Yamane Ayano is the great mind behind the finder series and its characters, I don't own anything. Reviews and constructive criticism welcome.

I utterly grateful and thankful for every one of you (correct at the time) 85 followers and the 54 people who have this as a favourite and all the reviews. I honestly though that no one would like this or read it. You have no idea how happy I was to get my first reviews, followers and favourites. I did a one women conga around the living room and do the same every time the number goes up.

I also want to thank everyone who reviewed the previous chapter thank you very much for your kind words.

I'm not that confident about parts of this chapter and I've rewritten it like three times and this is my best version. Once again I'm sorry if I made any grammatical mistakes. I have checked this over a few times so I don't think there are any.

Chapter 7 – Band of Brothers.

"Is not the name Suzmebachi just that little bit pretentious?"

"Considering the fact that thirty to forty people are killed by the great sparrow bee each year I consider it to be apt. Asami I wish to talk of a mutual acquaintance of ours?"

"And who would that be?"

"Tsurugi"

"Ah him I don't think he'll be in my employ for much longer."

"I don't blame you there is does no good to keep disloyal servants."

"I had expected to see today."

"I know I had a feeling you would ,but I have an aversion to being killed so I decided to cancel the appointment. As for Tsurugi he betrayed me just as I hoped he would. It was my hope that like a Roman general you would decimate your forces, all at the first hint of betrayal like so many others of your kind."

"And what is my 'kind' Hornet?"

"Parasites, scum you think that you have the right to rule. You watch in satisfaction as people abase themselves to survive. You are a vampire you suck the life out these people without remorse, compassion or pity."

"What compassion did you show Fujiwara Toshiya or Homura Takumi or Tsurugi you used them mercilessly."

"They didn't deserve mercy. Tsurugi was just a cowardly piece of trash. As to the others they were enablers. People like them keep people like you in power. It was their own weakness what caused their downfall.

"They may not have fallen if you hadn't pushed them."

"They didn't have to listen to me I didn't make them."

"What is you want Suzumebachi?"

"Your head"

"You'll have to join the queue there is a waiting list, a few people have come after my head so far none of them have had much luck. "

"I'm not everyone else Asami I have brought men like you down, men like you that imagine themselves to be untouchable, men who need to reminded they are mortals not Gods. The arrogance of your kind astonishes me still."

"Are you as not as equally arrogant? You talk of taking my head but all your attempts to disrupt my business have met with limited success."

"Well if you don't succeed try, try, try again."

"I suppose if nothing else I must give points for persistence." Asami voice was full of condescension. If he could get the Hornet angry enough they might slip up and reveal something.

"Don't you dare mock me!" For the first time the calm and collected voice of the Hornet waived but not for long. "The law has no teeth, you parasites bully, bribe and blackmail those tasked to stop you."

"Then do you target them as you do me?"

"Yes oh course. I'm not like them I shall not waiver; your kind took something that cannot be replaced.

Asami thought. "What was taken from you?" Asami's voice was pitched low, the tone was one that could seduce, threaten or persuade even the hardest of men.

"What I have lost doesn't concern you. You should be more worried about what you are set to lose. Will you please put me on speaker? I wish to speak to your right arm. They are all with you aren't they?"

Asami activated the phone's loudspeaker function and placed it on the desk. "Hello Kirishima, Suoh, Akira we haven't been formally introduced but I feel as if I know you all already. You may call me Suzumebachi." Ever since the conversation between Asami and the Hornet had began all three men wanted to badly hear what the other party was saying now the person who had set their sights on their boss now wished to address them. "Asami I must complement you on your choice of subordinates. Suoh as loyal as the day is long, Kirishima I must complement you on the securing of your computer systems I tried to hack them yesterday to no avail. And of course we can't forget your wolf's head Akira. The scope and ingenuity of your spy network must be applauded."

"What is it you want Suzumebachi? You obviously didn't call just to flatter us." said Kirishima.

"You're right, it is Kirishima is it not?"

"Yes"

"Sorry I just got rather excited it's been such a long time since I encountered such skilled prey." Suoh snorted he did not take well to being called 'prey'.

"Kirishima, Suoh, Akira I have a message for you, it is simply one word: Run."

"What?!" Akira's normally calm and cool manner had taken a beating and now it had just shattered. "What the hell do you mean by run?" He exclaimed

"Asami I suggest you tighten your torturer's leash. That was Akira I heard?"

"Yes" answered Asami

"Well you see" said the hornet "Every since I've been observing you all I noticed something rather singular and it was the level of devotion that those three men have for you Asami and vice versa. You see I have seen devotion between servants and masters but nothing like you four. You're like a little band of brothers. I realised just how much you rely on them. Tell me what would you do if they weren't there anymore?" They like you deserve punishment for their sins, Kirishima , Suoh , Akira I will say this once more and one more only run away and I might let you live."

There was total silence the few seconds seemed more like hours. It was Kirishima who broke the silence "Suzumebachi"

"Yes?"

"Go fuck yourself."

A smile broke across Suoh's face "I don't think I could have put it better myself."

"Nor I" said Akira mirroring Suoh's smile.

"Well don't say I didn't give you a chance." Suzumebachi then hung up the phone.

Asami looked at his right arm and he was filled with pride these three men where the only men on Earth who would rather cut off their own arms than betray him, who would go to their deaths rather betray him, the only the people in the world who served him out of love.

Ayame had arranged to take Akihito out to lunch that day her treat and her choice, she choose a rather up scale place which meant Akihito was forced into shoes, shirt and a tie. Ayame had tried to persuade him into a suit but Akihito put his foot down. They walked into the restaurant arm in arm "Why did you pick this place Aya?"

"Because I have never been here before and they say the food is divine. You're getting a free meal and pleasure of my company I can't think what you're complaining about." She smiled brightly at him

As they were led to their table Akihito was still complaining "Aya this place is full of people with more money than sense. I swear I'm being checked out these women probably think I'm some high paid boy toy.

"Oh never mind I'll protect your assets, anyway its nice to be the subject of irrational jealousy every now and then." Akihito sat down and rolled his eyes. Though a lot more mature than Mariko Ayame still had her moments and in her defence would say "What is the point of being grown up if I can't act childish when I want to?"

They ordered and waited for their drinks "Aya"

"Yes my dear?"

"How did you know?"

"Know what Aki?"

"That I like guys."

Ayame took a deep breath before she answered "I, I just knew don't ask me how I just did. Look it doesn't matter to me if you like boys or girls as long as you're happy." The rest of lunch went swimmingly the conversation did keep coming back to what Akihito was going to do once he left school. Higher education was something that Mariko and Ayame never experienced, something which Ayame was adamant would not happen to Akihito. He talked about different scholarships, grants and loans. What he didn't know was that Ayame had been paying into a college fund for him for years. She wasn't going tell him just yet, he just throw a tantrum and tell her he could manage all by himself.

In another part of the restaurant another couple sat thought neither of them was having as good a time as Akihito and Ayame. Asami sat across from Sudoh Shu as he listened to the boy's sickly saccharine tone all he could think about was what possessed him to take the boy to lunch. At this moment Asami was contemplating stabbing him in the hand with a fork "At least then he wouldn't be talking but then his screaming might not sound any better." Sudoh had shared a bed with Asami on a few occasions what he lacked in believable passion he made up in technique. Asami knew that Sudoh thought himself in love; however Asami was sure that Sudoh's love was nothing but a combination of physical attraction and an interest in the size of Asami's bank balance.

Asami supposed that he asked Sudoh out because the resemblance he bore to his adorable little Samaritan. They both had pale skin, blond hair and slight builds. But that's where the similarity ended. Sudoh's word were designed to flatter, he spoke to Asami in honeyed tones and would at the snap of his fingers spread his legs. Whereas Akihito's words were strong and defiant,his tone often full of sarcasm. Sudoh was predictable Akihito was anything but. Asami could never quite gauge what the boy's reaction or next word was going to be. Akihito was as feral as Sudoh was tame. Akihito wanted him was sure of that, he just didn't wanted to admit it. He wasn't playing hard to get, he really had convinced himself that he did not desire Asami. Asami decided he would just have to push a little more, watching the little lion cub battle with his own desire and then surrender would be worth waiting for. One thing he was sure of was that Akihito in or out bed would be constant source of amusement.

Asami and Sudoh began to make their way out of the restaurant, Sudoh kept trying to cling to Asami's arm but the man kept shaking him off. And then suddenly he stopped and turned in the opposite direction something had caught his eye. An irresistible force was once again to collide with irremovable object.

Akihito and Ayame dug into their desserts with gusto both them had a serious sweet tooth. Akihito looked at Ayame and saw that the blood had drained from her face, he turned to look in the direction she was facing and bearing down upon them like some barbarian conqueror was Asami Ryuichi. He swallowed hard and his grip on his fork tightened. He wasn't going to run; he wanted to prove to that man he didn't affect him that their last encounter had no meaning. "Shidou-san Akihito it's good to see you both." Said Asami he smile was like that of a predator who had just pounced on its prey.

"And you Asami-san but as you seem to be on your way out don't let us keep you." Ayame's tone was polite but icy.

"I'm in no hurry Shidou-san." Asami turned his gaze towards Akihito "Did you like my gift Akihito?"

"Yes it was well received at my local homeless shelter they were looking for donations after all every little helps." Said Akihito with a smile

Before Asami could reply Sudoh who had caught up with Asami tugged at his arm "Asami-sama lets go." The whiny voice made Asami, Akihito and Ayame all wince. "It's been a while Sudoh-sempai "'Though not long enough' Said Akihito his voice dripping with sarcasm. Sudoh's eyes narrowed and he glowered at Akihito. "They went to high school together and they lived in the same block of flats for many years Asami-san." said Ayame. The two boys shot daggers at one another. At one point they had actually gotten on with one another. However a couple of incidents had changed that, from then on they rubbed each other up the wrong way, and their completely different personalities clashed. Sudoh was hot headed and impatient, Akihito was calm and passive aggressive. Right now what angered Sudoh was the way he saw Asami looking at Takaba, like he wanted to stretch him across the table and devour him. He'd done his best all through out lunch but Asami had seemed distant and uninterested. "Shidou-san I may need some information from you soon, and have Akihito deliver it."

Ayame clenched her fist she was not about serve her darling Akihito up to this man on a silver platter. Before she could respond to Asami Akihito cut in "That's fine Asami san after all it just business and that is all that is between us."

The boy was daring Asami to prove him wrong well never let it be said that Asami Ryuichi every walked away from a challenge "As you say it only business between us." Though Asami knew that sooner or later it would so much more. If Akihito would only surrender to a conqueror then he should prepare to be conquered "Duty calls goodbye Shidou san, Akihito." Asami turned and left with Sudoh following hot on his heals.

"Aki"

"Don't say what I think your going to say Ayame because I don't want to hear it" Said Akihito through gritted teeth "I know the resemblance between me and Sudoh is strong but that doesn't make use half brothers, I know his father and my mother had a on and off again affair over the years but that still doesn't prove anything."

"Well if you go a DNA test it would resolve the issue once and for all." Said Ayame

"I've told you before I don't want to know, we both know that Mum was the town bike she wasn't picky about boyfriends or clients. I don't want know who my father is or was, most likely he was one of her clients I don't want to meet the man who thought nothing about screwing a women for a couple thousand Yen. I don't want to meet the man who most likely was cheating on some wife or girlfriend; I don't want to be related to someone who thought so little of a fellow human being. So can we just drop the subject?"

They left the restaurant and walked to Ayame's car "I'm sorry I didn't mean to upset you."

"I know but can we just forget the whole thing?"

"Forget what?" They drove in companionable silence they stopped and Ayame pulled up in front of Akihito's apartment block. "Aki promise me you'll be careful."

"About what?"

"About Asami don't lie to me; I know something is going on between you two."

"It's not a big deal. He got what he wanted so he'll just go away. Anyway it looked like he had his hands full with Sudoh."

"Aki take these words of wisdom from some one who knows a lot more about men not all of them are like that. With some of them once they get a taste they want more and more. People who feel like that can make a person or break them. I don't want to see you hurt."

"I'm not going to get hurt I'm nothing like my mother I am not ruled by either desire or my heart."

"I know you're nothing like Mariko but desire suppressed is just as dangerous as desire unleashed."

After the phone call to Asami Suzumebachi's campaign began once again in earnest, so far the damage amounted to two burnt down warehouses, one burnt down apartment block and the retirement to private life of one of Asami's pet politicians. The hornet once again tried to hack the computers of Sion however Kirishima upgrades held firm against the invader. Asami wanted to provide close protection for the three men; however they persuade him that if Suzumebachi came after them personally then it was golden opportunity to take care of him once and for all.

So in the end a team was assigned to each man they were to follow them and use GPS to monitor each man's position. They couldn't be to close just in case Suzumebachi spotted them Akira, Suoh and Kirishima each had had a panic alarm that would alert their individuals teams if they encountered the Hornet, the team would then move in to provide back up. True to their word the attacks on Suoh, Kirishima and Akira began. The first one to be targeted was Suoh .The break lines of his car were cut. He narrowly missed being run over twice. When he went to oversee the arrival of shipment from South America he found himself in the middle of a fire fight not unlike the one Asami experienced with the Kokichi brothers. And just like the brothers Suzumebachi convinced this vassal to turn on Asami, they were swiftly dealt with by Suoh and his men.

Akira was a creature of habit for example he always ate at the same places and usually ordered the same foods. This degree of predictability perhaps made him the easiest to target. He entered one the restaurants he frequently patronised ate his lunch and then drove back to his office. He had to interrogate the last of the traitors that tried to kill Suoh. The discussion went on for about 4 hours during which he noticed that his stomach was beginning to ache a little, but he chose to ignore it. He'd hadn't gotten any new information however he stilled relished the opportunity to sharpen his skills. His pear of agony worked a treat. As he made his way to Asami's office he noticed that his stomach was getting worse so after he gave he report he decided to go take something for his stomach. He walked into Asami's office to find Kirishima giving a report on the cost on of the damage done by Suzumebachi and state of repairs. Asami nodded to him so Akira stood to the side and waited his turn. Suddenly he felt a wave of nausea followed by sharp pain in his abdomen, the pain came again and again each time it was stronger and sharper than before ,he dropped to his knees in pain. It felt like someone had reached in and squeezed his stomach with all their strength. "Akira what is it?" exclaimed Kirshima

"My... URGGH!" Akira was in so much pain he couldn't get the words out. His stomach began to heave and he threw up.

"Kirishima call Suzuki sensei tell him to get here now and bring an ambulance. Tell him that it looks like Akira's been poisoned. "Ordered Asami

As Kirishima made the call Asami put Akira into the recovery position, Akira tried to speak but the pain overwhelmed him and everything went black.

Suoh, Asami and Kirishima stood outside Akira's room a couple of hours later waiting for Suzuki sensei. There was no question in anyone's mind that this was an attempt by Suzumebachi to kill Akira. Asami had men retracing Akira movements; the food at his apartment was also being tested. Suzuki Sensei had been able to tell them that it looked more to be acute poisoning than chronic due the sudden onset of the symptoms.

Suzuki sensei came out of the room and led Asami and the others to an empty office to talk. "Asami-sama Akira-san was poisoned thankfully we caught it early and there shouldn't be to much permanent damage."

"What was he poisoned with?" Asked Suoh

"Thallium" Said Suzuki-sensei "It's like Arsenic in that it's practically tasteless, colourless, and odourless he wouldn't have known he was ingesting it. It's a good thing we got to him so early. I have started him on Prussian blue which is the antidote. As well as Haemodialysis. We won't know what the long term effects are until we've removed all the thallium in his system. He was actually lucky he was given from what we can ascertain would have been a fatal dose but it was not properly calibrated for Akira's weight."

"What are the long-term effects?"

"Neurological and visual disability Asami-sama, however it had been documented that those who ingest thallium like Akira-san did are less likely to have neurological damage But it is still to soon to tell. He 's been asking to see you Asami -sama."

Asami flanked by Suoh, Kirishima and Suzuki sensei made their way to Akira room. There were a nurse attending to an IV line when they walked in, Asami hadn't seen Akira looking that vulnerable since he had first found him. There were machines making noises, there tubes running in and out of him and oxygen mask on his face. Asami approached the bed "A, A, A, Asami-sama."

"Shut up Akira. I'm issuing you new orders and you did swear to always obey me orders didn't you? You're to stay here and recover. I don't care how much you dislike hospitals,you will do as you're told and most importantly you will not die. I command you to do no such thing. You're no use to me dead."

Kirishima was the last of the three to be targeted simply because he was the one that the majority of people underestimated. The offensive potential of Suoh and Akira was plain to see, however because Kirishima spent most of time in the office people just assumed that he wasn't as good in the field as Suoh or Akira. Kirishima decided to bait the Suzumebachi not just hope to draw him out he wanted payback for the attempts on Suoh and the poising of Akira. The sun was setting it was perfect time to settle things. He knew he was being followed, every since he left Sion on foot he knew that he was being tailed. He turned into a cramped and dirty alley; he couldn't help but reminisce about the backstreet battles of the early days, those battles to eke out Asami's firsts territories, take back what had been lost. Kirishima turned to face his pursuer. The sun was directly behind the figure, so all he could tell was that it was man about six foot tall, dressed in black. They came closer and now he could see that a hood and scarf covered their face. "Suzumebachi I presume."

"It's nice to met you face you Kirishima. But really you shouldn't walk around places like this you'll never know who you'll bump into."

"What do you want?" said Kirishima pushing up his glasses.

Suzumebachi drew a long, sleek knife that glistened in anticipation in the fading sun light "To sting you to death."

Kirishima drew a knife of equally deadly beauty, and made the first move it was at this point that the Hornet had realised their mistake in underestimating Kirishima. True he spent the majority of the time the office but Asami had a strict policy when it came to the physical fitness of his men regular training sessions with Suoh, Akira and sometimes Asami himself kept him very physically fit. When it came to knife fighting there wasn't anyone better than Kirishima Kei in Asami's ranks.

Kirishima could be said to have something of a fetish for blades he always carried at least one, preferring them to guns he said that the knives were much more personal than guns. His own personal collection even made Akira salivate , daggers, tantos, rapiers you name it he had it or found some way to acquire it. The fight was going Kirishima's way he was pushing the Hornet back, until the Hornet managed to disarm him. He pushed Kirishima into a wall one hand pinned an arm to the wall the other brought the knife to Kirishima's throat.

Kirishima used his free hand to push back at the knife. This was the chance the had staked his life on, he wanted for the Suzumebachi to get that close to him its the reason why he let himself be disarmed. With a display of speed and strength that took Suzmebachi by surprise Kirishima reached into his jacket and stabbed the Hornet in the arm and side with a scalpel. Kirishima was very fond of scalpels they're light and compact, he could and did carry several of them at any one time and they were often missed when someone patted him down. Suzumebachi let go and recoiled from Kirishima who drew a second scalpel and aimed at Suzumebachi's neck.

Suzumebachi blocked Kirishima strike and kicked at Kirishima's legs, Kirishima dropped to his knees. The Hornet kicked once again this time he aimed for Kirishima's face. Kirishima caught Suzumebachi's foot and slashed the Hornet's leg, who wrenched his leg free and began to run, Kirishima reached into his trouser pocket and pressed his panic alarm, his phone rang he gave the the leader of the pursuit team as full as a description as he could of the Hornet. A few minutes later the team leader reported that they had lost Suzumebachi. Kirishima sighed in frustration, but then he smiled to himself as he looks down at the ground. At his feet were two scalpels each of them covered in Suzumebachi's blood.

Kirishima handed the scalpels to one his subordinates "Run the DNA through every database we can access, get on to our contacts in law enforcement if you have to."

Kirishima spent the night at Sion , as the morning sun came up he was sat at his desk he wasn't doing anything but he didn't want to leave the office he wanted to be there if and when a match was found. There was a knock at the door "Come in." In walked his deputy Kurosaki "Well what are the results?"

"We couldn't find a match Kirishima-sama."

Kirishima removed his glasses and rubbed his eyes had it all been for nothing then but then an idea came into his why he hadn't thought of it before mystified him. "Kurosaki run the DNA again."

"But sir ..."

"Kinship analysis. Use the DNA and run it for kinship analysis. Maybe we can't track down the Hornet be maybe we can use some one else to."

Two days later Kurosaki came bursting into Kirshima's office "We have a match sir"

A/N: The word 'decimation' is derived from Latin it means 'removal of a tenth 'it was a punishment used in the Roman army. It works by dividing soldiers into groups of ten and the drawing of lots to see who'd be executed by the other nine. It was designed to be a fair way to punish a large group regardless of blame , rank or distinction.