Umm, I am sorry it takes this long. Some things go wrong in client's side and suddenly I have to draw more illustration that agreed. But it is mostly done now, just some revision left. So, I hope that I can update regularly again from now on (at least once in 2 weeks, cross my fingers).

Anyway, next chapter will be the last one in this story. It will be about Asami, Aki, the kids, and a short part about Emi's fate. And yes, there will be lemon. There will also be an epilogue, which is a prologue to the sequel : Against The Wall (If I don't change my mind in the last minute).

I really really thank you for your patience. Really. Like really, I meant it.

Enjoy!

Chapter 16. No Good Deed Goes Unpunished

Part 1. A Murderer

"Akiiii-chaaan, are you ready to go?" Goro's terrible voice raised the soft hair behind Takumi's neck.

There is a loud screeching from a heavy door being unlocked and not long after, streams of light come into the dark storage. Takumi throws a glance at Akihito, who by now has become a sort of leader among their small gang, yet Akihito focuses his gaze at the door.

The young photographer stands defiantly in the middle of the room instead of sitting somewhere on the floor like the rest of them. Takumi remembers reading a random article before, stating that leaving a prisoner without anything to sit on but the floor is a way to break the prisoner's mental strength. It is meant to teach the prisoner who is in in charge. It is not easy to stand up from a sitting position on the floor and it makes the person who stands in front of you looks bigger and mightier. Takumi doesn't know whether Akihito is now standing to avoid that effect or not, but quickly he follows to stand.

Goro strides arrogantly into the storage room and Takumi fights the urge to crawl back to his corner. There is a sinister air around the stupid loon, something dark and evil that makes Takumi cringing in fear and gives him goose bumps. It is a completely different fear than when he stands in front of Asami Ryuichi. He can't explicitly explain what the difference is, but Goro scares him in a way that no one else did.

Goro holds something in his arms. A baby. And the baby sobs wearily in Goro's arms as if the poor little thing has screamed until he has no energy left and can't do anything more than making soft protests. Takumi can only stare at the baby. Whose baby is that? Why is the baby here? Emi didn't say anything about-

"You better give me that kid now or Asami Ryuichi will hunt you down to the end of the world and tear you to pieces," Akihito ordered calmly, but Takumi can see that Akihito's hand is trembling. Apparently, Akihito can still feel fear.

Wait. Why will Asami Ryuichi give a fuck about a baby-

Shit. Shit. So, the rumor is true. This must be Asami's son that some of the guards had been whispering about. Takumi overheard that Asami had secretly raised his future heir but he had never believed it. He can't imagine the rough and cruel man holding any child. But guessing from Akihito's threat, it is obvious that the kid must be Asami's.

"Owww, don't worry, Aki-chan. Asami Ryuichiis not here and he won't know anything about this. Surely what he doesn't know won't hurt him," Goro cooed mockingly while raising the mouth of his gun to the baby's head, brushing it slowly against the small pink lips. The poor kid must be hungry because he instinctively sucks the cold metal, not knowing that the damn thing can end his life so easily.

"Tsk tsk, look at him," Goro sneered. "The young master must be very hungry. He needs some tits to feed him. Why don't we ask Aki-chan to feed you, hmm?"

Not too gently, Goro pushed his gun harder into the baby's mouth. Akihito's back stiffened at the silent threat and the photographer's hands turned into fists. But Akihito doesn't say anything.

Despite his own pain and fear, Takumi found himself moving towards Akihito. No matter how much Takumi hates Asami Ryuichi, he has never had any intention to hurt a baby. No child should pay for his or her parent's mistake. This baby is innocent.

Akihito is innocent, too, a small voice at the back of his brain reminded him. But a few hours ago, you wanted him to die just to spite Asami.

Shaking his head slowly to clear his mind, Takumi feels a nauseous wave of guilt and regret. Everything is just wrong. True, he wished to hurt Asami. He wanted to make Asami pay for all his misery. But not like this. If Takumi killed innocent people to get his revenge on Asami, what would that make him? Doesn't that mean that he is no better than Asami?

Ignoring the throbbing pain in his stomach, Takumi stands tall besides Akihito. He can feel rather than see when Akihito's shoulder relaxes a bit in gratitude for his silent support even though Akihito keeps his eyes on the baby.

"Now, now, Takumi-kun, I hope you enjoy your new accommodation?" Goro turned his attention to him. Takumi frowned but stayed silent. "I am sorry but I don't have appetite for someone your size. You are too…big, too much muscles for my taste. I prefer the...petite ones," the big man paused before smiling hungrily at Akihito, his eyes blazing with pure lust. Goro's oil stained hand absently stroked the baby's cheek in a flirtatious gesture as he continued, "...like Asami's favorite boy."

What a incorrigible bastard!

Before Takumi could snap at the loon's brash behaviour, however, he heard a shock muffled gasp behind them. It was most probably Arata, considering that the other two people behind him are practically unconscious. Takumi doesn't dare to turn around to make sure, though. His basic instinct forbids him from showing his back to Goro.

"Strip," Goro commanded Akihito with a victorious grin in his ugly face. "Give us all a show, Aki-chan."

Shit.

"No, no, no, no," Arata chanted the single word silently as if it would make any difference.

Fucking shit. Inside his head, Takumi thinks about tackling Goro to the ground. He is strong enough to do that. Goro is big, but Takumi is not small either. The only thing that stops him from doing so is the fear that Goro will pull the trigger and kill the baby right there. There is not much they can do as long as Goro has the baby in his arms.

Akihito says nothing, only staring at the baby so intensely. The young photographer's grim expression squeezes Takumi's heart. This is all his mistake. How he wished to stop all of this nonsense.

But it is too late.

Slowly, so very slowly, Akihito takes his leather jacket off. Then, closing his eyes in shame, cheeks burning red as if on fire, the photographer yanks his shirt off, throwing it aside and showing vast creamy skin. Being a painter, Takumi has seen a lot of models with pretty skin. Yet, Akihito's skin looks as smooth as a silk and more beautiful than any that Takumi has ever seen in his life. Akihito's body is lean and slim with just the right amount of muscle in every perfect place. Akihito doesn't look feminine, but there will be no other word to describe his body other than beautiful. If they were not in this ill situation, Takumi would like to sit and make sketches of Akihito all he wants.

When Akihito's fingers reach the waistband of his pants, Takumi can't stand it anymore. Lunging forward with all his might, he grabs Akihito's wrist to stop the young man.

"You don't have to do this," Takumi whispered. His voice was almost quiet, not because he didn't want anyone to hear it. With how silent the entire room is, everyone will be able to hear whatever he says perfectly. Takumi just can't find the strength to raise his voice towards Akihito right now. He understands why Akihito is doing this. He knows there is no other way. But he still can't accept that Akihito has to be humiliated to save the baby. No one deserves this. Not even Asami's lover.

Akihito didn't have to reply, though. The sound of Goro clicking the gun safety off was an answer already.

"Please," Takumi finally begged Goro in desperation. "Please, they don't do anything wrong to you." Tears started to stream down his cheeks and his body shook violently. Takumi had never felt so powerless. Even when his father told him that their family had gone bankrupt, he knew that he could still help his family by selling his body to Asami Ryuichi. He didn't lose hope. Now, he doesn't know what to do to fix everything. Worse, he had helped to orchestrate this pointless torture.

"Please," he cried shamelessly. Guilt and frustration filled every fibre in his body. "Please!"

"Stand back, Takumi-kun," Goro ordered lazily, knowing that as long as he has the baby, no one can do anything against him. "Be a good boy. Sit nicely with the others and enjoy Aki-chan's show, ok?"

A hand squeezes his shoulder gently. Akihito's. Takumi looks over his shoulder to find the young man smiling sadly.

"It is okay, Takumi-san," Akihito said. "Please do what he say."

Numbly, Takumi walks towards the now sobbing Arata, cursing himself all the way. What evil has he done? God, how much he wants to turn back time and end this nightmare before it even started.

Akihito is finally naked. Goro paced around the young man like a starving wolf looking at a bloody raw meat, humming approvingly every now and then at Akihito's body. Instead of shying away, Akihito stares back at Goro defiantly. Akihito's stubbornness seems to annoy Goro and the big man suddenly grabs Akihito's ball roughly, pulling it without any care and making Akihito grunt in pain.

"Face to the front," Goro barked to Akihito. "Do anything stupid and this cute kid's brain will be all over the floor."

Standing behind Akihito, Goro licks all over Akihito's body, from the line of his jaw to his neck. Then, without any warning, Goro bits hard into Akihito's shoulder. It is not a playful bite meant for foreplay but one that leaves a trail of blood on Akihito's back. Smiling eerily, Goro's tongue reaches out to taste Akihito's blood. Akihito obviously tried to swallow his scream, but when Goro drills his filthy finger into the open wound, the photographer starts to sob, fisting his hands so tightly while keeping his face to look to the front.

Then more bites, and slices, and kicks, and hits come.

And through all that, Takumi forces himself to see. Even when he can only freeze there, shaking like an infant, as ready to piss himself in his pants as a child would be, watching the prideful young man unwillingly submit to Goro's darkest desire, Takumi watches it all in regret. He can't close his eyes now just because he is afraid. Not when he is the cause of all of this.

Beside him, Arata curls into a tight ball, closing his eyes while holding his sister. The poor guy rocks his body slowly as if in a trance, humming a children's song that Takumi had heard but isn't familiar with.

It may not be more than ten minutes until Goro purrs in ecstasy, drown in his pleasure playing and hurting Akihito's body. But for Takumi, it feels like hours. Every time Akihito growled in pain, every time Goro had his wicked way on Akihito's body, Takumi gritted his teeth as he prayed silently for Goro's death.

Akihito already has dark bruises and fresh wounds all over his body but Goro doesn't seem to care at all. Instead, the sight of Akihito's injuries seems to excite the bulky man even more. Soon, Goro licks his bottom lips quickly as if he can taste Akihito's flavor on his tongue already.

"Kneel," Goro snarled, panting like a dog in heat. "Open your mouth wide, put your tongue out." Madness fills Goro's eyes and it scared Takumi.

Takumi can only stared dumbfounded at how painful it seems for Akihito to kneel. In such a short time, Goro has hurt Akihito so many times. Whenever Goro felt that Akihito's 'service' was too slow, too fast, too hesitant, too willing, the young photographer would receive another blow, another kick and another slap. There was no pattern of what Goro wanted. Perhaps, the bulky man just wanted to make Akihito scream in pain. But no matter how hard Goro hit, Akihito took it without anything louder than a sob.

Losing himself in his monstrous lust, Goro grabs Akihito's hair with the hand that carries the gun. Goro's fingers only loosely grip the gun as the man thrusting his thick cock forcefully into Akihito's throat. Goro's other hand still holds Nao but his eyes flutter close. Takumi considers the idea of creeping around and seizing Goro from behind now that Goro doesn't pay much attention to his surrounding anymore. If Takumi does it quietly, he can move closer-

A shout stopped his thought.

Everything happened in a single breath. One moment, Akihito was kneeling in front of Goro, opening his mouth wide, resting both his hands on Goro's thighs and taking all he can. Then suddenly, Goro howled and roared in pain.

Goro's muscular arm instinctively lashes out to push the photographer away. His other hand clutches his groin painfully. But Akihito has bend his upper body low to avoid the blow. The young man doesn't even bother to swipe the blood from the corner of his mouth as he grabs Goro's glock from Goro's weakened grip and catches the baby that Goro dropped.

Imagining the pain that Goro experiences, Takumi instinctively winces. He feels no sympathy towards the sicko, but no man can stand the sight of another man's dick being bitten without at least flinching, knowing how bad it must feel to experience such thing.

The baby safe in one arm, Akihito points the gun at Goro. Without taking his eyes from Goro, Akihito said, "I saw a rope over there, Takumi-san. Can you take it to bind this guy?"

Before Takumi can move, though, Goro leaps toward Akihito. Screaming his pain and anger, the bulky man tries to grab the baby back. As if in a slow motion, Akihito raises the gun toward the crazy man. The gunshot was loud and clear, as deafening as the silent that follows. The heavy smell of sulphur is thick in the air. Blood was everywhere, splattering on the floor, on Akihito, and on the now screaming baby.

A few days later, when visiting him in the hospital, Asami will tell Takumi that it was a clean shot, right through the forehead. There will be a hint of proud in Asami's voice. But there will also be sorrow, as if the crime lord would do anything he could to undo what was done.

Right at that moment, however, Takumi can only freeze at the sight in front of him. Akihito holds the baby close to his chest, covering the poor little thing as much as he can, most probably from blood. Or maybe from the reality of life. Takumi can't be sure. Goro's body lies in front of the young man, the damaged head facing away towards the wall. The eyes that stares from those broken skull are devoid of soul. Takumi can't stop himself from looking at the disgusting fluid that-

"Please help Kou, Takumi-san," Akihito voice snapped Takumi out of his thought. Raising his head towards Akihito, Takumi realized that the young man has walked towards the equally shock Arata.

Akihito grabs Arata's arm to pull him up. "Come on, Arata. Bring Mariko. We need to move. We don't know how many people Emi has."

Surprising everyone, Arata quickly pushes Akihito away. While holding his sister tightly, he frantically crawls further away from Akihito, screaming all the way. "You…..who are you? You are not Akihito! You killed that guy! You killed him! Get away from me! Murderer! MURDERER!"

Arata is in shock, which makes him unstable. That much is obvious. Takumi can't really blame Arata. But Akihito is right. They don't have time to comfort an emotionally wounded man at the moment. Arata can have full therapy sessions and whatever fucking thing that the man needs to sooth his fuckingly fragile feeling later. For now, Arata needs to get a hold of himself.

Besides, it was self defense, damnit! If Takumi had the chance, no doubt he would also kill the man. Just because that monster hadn't had time to penetrated Akihito didn't mean that it was not rape! Geez, Goro had even tortured that woman in Arata's arms! Shooting him in the head was too kind! In frustration, Takumi moves forward and shakes Arata roughly. His grip on Arata's shoulders will leave bruises tomorrow but he doesn't care.

"Get a grip, man! That guy hurt YOUR sister! He will leave us here to die! Akihito just saved us and you better shut your fucking mouth and help us or we can fucking leave you here to die. The choice is yours but do it quickly!"

His shouting seems to calm Arata down. At least, the guy doesn't shout nonsense anymore.

But the damage was done. When Takumi turns around towards Akihito, the young man is standing so still, staring down at the blood on his own hand that carries the gun. Takumi squeezes Akihito's arm and pushes Akihito gently towards the door. There will be time for regret, but not now.

"Go ahead. I will get your friend and catch up with you soon." When Akihito doesn't move, he added, "You do the right thing, Takaba-san. You saved that baby. You saved us all. Now, get that baby out of here. This place isn't good for him."

It was only when he mentioned the baby that Akihito finally nodded. Thank god. He hopes Akihito can stay strong until they reach somewhere safe. Taking Kou on his back, Takumi walks quickly, passing the absentminded Akihito and leading them all out of there. He only glances back once to make sure that Akihito, Arata and Mariko are behind him.

They are just a few meters outside the building when a few black sedans enter the abandoned industrial complex. One of the cars, a sleek black BMW, is very familiar to Takumi. He knows the license number by heart and can recite it in his sleep.

Asami Ryuichi.

It doesn't matter how; Asami has found them. Takumi almost cries all over again in his relief. He doesn't think he can drag all of them out of there for long, not with Akihito being upset, Arata being shaken to the core, and two injured unconscious adults. Even now, he practically drags Akihito to move while bringing Kou's full weight on his back.

Asami is out of the car before the vehicle even parks properly. In just a few seconds, the crime lord has his arms around Akihito and the baby. It is only after Asami gets to him that Akihito has his breakdown. Tears stream down his cheeks and he cries his heart out on Asami's chest.

As Takumi observes the reunion in front of him, he notices a mixture of fear, relief, anger and hundreds of other emotions flashing in Asami's usually emotionless face. It is subtle, but it is still there. And for the first time since Takumi met Asami, the powerful man looks…human.

The thought feels weird to Takumi. Before he can contemplate on it, however, giddiness caught him unaware. The last thing he remembers before he falls into unconsciousness is Asami's deep voice, shouting continuous orders to his men as the powerful man catches Takumi before he hits the ground.

Part 2. A Charity

"It is nice of you to visit," Takumi commented as Asami sat in a chair near the hospital bed. "I don't expect it."

Without a word, the crime lord reaches towards his pocket and pulls a cigarette out with his mouth. As usual, Kirishima readily lights the cigarette before putting an ashtray on the side table near them. Where the secretary hides that ashtray up until then, Takumi has no idea. Maybe Kirishima always has one ready in his pocket.

"This is a hospital, you know. You can't smoke in here," Takumi reminded dryly.

The reply was short, "This is my hospital." Which means, the man can do whatever he wants here.

Takumi snorts at the arrogant answer. Such an expected behaviour from Asami Ryuichi. But Takumi doesn't bother to speak up his mind. It doesn't matter. Just like this hospital, he belongs to this man. And just like this hospital's rules don't affect this man, Takumi's thoughts will not affect Asami Ryuichi as well.

Maybe dying in that shitty storage room is better than living a life as a slave like this.

"How's Takaba-san and the baby?" Takumi asked Asami to distract himself from his miserable thoughts.

There was no reply for a while. Then Asami answered calmly, "As good as can be expected."

It is obvious that the man doesn't want to impart any detailed information about his lover. And it is understandable, too. Asami almost lost his young lover and son just a few days a go. The powerful man won't trust other people with anything about his lover and son anytime soon, if not ever, fearing for their safety.

"…umm, Goro…?"

"Dead, obviously. It was a clean shot, right through the forehead," Asami replied.

He doesn't know what to say to that, so he stays quiet, waiting for Asami to start the conversation.

"So…you helped her," Asami said casually while tapping his cigarette onto the ashtray.

Slowly, Takumi closes his eyes. So this is the real reason why Asami comes to visit him. After two peaceful days in the hospital, he almost forgets that he did the unforgivable by helping Emi to kidnap Akihito. And Asami's heir, he added silently. The fact that Takumi didn't know anything about the baby won't matter to Asami. Shit. There is no way Asami will let him live now.

Knowing there is no point in throwing excuses to Asami, Takumi simply replied, "Do you still need me to explain the reason to you? I thought it is obvious."

For a while, no one says anything. Keeping his eyes closed, Takumi can hear other noises more clearly. Outside, children are laughing and screaming in their innocent excitement. The nurses' shoes make constant noise as they walks down the hall. It is so peaceful that for a short moment, he can pretend that everything will be okay.

Then, Asami exhales the toxic smoke and the smell reminded Takumi of the fact that his life may end soon. He wishes he could see his family one last time. But he knows it is a vain hope.

"I hate you," he whispered.

"I know," Asami answered easily.

He opens his eyes to look at the man before him with hatred. "Yet, you don't care, do you?"

A bored sigh. "No, I don't care what you or other people think or feel about me. It is a waste of time. I do what I want to do."

"You didn't have to rape me! Yet, you still did it!" The accusation was out before Takumi could stop it. It made him blushing furiously when he realized that he just shout everything in front of Kirishima. To Kirishima's credit, the secretary remains cool despite the embarrassing topic. Well, after years working for Asami, Kirishima must have been in a much more awkward situation than listening to his boss's whore calling rape in front of him.

Asami, in the other hand, raised an eyebrow in amusement before answering, "Did I? I remember asking whether you wanted an out. You refused my offer."

Takumi opened his mouth to deny that simple statement, but he knows it is true. He did refuse when Asami offered to cancel the whole arrangement.

"I….I didn't…."

"You didn't….what?" Asami asked with a slow smile hanging in his lips, tilting his head lazily as if he knows the answer already.

"I didn't want it!" Takumi finished loudly. But I still did it for my family, he thought grimly. For our company's employees. Speaking of which, what happens to all of them? I am too busy being depressed and hiding myself in my apartment to make any contact to the outside world.

"Well, I didn't tie you to my bed nor did I beat you to make you spreading your legs for me. It is all business, Takumi. You wanted money and I wanted a warm hole to satisfy my…need. If you pushed me away or even asked to cancel our deal, I would have stopped. And for your information, I was gentle with you, which I don't usually do, but the first time always hurts," Asami sneered at him annoyingly.

Angry yet unable to deny that fact, Takumi glares at the crime lord. Ignoring his fury, Asami merely continued, "I told you, there are always choices, Takumi."

"But my family needs the money! If I didn't do what I did, you wouldn't give us the money!"

The crime lord snorted amusedly. "Of course, I wouldn't. I don't do charity."

"Then what did you expect me to do, Asami? Let my father declare bankruptcy and fire hundreds of our employees?! Watch my family being drowned in poverty?"

Without even blinking an eye, Asami asked evenly, "Why not?"

"I couldn't do that! It is selfish! It-"

"Indeed, it is selfish. So, what? Everyone is selfish. Is any of your families or your family's employees here now to help you when you need them?"

Speechless, Takumi opens his mouth just to close it again. He doesn't have an answer to that. Asami doesn't say anything else as the man lets the thoughts sinking into Takumi's now troubled mind.

Finally, after a few minutes of silence, Takumi asked softly, "Why do you tell me all this?"

Asami must have given Kirishima a signal because the secretary readily places a document holder in Takumi's lap. Feeling curious, Takumi looks into the map. It is full of report, photos, and some newspaper articles. He quickly scans one of the papers, wanting to know what this is all about.

The content makes him gasp in shock. Apparently, the map contains full documentation of him and his family: their background and history, financial situation, family tree, everything. Flipping through, he sees his health report, his photos from right before he was sold to Asami, and a copy of a receipt. There is a huge amount of money written in the receipt. Takumi swallows in bitterness when he realizes that it is the price Asami paid to his family for Takumi's body.

And it is a really, really, really huge amount of money. It should pay all his family debt at once.

Dread fills his stomach at the understanding of what this all means. If his family debt was paid, where did all the money that he sent to his family every month go to? His hands tremble in fear and anger when he continues to scan through the report, all the way to the latest one that is dated just months ago.

"You know, among all those boys and girls that I bought, you are my favourite," Asami said casually while tapping his cigarette into the edge of the ashtray.

Takumi just laughed sourly, tears already streamed down his cheeks. He tried desperately to stop it, but it was a losing battle so he just let it go. So what if Asami see him crying? There will be nothing more embarrassing that the fact that he currently holds in his hand.

"Yeah, right. I thought it is Emi," he answered grimly. His voice trembled from emotion.

Asami's handsome face turned into a slight frown when the man heard Emi's name. But when Asami finally replied, his tone was cool without a hint of emotion, which actually was even more terrifying. "Hmm, she was indeed the most similar one physically. But you are the one with similar spirit. I love that fire in your eyes."

Takumi didn't miss the fact that Asami talked about Emi in past tense. It scared him to the core. But wisely, he kept his thought to himself.

"However, soon after you join my collection, I noticed that the fire in you was slowly dying. At that moment, more than my desire to keep you close, I wanted to keep that fire alive. So, I thought of returning you to your family, hoping that it would help you somehow," Asami continued calmly, staring into Takumi's eyes with such intensity that made Takumi shivering.

"It was then that I found the truth about your family. Indeed, your family business had some financial problem. But I had checked your family background and I knew for sure that the money I gave to your father should be enough to pay his debt. Apparently, I was wrong. Your father had a lover, a hostess. And this girl was the source of his debt, seducing him to buy all the things that he couldn't afford. Your dad sold not only you, but also your younger sister. He beat your mother until she was almost dead before leaving her. Even if I returned you to him, he would just sell you again to someone else, someone who might not think twice to hurt you until you died bleeding."

Shaking his head in denial, Takumi cries violently. All his emotion is spiralling wild. His entire body shakes in sorrow. He wants to refuse everything that Asami told him, but the proof is there in his hands. There is even a newspaper article writing about their company bankruptcy, the same company that he had tried to save by selling his body to Asami.

The last article wrote in detail about his father's suicide. The title, "CEO of Hayashi Construction Group Death Ruled Suicide" feels like a mockery for Takumi. His father was found dead in a shady motel's room, according to the article, after slicing his own wrist. A staff found him a few days after his death when she smelled something rotten from inside the room. The old man died alone without anyone to even look after his dead body. What a sad death. Had guilt driven his father to suicide? If it had, Takumi will never know.

His grief quickly turns into fury. A lonely and pitiful death is not enough to pay what his father had done to him, to his mother and sister. It seems unfair to him that the reason for their misery was dead without any judgement and punishment. He wants someone to blame and that someone was gone before he can do anything. Screaming his frustration in despair, he leans into Asami's chest, grabbing the soft wool of Asami's dark grey suit in a desperate grip.

To Takumi's surprise, Asami lets him weep without saying anything else. Asami pulls him into his strong embrace and Takumi rests his head on that broad chest without a fight. For once, Asami's arms feel safe. This man is the only anchor he has in his messy life, the only person that is strong enough to keep everything in order. Closing his eyes and screaming his heart out, he lets Asami's masculine scent comforts him.

When his cry finally morphs into unstoppable hiccups, Asami slowly passes him a glass full of warm water. He takes it gratefully and sips it slowly, savouring the feeling of being taken care of.

"My…my sister and mother, do you know where they are? Are…are they…are they-"

Still holding him, Asami rubs Takumi's back carefully, soothing his worry away without a word. The gentle treatment is unexpected. It confuses Takumi, but he welcomes it. Asami's kindness feels good for his wounded heart.

"They are alive. I managed to track down your sister and took her from the man who bought her. That man had abused your sister and she is a bit fragile mentally right now. But other than that, they are well. They live in a house in the suburb. Haruka keeps in contact with them, making sure they have everything that they need. I was just about to tell you but then Akihito run away. And with all that happened, it just slipped from my mind."

Asami's answer shocks him. He doesn't expect Asami to go that far for him. He definitely doesn't think that Asami will try to find his family, moreover to protect and provide for them. And for what purpose? He is nothing but a slave to this man.

The sound of a door being closed almost quietly made him realised that Kirishima had long left the room to give them some privacy. Looking up, he stares at Asami, wondering what is in Asami's mind.

"…why, Asami?" he asked after a long silence.

Instead of answering, Asami kisses the top of his head and releases him. Uncertain hazel eyes meet stoic amber ones.

"You said, you didn't do charity," he teased Asami with an unsure smile.

Asami cleared his throat uncomfortably. "And I still don't. Charity is nothing but a method for rich people to avoid taxes."

The slight awkwardness made Asami looks human. But since he saw Asami with Akihito, the crime lord doesn't look as menacing as before. Perhaps, without meaning to, Takumi has build a mental image of Asami in his head as the devil who took away all his happiness while in fact Asami wasn't the one at fault. Well, at least, not the main one, he added silently. It is easier to forgive when Asami looks more human.

Feeling comfortable, he feigned ignorance and asked, "Oh, I thought that's what you do? You know, avoiding taxes, kidnapping people, ruling the world and all?"

That roused a chuckle from Asami. With a sly smile, Asami answered, "Ruling the world is overrated."

"Says the person who rules the world," he snickered before pushing gently, "So…if this is not charity, then what is all this kindness for?"

The man cups his cheek and unconsciously he leans into the touch, nuzzling Asami's palm softly, for the first time enjoying the strength that prevents him from falling apart.

"You have talent, Takumi. I can see it in you. You are strong and brave and smart. You will grow into an amazing man given the chance," the crime lord paused. "And this is your chance."

That didn't really answer his question. Instead, it sounded more like a goodbye. He understood then. Asami wants to cut all ties with him. All of this is a compensation for his trouble; a blood money. Well, he doesn't know what happened between Asami and Akihito. But for sure a man like Akihito won't stay if Asami keeps mistresses. The idea that Akihito somehow manages to keep the crime lord on a tight leash amused him and before he can stop it, he giggles.

Asami looked at him sourly as if knowing that Takumi was laughing at him. Trying to control his amusement, he asked, "When can I leave?"

"When the doctor says that you are good to go. I have set a fund for you. You will have more than enough money to continue your school, support your sister and mother, and live luxuriously. The house they live in now is under your name already. It is yours and you can do anything you want with it. You also don't have to worry about your sister's medication. It will be taken care of," Asami explained.

That is a very generous offer. But his pride gets the better of him so he quickly said, "I don't need all the money. It is enough that you have saved my mother and sister. Some day, I will pay you back for all of your trouble."

Asami merely dismissed his refusal. "It is not a shameful thing to accept help when you need to protect your loved ones. There are things in this world that you need to protect with all you have, Takumi, just like there are also things that don't worth your sacrifices."

He looked at Asami stubbornly for a long while before finally shaking his head in defeat. Indeed, Asami's offer will help him and his family a lot. "You don't have to spend so much money just to ask me to stay away from you. You know I will do it happily. This much of help can already be categorised as charity and you won't get any tax deduction from it," he mocked good-naturedly. His smile softened his sharp words. Even after all the sex that they had, he can never see Asami as his lover, neither can he loves Asami the way Akihito does. But at least, they can part as friends.

Asami laughed at his witty remark. "Well, there is always a first time of everything. Besides, I do expect something out of this, so this is not exactly a selfless good deed. Don't waste my money. Be a famous oil painter and make me proud."

"I will invite you and Akihito to all my exhibitions. Don't worry, I won't tell him your dirty secret. I will bring it to my grave," He cocked his head with a big teasing grin in his face.

Standing up to leave, Asami fixes his crumpled suit. Wet spots darken the fabric where Takumi cried but the crime lord doesn't look like he cares. "Oh, you don't have any idea about how dirty my secrets can be, Takumi. Otherwise, I won't let you go alive," Asami pointed evenly.

Takumi meant his own words as nothing but a teasing, referring to himself as Asami's 'dirty secret'. But hearing Asami's reply, he wonders how many more dirty secrets Asami has kept from Akihito and how the powerful man can stay sane with so many things he has to hide from his lover to keep Akihito's 'innocence'.

For years after that, Takumi keeps his promise. He sends invitations for Asami and Akihito every time he has an exhibition, sending it to Sion Group office. And each time, no matter how long he waits, neither Asami nor Akihito shows up. Obviously Asami doesn't want to expose Akihito to his darker side. Even if Takumi's relationship with Asami had ended relatively well, it was still a sort of slavery. Takumi knows that he and Emi were not the only ones in Asami's collection. They were just the only ones at that time because Asami had gifted most of his whores to other people or had them killed when he felt that they became too troublesome. It doesn't matter if the man had showered his slaves with gifts and money. It didn't erase the fact that Asami bought them with money and used them as he wished, sometimes against their consent; something that an honest man like Akihito will never approve.

But he does owe a lot to Asami. Hell, he owe the man not only his life, but also his mother's and sister's. He won't be able to pay it back even in several lifetimes. And he doesn't want to disturb Akihito with unnecessary words, even if those words are the truth. He quite likes Akihito. It is rare to find a good guys like Akihito nowadays and he truly wishes the two of them happiness.

So, taking his cue, Takumi just stays quietly away from Akihito's life as Asami wants. At least, he tries to do that until Akihito appears with a pale face and trembling hands in one of his exhibition years later, asking with tears in his eyes whether anything the media said is true. But it is a story for another time. A story about Asami having his back against the wall for the first time in his godlike life.