Asami lounged in his leather chair opposite Sudou and the DJ, Koga.
He didn't really need Koga to come in for this meeting, it was only to discuss a more permanent playing schedule with the young DJ. But Asami wanted to take the opportunity to question him about Midnight Kid since he was the one that picked him up on Saturday night. Asami didn't particularly mind who played as long as it brought revenue, but Midnight Kid had escaped him, and no one escaped Asami Ryuichi, so he was determined to get his hands on the elusive DJ.
Asami was finding himself quickly irked as the black haired party boy sidestepped all the questions with a laugh, he seemed to find any mention of Midnight Kid inherently amusing for some reason, but no matter how much Asami pressed or how much money he offered, he just laughed and ignored him. The yakuza wanted nothing more then to shoot the cheeky prick, but decided it was not in his best interest to do so.
Koga reminded him so much of Akihito that you would think they were siblings, same body size and skin color as well as the same choppy hair style, albeit his was black. He had the same cheeky twinkle in his eye that spoke of endless charisma and the mouth to match. He knew well and truly whom Asami Ryuichi was and didn't seem to give two shits about it. The only real difference was that Koga didn't seem as innocent. He had a good head on him and didn't get flustered or lose his cool. It was refreshing and annoying all at the same time. Asami wondered where on earth people like that came from.
The meeting had drawn to a close, he was heading out the office at the same time as the model and the DJ, expecting Akihito any minute now by reports on his movements.
Sure enough he heard Sudou sneer a remark at Akihito who had just shown up at the door to Asami's office.
Akihito pouted his delicious little mouth in a reply as his emotions went from pissed, to surprised then blank, back to indignant again.
What had that been about?
"Takaba Akihito, is that you?!" Koga exclaimed.
Now that was a surprise.
Akihito's mind went absolutely blank, what the fuck was Koga doing? His cover wasn't blown so what was he playing at, even Sudou seemed taken aback. This must be another one of Koga's sick jokes, and Akihito knew he had to play along. Before he could answer, Koga swept forward and initiated their little play fight sequence they had always done since high school. It was instinctual between the two of them. Koga took Akihito's head under his arm and began to give him a noogie at the same time that Akihito play punched him in the gut.
Akihito's heart was threatening to explode in his chest, but despite that he found himself laughing with Koga as they pulled apart.
"It's been so long since I have seen you Akihito, what have you been doing with yourself?" Oh yes the bastard was having way too much fun with this.
"You two know each other?" Asami asked coolly, everyone had missed his jaw clench at the show of affection the young men had shown for each other. Akihito knew he had to be quiet, as he didn't know the game Koga was playing yet, so he waited for Koga to answer.
"Yeah, Akihito and I used to be inseparable, we used to get up to some serious mischief in high school, stealing cars, street fights, joy riding, you name it and Akihito was always the first to volunteer. Haha." Oh, Akihito was going to fucking kill Koga when they were alone.
"Hey! I was never that bad! You were the one who broke into that Diet members house that time and stole his car!" Akihito had to defend himself somehow.
"And who was instigator, you were always pushing me into doing the naughty things Aki, you were such a bad influence." Koga's eyes were sparkling with so much mirth you would think glitter would fall off his smug fucking face any second now. Akihito had had enough.
"Oh shut up mister big shot DJ! Go buy another fancy car."
"Me? A big shot DJ, I don't know what you're talking about." Koga said with faked innocence.
Even Sudou was doing his best not to laugh now, watching Akihito in this predicament was fun for everyone but him.
Asami seemed to find the little bit of information Koga shared quite amusing and his mouth curled in that stupid trademark smirk of his.
"Argh, whatever, I forgot what I came here for. I'm leaving, see you at home, Asami." Akihito stormed down back down the stairs with Koga hot on his tail.
"Wait uuuup Aki kuuuun! I wanna catch up!" the mockery was plain in his voice now, and even Sudou found himself racing to catch up, because he was going to burst out laughing any second now and Asami would find it strange.
Thus Asami was left standing perplexed at the doorway of his office. He was unsure what he was most surprised at, the fact that Akihito clearly seemed to be good friends with Japan's most popular DJ, or the notion that his Akihito was a bad influence on people.
What a strange afternoon it had been.
"Koga. What- the- fuck?" Akihito spat out as soon as they got out the front entrance of Sion.
"Haha oh, sorry, the opportunity was just too damn golden! Ah, worth every second of it, even if that rich bastard shoots me! Oh, Akihito you should see your face… Haha."
"You bastard, you really must have a death wish to pull that shit in front of Asami. So…. what was that about?" Takaba was curious now.
"Oh don't worry, he did ask about Midnight Kid a lot, but I didn't let anything slip. We just sorted some more dates for me to play, though it was obvious he just wanted to question me about you. I can't believe you live with that guy, I heard what he was like, but shit man. He would make you want to shit your pants on a good day"
"Aha yeah. I didn't have much of a choice about that, but it's not so bad now ya know." The blonde scratched his head shyly, any talk about his relationship with Asami he always found awkward.
"Anyway, there was a method to my madness, I am a mastermind after all. At least now if Asami knows we know each other, we can catch up without you having to sneak away from his men all the time. It will make things a lot easier, the last time I saw you was too long ago man! We need to go ooout!" Koga shook Akihito's shoulder for emphasis.
"Hey, mind if I tag along too?" Sudou approached from behind them with amusement on his face.
"Sudou…. Why are you helping me?" Akihito asked flatly with eyebrows quirked.
"I just want to help protect the legend of Midnight Kid, it's a club managers dream to say they have met him. So exciting to be involved with something like that! Who would have thought it would be you of all people."
"Ugh, you're both mad. I don't even know why I bother." Despite having nearly completely losing the plot from his emotions running rampant, Akihito was happy he still had his little secret to keep from Asami, even if his sadistic adrenaline junkie friend and the once spiteful but now seemingly friendly model were in on it too.
And so after a month Akihito had played twice as Midnight Kid in a couple of clubs in Tokyo, Koga, having arranged it both times.
The first time he managed to slip into the toilets and came out dressed as Takaba Akihito the photographer before Asami's men found Midnight Kid. It was nearly flawless and the rush from it left him giggling like a helpless girl as he made his way home to a frustrated Asami, who had yet again missed his quarry.
The second time was a close one, and Akihito had been so nervous of being caught he thought he was going to throw up.
Luckily, Sudou had been on hand at the same club that night with some information that Asami's men were lurking everywhere. Suoh himself had been prowling around the backstage entrance and Sudou put his magical distraction skills to use. He engaged the behemoth in conversation as Akihito slipped out the door and ran for his life as a few more men began chasing him. Sudou had asked the manager of the club to help, which he happily complied and he found doors being opened for him as he dashed through the hallways and out the back entrance straight into the waiting BMW that belonged to Koga.
It was only as Koga sped off laughing into the night that the nausea died down and turned into exhilaration. Asami had not been gentle that night when he came stumbling in, he was pissed that someone could evade him three times in a row.
He was pretty sure Asami was going to murder him if he ever found out. It might even be worth it, he hadn't realized how much he had missed his old career, and the added hit of cat and mouse made it all the more sweet. He had to be extremely careful from now on though.
Koga had been right, it was easy for them to catch up now that Asami was aware of their friendship, they found themselves catching up weekly, sometimes just going drinking with Kou and Takoto as well, who couldn't believe Akihito was back to DJ'ing after so long. His close friends knew about his Midnight Kid secret.
The only real reason it had to be kept secret in the first place was that Akihito had been so young when he first started, that he wasn't actually allowed in clubs at all, but he managed to get passed it with a fake ID. But when he began playing he had to use a disguise on stage, he didn't look that old and if media found out it would have been over. That was where the trademark glasses and hoodie came in, and the enigma of Midnight Kid was born. The name Midnight Kid came about because he had been a kid, and at 17 his curfew was only midnight, not that he ever followed that rule. Koga who was a couple of years older, had joked about it on stage one night, and the name stuck. He had no idea the name would get so big, and over 4 years and multiple trips to Europe in the later days, he had made a huge name for himself, along with Koga who he frequently appeared with. The media was getting insane, and that was when Akihito decided to call it quits for his dad's sake, which, by now couldn't keep all the photos and articles out of the press. With the last of his money, he brought a nice house for his parents in Yokohama and settled their retirement. Thus leaving him the poor photographer he was today. The itch to work the crowds was coming back with a vengeance however, and Akihito quickly found himself wanting more.
That was how Akihito found himself agreeing to something very dangerous and exciting at the same time.
They were catching up one evening when Koga brought the subject up.
"So, Aki. I've got a pretty big event in Osaka coming up. The arena is massive and it would be cool to jam on stage with you again. I could announce you as a special guest, but people will get it pretty quick who you are. What'd ya say?"
Akihito took a long drink before answering, "Do you really think I could slip away from Asami and go to Osaka, he would have my head!"
"Say you're on a photography contract or somethin'. Come on, you know it'd be fun! Just like old times! The money is good too. You know you wanna!"
"Hmmmm, I suppose I could say something like that. But then he'd still send goons to watch me." Akihito was thinking about it now.
"Ah who cares, we can sort that out when we get there. Just plaaaay with meee!" Koga had now taken to pleading like a child.
"You, you're not gonna stop until I give in are you?"
"Haha nope!" Koga's face lit up, hopeful.
"If I die, it's on you, bastard."