Akashi POV
Akashi's knee bounced under the table as he waited in the long empty conference room; he schooled his features as Furihata hustled into the room with a collection of portfolios. They hadn't seen each other in six days, but they had to act like strangers for a few more hours.
"Akashi-sama," Furihata said, "Is there anything else I can do before the meeting?"
Do? I could use a blow job - a hand job at the least - but a smile would give me courage. "No, nothing. Has anyone arrived?"
"Midorima-san texted that he and Kuroko-sensei are in the lobby waiting for the elevator."
"Good," Akashi said, nodding. He steepled his fingers and took deep breaths.
As Midorima and Kuroko entered the conference room a few minutes later, Furihata rose to greet them. Akashi gazed out the window, keeping an emotional distance from what was going on around him. He sat up straighter in his chair and surreptitiously wiped his hands on the thighs of his trousers.
Never in my entire life have I sweated this much - not basketball, not academics, not even escaping Japan made me perspire this much.
Murasakibara and Himuro were the next to arrive. Stuffing your face as usual, Atsushi? he chuckled in his head.
"Is this going to take long, Aka-chin? I'm hungry and you promised me dinner at Cedros," the giant whined.
"And I will indeed treat you, after our business is completed, Atsushi. Shall I have coffee and pastries brought in?"
Murasakibara considered his half-empty bag of chips and nodded.
"Furihata, call for refreshments." It annoyed Akashi that he had to leave off the word 'please' from his request.
As the coffee arrived, Imayoshi Shoichi slunk in, a smirk on his face, his eyes closed; he nonetheless dropped into a seat and put his feet up on the table.
Which of my friends would trust that delinquent? Mitobe Rinnosuke came next - the quiet, gentle reporter was about to get quite a scoop in a few minutes. Hyūga Riko, the assistant coach of the Japanese National Basketball team followed behind him, and the Athletic Trainer of the same team, Kiyoshi Teppei, was close at her heals. All three exchanged easy hugs and warm smiles.
Where's Tetsuya? Oh, there he is, already seated and waiting patiently.
Sakurai Ryō apologized his way past the former members of Seirin and sat down next to his former captain.
"Those who put off what they can do today till tomorrow are stupid," said Araki Masako as she swaggered into the room, "Let's get this over with. I have a midterm exam to give tomorrow and I'd like to be fresh for it." The coach of Yōsen went straight to her former students and sat with them.
Akashi drank down his coffee in one gulp and then refilled it from the thermos on the table with shaking hands. Aomine Daisuke yawned as he entered, raising a hand of greeting to whomever wanted it to apply to them. He slumped into a seat closest to the door, ending up next to Kiyoshi.
On the door leading into the conference room on the eighth floor of the Akashi Foundation building in downtown Tokyo, was a sign that said "SoCal Onsen Project," but that didn't adequately reflect the stark terror that everyone saw in Akashi's eyes.
"It's 2pm," Imayoshi drawled, consulting his watch. "Should we get started? I have other business today."
"We are still waiting on Kise-san and Kasamatsu-sensei," Furihata said, not looking up from his papers.
Akashi froze, listening to the tread of measured steps walking up the carpeted floor. They were even and unhurried. It can't be Ryōta, not with his limp…
The steps slowed as they approached the open door, perhaps reading the sign. Akashi held his breath and whomever it was, walked away, returning the way they had come.
Three tense, silent moments later, Kise scrambled into the room, propelled by a sharp shove of Kasamatsu. Once they were all seated, Furihata handed a packet to each one present.
"As you'll see all the paperwork is in order," Furihata said. "If you'll sign the paper and date it, you authorize the transfer of the pre-arranged stock. Once you've signed the paper, pass it to your left; witness the signature on the paperwork you are given. Once that is done, pass it to me and I will notarize the sale."
The room was silent, the scratch of pens was the only thing Akashi heard. One by one, Furihata signed and sealed the transactions. As they were completed, he handed the papers back to their owners, Kise, Midorima, Murasakibara, Aomine, and Kuroko. Furihata nodded to Akashi once the final transaction was completed.
"Thank you, everyone," Akashi said, getting to his feet. His knees were still shaking, but he took a deep breath and composed himself. "Those of you who have acted as our agents for the last two years, I thank you," he bowed. "You have my gratitude for your assistance in this venture. If there is anything I can do to repay — "
"Ah, don't'cha worry about it, Akashi-kun," Imayoshi interrupted. "We didn't do it for ya, but for our friends. We done here? I hear this Cedros place is pretty good and I need ta eat before my game tonight."
"Yes, we are. We'll meet you there as soon as we've delivered the papers to the Board of Directors."
Imayoshi got to his feet and everyone except the former members of the Generation of Miracles and Furihata, followed him out.
"Gentlemen," Akashi said, smiling for the first time all day. "Are you ready?"
"May I help you, Akashi-kun?" asked the beautiful female secretary stationed outside the conference room where Akashi-sama and the Akashi Foundation Board of Directors were meeting - and had been since 1pm.
"We are expected," Akashi said, "for the Osen proposal at 2:45pm." She checked the schedule and confirmed the appointment.
"Follow me, gentlemen," she said, as the players towered over her.
"And if we are all agreed...," Akashi-sama motioned. The room acknowledged. "Then it shall be so. Suwabe, you'll be in charge of this new project. Don't disappoint me."
A small toady man bowed low, and scrambled from the room, calling back his appreciation as he fled.
"You were early, Seijūrō. Next time, make sure to anticipate your entrance better."
"No," Akashi said. "No, I don't think so, I'm done trying to please you, father."
"Done? What nonsense. Whatever ridiculous thing," he shot a glare at Furihata, "has addled your daft brain — "
"I haven't been clearer in my entire life. Gentlemen, Board of Directors, I do have a presentation for you today, though it isn't about a Californian Onsen."
"Seijūrō, be quiet this instant," Akashi-sama demanded, getting to his feet.
"I'd like to introduce," Akashi continued as if his father hadn't spoken, "you to the new primary shareholders of the Akashi Foundation. Between the seven of us, we own fifty-six percent. This foundation now belongs to the Kiseki no Sedai."
Akashi senior flinched backward, his lower jaw slightly open, his right eye twitching. "How dare you lie to this august body!"
Akashi gestured to Furihata who slapped the contracts on the table in front of the legal council. The father and son stared at each other as the other man went over each document.
"These papers do indeed represent forty percent of the shares."
"And I own fifteen percent," Akashi confirmed. "And my lover holds one, for a total of fifty-six."
"I gave you those shares, in trust — " the senior Akashi blurted out.
"You were the one who always told me to trust no one, father, a lesson I chose to ignore, but perhaps you should have listened to your own advice."
"This is absurd, you are my son, and you will not defy me," he shouted, slamming his fist on the desk; spittle flew from his mouth. The Board of Directors exchanged pointed looks.
Now that he was sure he had everyone's attention, Akashi's gold side smiled. "Father, perhaps you should have considered that when you beat me like a dog, a literal dog. Did you know, gentlemen," he turned to the strangers, "that the esteemed Akashi-sama would beat me for anything less than perfection?"
"Lies, all lies," Akashi-sama hissed, scattering the papers in front of him with a single swing.
"All true, I assure you I can prove my accusations. Shall I show them the burns, father? What will they believe? You, or your 'corrections' seared into my flesh?"
His father stumbled back, collapsing into his chair. "So, this is a rebellion then. What are your demands?"
"Demands? Rebellion? No this is simply a transfer of power, father, a changing of the guard, if you will."
"I call a meeting of the shareholders," Akashi said, slipping into a seat and gesturing for the others to join him. Around the table, the colorful men seated themselves among the older men. "I nominate Midorima Shintarō as chairman of this meeting. All present may cast votes according to their percentage of shares. Are all in agreement that Midorima-sama shall lead us?"
The movement passed with a minor amount of grumbling. Midorima stood, cleared his throat, and pushed his glasses up his nose. "The first order of business is to elect a new slate of officers for the Akashi Foundation…"
As the meeting dispersed, the Kiseki no Sedai congratulated each other on their latest victory. "We'll meet downstairs and head to the restaurant to join the others, "Akashi told them, as he stayed back.
His father sat in his over-sized chair, staring out into the early afternoon sky. In the distance, he could see the Tokyo Tower, but his eyes were focused on his son's reflection in the window. Akashi approached, hands casually in his pockets.
"I have to admit, that was very clever, Seijūrō. I would say I was proud of you, but I'm too nauseated by my failure to anticipate this coup."
"You've never known me, father, and no matter how you tried to mold me, you failed to see that the tighter you closed your fist, the more you lost your hold on me. You could have never seen this coming - it was something I had to learn on my own."
"How did you manage the transfer? I know the names of every one of our stockholders, from your paramour with a single stock, all the way up to the very top."
"I trusted my friends, giving them the money for the stock and asking them to find intermediaries they trusted to purchase the stock for them. I didn't even know their identities until today."
"So many pieces had to fall into place, you couldn't have calculated them all," he said.
"I didn't have to; all I needed was to have faith in the people who are my friends."
"I'm surprised you voted to retain me as CEO."
"You're competent and there's no reason to destroy the Foundation to punish you."
"Punish me? You mean like I'll do to Furihata's family now?" he smirked, turning back to the table and toward Akashi.
"There in the States, father, far away from you and protected. You're impotent now, a viper with no teeth."
"So, you give my company over to men who know nothing about our business?"
"They are all successful in their own fields, and we voted to retain the Board of Directors as well. So the only thing that changed is that you now answer to me." Akashi tossed something small and wooden on the table. It bounced end to end, and settled a few centimeters from his father's hand.
"Shogi? I taught you too well, I suppose. It is my fault, but I'm not too old to start again. I'll take a mistress and have more children — loyal ones this time."
"That of course is your right, but I'll be taking mother back to the States with me. You can help me on that or fight me, but I think it would be easier altogether if you turn custody over to me."
"You want that useless bitch, you can have her. I'll have her passport and papers to you by the end of the day."
"But look closer, father, that isn't a Shogi piece."
He picked up the object and turned it over in his hand, his brow drawn down in confusion. "I don't know what it is."
"You don't recognize the only surviving piece of the Stradivarius you broke over my back?" Akashi asked heading toward the door. "That was the day I began planning my escape, father, and it is the reason you lost."