "That will be rectified, I trust."
"Certainly." Kirishima hesitated. "I didn't think to ask about the toothbrush. Shall I instruct Koga-"
"Nevermind," Asami interrupted. "I want to speak to his friends."
As Kirishima began making calls, Asami lit up a cigarette and paced to the closest window. The city stretched out beneath him. He didn't own enough of it, not yet, to be assured of ironclad control everywhere. Maybe he never would. Loyalty was a fickle thing for most men, who allowed themselves to be driven by petty concerns and their own selfish greed.
He shook that thought away, as well as the unpleasant and unaccustomed feeling of deep unease that crept under his skin. No matter. Never yet had he confronted a situation that he hadn't been able to bring to a satisfactory conclusion. Even the matter in Hong Kong three years ago had resulted in securing some of his most profitable trade routes, despite the utter disaster it had been on so many other levels. Feilong...
Surely, he wouldn't dare, not after the spanking Asami had administered a few short months ago. And he would have heard from Yoh...
His arm rested on the window as he gazed upon all he owned now and all that he would soon own. Akihito was probably laughing with his friends now, or down in Yokohama visiting his parents. The scatterbrained brat had probably forgotten to lock his front door, running late for the train.
Except, Asami knew that Akihito wasn't scatterbrained. Rash and reckless sometimes, but not prone to careless mistakes. And he knew that he himself wasn't prone to jumping at shadows. His hunches were usually correct. Eyes darkening, he turned and crushed his cigarette out in the crystal ashtray on his desk.
Kirishima approached. "Asami-sama. His friends haven't been able to reach Takaba-san either. They've left numerous messages. They're worried and say that it's not like him to be out of touch for this length of time. Do you wish to speak to them yourself? Shall I contact his parents?"
"No. Not at this time." Expressionless, Asami lit up another cigarette. "Put in a call to Yoh. Patch it through to me immediately when he returns it."
"Yes, sir."
"And keep a guard on Takaba's apartment in case he returns."
"Of course." Kirishima paused before turning to the task. "Should I have the jet readied?"
Asami inclined his head. "Tomorrow morning, whether I've heard from Yoh or not, we'll be paying another visit to Hong Kong. It appears that it's time I cleaned up my mess from three years ago."
He smiled coldly, turning to the window once again.
No matter what it takes, I'm going to get him back.
Akihito had been left chained to the sofa for what had seemed like longer than an hour, and despite the tedium of having nothing to do but stare at the expensive furnishings of the room, with the anxiety of pondering Feilong's parting words, the time had passed all too quickly by the time the man had returned for him. The quality of his interaction with Feilong had left him with no taste for more.
No one asked his opinion, however, so Akihito was prodded along with a gun digging into his spine until he stood before another ornate door. Again, the man knocked and entered, pushing Akihito before him. It must have still been early afternoon, but the room was dimly lit. Only a diffused, pale light came through the heavy folds of the window coverings.
Feilong must have an aversion to sunlight or something. Maybe he was a vampire. That would explain a lot of things. Akihito smirked to himself until the man jerked him toward another door and knocked again.
"Come in, Akihito."
Feilong's voice sounded muted through the thick door, but also slower, more measured, as if he were speaking with particular care.
The man gestured, and Akihito pushed on the polished handle, his stomach churning a little in apprehension as he watched it glide open. The man left him there on the threshold, retreating from the suite without another look.
He sniffed. A sweet, pungent scent lingered in the air, and Akihito wondered if Feilong had been burning incense.
"Shut the door behind you."
That languid voice was unsettling, but Akihito did as he was told, shutting the door and then leaning back against it to take in his surroundings. A huge bed dominated one half of the room. His eyes widened. It looked like something out of a storybook. The rich fabrics of the bed hangings looked like they might cost more than most people made in their lifetime.
There were so many pillows piled up at one end that he felt sorry for whoever had to make the bed each day. He'd bet anything it wasn't Feilong who did, but he sure did like his luxury. He almost snickered until the contrast between this room and Asami's bedroom suddenly struck him. All this opulence compared to Asami's sleek minimalism-a pang of sharp longing and homesickness pierced him.
"Would you like to try it out?"
His eyes flew to a corner of the room he hadn't observed yet, where Feilong reclined on a one-armed settee. He studied Akihito, a flicker of amusement shading his features.
"Feilong."
Akihito stared at him. Feilong now seemed much different than the man who'd lost control earlier. He was even smiling, not the icy thing he'd shown earlier, but something that seemed more natural anyway. Akihito knew better than to trust that.
"Come closer."
Getting near Feilong was not high on his list of things he wanted to do, but he knew he needed to humor Feilong for the time being. He wasn't sure he'd survive another glimpse of Feilong's violent side.
Akihito took an unwilling step forward and then another. Feilong curled his fingers, beckoning him nearer, the amusement deepening at Akihito's slow progress. Too soon, Akihito was close enough to really take in the marked difference in Feilong's bearing.
Whereas before he had moved with an elegant, perfect precision, now his movements were still elegant, but softer. His dangerous aura had diminished, and he reclined with graceful indolence like an emperor at his leisure. Feilong's dark eyes didn't chill him now as they traveled over his face, but the invasive curiosity in the gaze made his skin crawl. Feilong's pupils were large and dark, dilated much beyond what was normal, even in this dim light.
Oh. He wondered just what Feilong had been smoking. That explained why the draperies were drawn and only one small lamp burned by the bedside.
Feilong shifted, startling Akihito, who tensed, poised for flight. But Feilong only settled his feet on the floor and patted the now empty cushion beside him, one elegant brow arching in silent demand.
With a rebellious cast to his features, Akihito sat, but as far as possible from Feilong as he could manage, which unfortunately only amounted to a few inches. Feilong laughed softly. Akihito's eyes widened as he reached for him, taking hold of his chin and tilting his face up to be studied.
Akihito put up with the examination until Feilong asked a question.
"Are you really just a student?"
Akihito jerked his face away, irritated.
"I'm lots of things. Are you really just an asshole with nothing better to do than kidnap innocent bystanders?"
For a moment, Feilong's eyes flashed and Akihito swallowed. Shit. When would he learn to keep his mouth shut?
Feilong shifted again and Akihito tensed, but he was only adjusting the sleeve of his long robe. He smiled distantly, looking off into a corner of the room as if he could see something Akihito couldn't.
"It's just that you don't seem like someone who could...engage his interest." Akihito scowled, though Feilong took no notice. "You have nothing to offer. No value beyond..." Here Feilong bestowed a lingering glance upon him, one that traveled from his face down the length of his body."...this. And that can be acquired anywhere."
Wow, this creep was really beginning to piss him off.
"I'm not some prostitute, you know!"
"Poor Akihito." Feilong tendered a mocking smile. "Don't tell me you've given it away for free? Surely, you don't think Asami has any interest in you beyond physical release?"
"That's none of your business! What would you know about it anyway?"
Akihito's fists curled in his lap. He knew Feilong was just talking shit, but still, a tiny sliver of doubt worked it's way into his chest. Akihito was all too aware of the differences between himself and Asami. He understood full well what Feilong was implying.
"There, there. Don't get upset." Feilong gave his hand a condescending pat. "Perhaps you do have more value. Does Asami ever ask you to do little jobs for him? Help him with his business? His associates? Someone like you-with that cute face and fresh young body-I'll be he could come up with all sorts of uses for you."
Akihito blushed furiously. Feilong chuckled at his reaction.
"Usually, his lovers have a more tangible use to him, it's true, such as the young cop from the Hong Kong police department who eases Asami's interactions when he travels here. In more ways than one, I suppose."
His lovers? It wasn't that Akihito had ever thought Asami hadn't had other lovers, but if he'd ever consciously thought about it, he would have been sure that he was Asami's only lover now. Of course, they'd never even remotely discussed such things. And really, when Asami traveled, Akihito had no idea what he did, where he went...or who he saw. It felt as if a hand squeezed his heart.
Was Feilong telling the truth? Did Asami really have a lover in Hong Kong? And were there others elsewhere? Then it struck him, and the realization made his stomach drop.
"H-Hong Kong? Is that where we are?"
"Oh, yes. Hadn't I told you? My associate in Tokyo was kind enough to transport you aboard my private jet. I assure you that you traveled in luxury, though I understand you weren't awake to appreciate it."
Akihito stared with a sinking heart. Hong Kong. Would Asami really be able to find him? His pulse racing, he flew to the far side of the room, tearing aside the heavy silks to expose the unfamiliar cityscape. Under different circumstances, he would have gasped in admiration, his photographer's eye taking in every interesting angle, but now he only felt a numbing sense of despair.
"I'm curious." Feilong had moved behind him with silent speed. "How did the two of you meet?"
Akihito sagged against the window, his forehead pressing against the glass that had been warmed by the afternoon sun. "It was an accident," Akihito said dully. "I was taking pictures, and he thought I was photographing him, his business."
"I see." Feilong sounded thoughtful. "That does make a sort of sense. I can see where he might be intrigued in such a situation."
Akihito didn't respond, even when Feilong's hands settled on his shoulders.
"Tell me, Akihito. Is Asami your first lover?" Long strands of glossy hair brushed against his cheek as Feilong murmured silkily against his ear.
Akihito stiffened, anger at Feilong's presumption chasing away the numbing apathy of his thoughts. He jerked away from Feilong's hands, glaring defiantly into that prurient gaze, though he couldn't stop the blush that suffused his cheeks.
"How sweet."
Feilong's fingers trailed over Akihito's warm cheek. He reached for the drapes with his other hand, shutting out the sunlight and then pulling Akihito close. Akihito found himself propelled back toward the bed until he fell back onto his hands as his thighs connected with the top of the mattress. His body coiled, preparing for a fight, but Feilong merely turned to pick up a long, slender pipe.
He could see the thin stream of smoke still curling from the tiny bowl on the end.
"Would you like some?"
Feilong offered it with a languid gesture, and Akihito shook his head, watching with wide eyes as Feilong put it to his lips. After a moment he exhaled, his clouded eyes falling on Akihito as he smiled vaguely.
"Oh, but I think you should." He stepped in front of Akihito, his palm planting in the middle of his chest and pushing Akihito flat on his back. "You'll enjoy it, I promise. It will help you relax. You won't mind anything at all."
Feilong's slender form disguised his power, but Akihito knew he was pinned for as long as Feilong chose to keep him there. In spite of that, he pressed his lips together and stared stonily up at him.
Feilong's laughter sounded more amused than cruel, and he drew on the pipe again before setting it aside. His next actions were more alarming. To Akihito's great consternation he climbed up on the bed, hovering over Akihito on all fours. A black curtain of hair blocked out everything but Feilong's delicate features.
"You really should think about being more obedient, Akihito." He smiled gently. "That is, if you ever wish to see your home or Asami again."
Feilong's words were said mildly, but Akihito shivered.
"I-I prefer facing things with a clear mind," he dared to say.
"I see." Feilong closed his eyes. "You think I'm clouding my mind, do you? I suppose that's fair." He reached to touch Akihito's face, feeling his way along its planes with his fingertips. Akihito sucked in a hiss as they pressed his swollen cheekbone. "You're so very young. What do you know of it? What need do you have of detachment? Of release from emotional pain? Your skin and heart and soul bear no scars. You have everything, and you've done nothing to deserve it."
Akihito's eyebrows drew together. Was Feilong talking about Asami? Had they been-were they still-lovers? All Akihito knew for sure was that Feilong sounded really pitiful. He almost felt sorry for him.
Feilong was swaying slowly, almost hypnotically, his hair brushing Akihito's bare arms.
"Um..." Akihito bit his lip, then braved the question. "Were you and Asami..."
Feilong opened his eyes and the words dried up as they stared at each other.
"You do have a certain charm." Feilong said thoughtfully. "If you don't want to partake of one vice, then join me in another. Let me enjoy the body that Asami is so fond of."
His eyes flew wide, protesting hands too late to stop Feilong from pressing him to the bed. The clasps of his shirt were tugged open, his chest bared to Feilong's exploring touch.
He struggled but Feilong easily held him down, his features softening into appreciation as he took in the display of Akihito's lithe body.
"You have exquisite skin. I will say that for you." Akihito averted his eyes as Feilong gazed long, hands exploring his unwrapped treat. "So very fine and soft and perfect. Perhaps this is what draws him in."
His jaw clenched, but Akihito responded with as much of a taunt as he dared. "Actually, I'm pretty sure it's my attitude that really gets him going."
Feilong only laughed, his eyes narrowing a little. "Is that so?"
Suddenly, his nails raked down Akihito's ribs, leaving long red scratches standing out starkly against the pale skin. He swallowed a yelp, staring up in shock.
"So pretty to mark too. A lovely contrast."
"Wh-what do you think you're doing?" Akihito glared. "Leave me alone, you creep!"
"I can't imagine your attitude, nor that mouth of yours being the attraction, despite how pretty it is."
He smiled again, slowly, this time some of the cruelty coming through. "Has he trained you how to use that insolent little mouth yet?"
Akihito couldn't speak. He flushed, fighting for composure as Feilong laughed at him.
"Show me, then." Feilong traced his lower lip with a manicured nail, teasing between the crease of Akihito's closed mouth.
Akihito jerked his face away. "You put anything in my mouth and I'll bite it off!"
"Very well, Akihito." Feilong sighed, as if suffering from a heavy disappointment. "If that's the way you want it, then I'll just take your ass instead."
Underneath the mocking humor, Akihito could see that Feilong was deadly serious. His throat locked up, and he shook his head from side to side, his eyes going wide, shimmering with the sudden prick of unshed tears. Panic made his limbs tremble.
"Please. Please Feilong." Akihito managed to breathe out. "Don't."
Ignoring the plea, Feilong flipped him over, face down onto the bed. The silk pants of his outfit were pulled down over the curve of his ass, exposing him to Feilong's view as he struggled with all his might. A sudden smack made him gasp.
"Stop fighting me or I'll go back for your family, your friends, and Asami too. Only this time I won't bother bringing anyone back."
Akihito froze, allowing Feilong to raise his hips up, his face mercifully hidden in the silk sheets that covered Feilong's bed.
"There...much better." The palm of Feilong's hand molded the curves of one cheek. "What a good little slut."
"Why are you doing this?" The plaintive cry made Feilong still above him. Only the slight sound of his breathing making any noise in the stifling room, until a muffled sob finally tore from Akihito's aching throat.
Slowly, thickly, Feilong answered, as if he were speaking through a dense fog. "Crying won't solve the problem." Then he laughed a little wildly and passed a shaky hand across his eyes.
"...not crying." Akihito's stubborn words were barely heard, but Feilong rolled him over, taking in Akihito's vulnerable state. Wet lashes clumped together, making the forlorn hurt in his eyes even more pronounced.
Feilong stared for a long moment, expressionlessly, then gave an indolent shrug of his shoulders.
"It's not worth the bother right now, and I'm tired anyway." He stretched out full length on the bed, resting his head against a pile of opulent pillows. "Lie down and keep me company while I sleep."
His fingers stroked the sheet next to him. Hesitantly, Akihito sat up, tugging his clothing together before he moved to where Feilong wanted him. His heart was still pounding hard against his ribcage, but he laid down, curled on his side as still as he could be and watched Feilong with large, mistrustful eyes. He had no idea why Feilong had stopped, had decided to show him mercy, but wasn't going to lower his guard. His whole body was still trembling from his fear and humiliation.
"Don't get any ideas, Akihito." Feilong's voice grew languid as his eyes fluttered shut. "You'd never make it out of here in one piece. And remember what I have the power to do."
Akihito's hope faltered, the longing ache burgeoning in his chest once again as he thought of home and Asami, but he waited silently, patiently until Feilong's breath came steady and deep.
No way was he going to just give up without a fight. He was finding a way out of there right now. If he could get to Asami, even just speak to him, to warn him...
Akihito knew Asami could take care of himself, and he would protect everyone, Akihito was sure of it.
Inch by inch, he eased his way off the bed and then out of the bedroom. The sitting room was empty, and his quick search yielded nothing of use, no phones, nothing that could be used as a weapon, but at least the outer door was unlocked.
Akihito slipped through. Feilong's man and the old servant were nowhere to be seen. He had no urge to retrace his steps to the room that held his cage, so he set off in the opposite direction, thinking that he'd probably been placed as far as possible from any escape routes. Down a staircase and through a couple of hallways and there it was-a grand door that could only lead to the outside.
Just before he opened it, he hesitated, thinking of the guards that Asami always had posted outside his residences. With a last longing look at the door, he turned and made his stealthy way to the back of the house. A room with a low window sufficed, and he pushed it open and climbed out, jumping over a low row of landscaped bushes.
No one was in sight, but he paled at the sight of the high wall that surrounded the extensive gardens. Well, he'd had lots of practice in high school getting in and out of places that were supposed to be off limits. Something so minor wasn't going to stop him.
A quick glance, and Akihito took in the situation. Crouched low, he ran close to the side of the house, then broke into the open, launching off a stone bench to grab the lowest branch of an overhanging tree. One lithe swing later, he was up and crawling out onto the end of the branch which hung over the edge of the wall.
He dropped to the ground and brushed his palms on the stupid silk pants. He couldn't wait to get back into some normal clothes. Now, all he had to do was get away without being seen, find a phone, figure out how to make a collect call to Japan, and he was home free. Or maybe he could hitchhike a ride to the Japanese Embassy. Hong Kong had one of those didn't they?
Whatever.
Akihito rose up and spun around, right into the arms of a very solid, dark-haired man. It wasn't Feilong's man. At least, he wasn't the same one. He was younger, with no disfiguring moles, and not ugly at all. He looked like serious business.
Akihito tried a swift kick to the knee, but it was blocked easily. The man spun him around and got him in a hold he couldn't break.
Akihito didn't understand the short, clipped words the man spoke, but the man's cold tone didn't bode well. Akihito struggled. "Let me go!"
With breathtaking speed, he was spun around and shoved against the wall. He had a feeling the man's eyes took in everything: his clothing, the scratches peeking out the top of his shirt, which he hadn't bother to fully fasten, the fresh bruise and swelling from the blow Feilong had dealt him. Most of all the man studied his face, inspecting it with a curious intensity.
"You're Japanese." He said, speaking Akihito's language in that same cold tone. "What are you doing here? Who are you?"
"Please! Please help me!" Akihito grabbed the man's arms, hoping desperately for something to go his way. "I'm-"
"Hey!" An unpleasantly familiar voice interrupted them.
No! Not now. Not when he was almost free. The man holding him swore softly, watching the man running toward them with his gun out.
The man shouted again, this time in Chinese. Akihito didn't have to speak the language to know he was being cursed roundly.
Akihito started to struggle. "I have to get away! Let me go!"
The dark-haired man looked at him, his piercing eyes locking onto to Akihito's. Neither of them saw the blow coming as the other man finally came up close and struck Akihito with the butt of his gun.
Akihito cried out, doubling over into the dark-haired man, whose arms came around to steady him.
His voice sounded angry for the first time as he spoke to the other man. An obvious argument ensued, but the man holding him apparently came out victorious.
"I'll take you back to Feilong."
"What? No!" Akihito began to thrash, his wild emotions finally getting the better of him. "You can't!"
He was shaken hard enough to make his teeth snap together. "Quiet! Do you want to be shot by this fool?" He snapped out another order in Chinese to make the man back off, and then began dragging Akihito toward the front gate. "Get a hold of yourself if you want to make it out of this alive. Feilong won't be pleased about this."
"You work for Feilong." Akihito laughed hollowly. "You won't help me. And believe me, I doubt Feilong will have anything to say about anything for a while."
The man shot him a look, but didn't speak again.
In the end, Akihito found himself back in the cage.