Hello everyone I'm so very sorry that it has taken so long to get this chapter up there are several reasons for this:

There has been a lot activity around my job search. I have a interview coming up next week so wish me luck

My computer is still having Drive problems but I have been assured there is nothing wrong so I have decided just to live with it – I can't afford a new tower unit.

My dad bought me some bad software for the computer, I had a go at him and now he is not talking to me. Which is shame because I thought our relationship was improving.

However the primary reason as to why it took longer than I thought to get this chapter up is because I made a lot of changes. This chapter is dedicated to Finderlov. You see after the last chapter went up I got a PM from Finderlov it sparked an idea but it meant that I would have to rewrite parts of the chapter, cut some out and reposition others. So thank you Finderlov for the inspiration.

And I don't own the Finder series or make any money from this. The Finder series and its characters belong to Yamane Ayano

Chapter 9 Scars of the Past.

"A murderer" says Asami, he looked as if he would burst out laughing.

"It's true Asami-sama. Four years ago Takaba Akihito killed someone."

"And how did he do it? "

"He pushed his victim down the stairs he later died in hospital from his injuries."

"Who was victim?"

"Hamada Arashi. He was a boyfriend of Takaba's mother Mariko. She's nothing but a whore. I and my parents lived underneath the Takabas. The fights she often had with her lovers were awful the shouting, the screaming it would make the ceiling shake. One day it got really bad. Takaba shouted something then the front door slammed shut, I came out to see what was happening and I saw Takaba run up the main stairs followed by Hamada. Before I could take a step there was a cry and Hamada came tumbling down the stairs his head was bleeding and his neck was at a funny angle. I approached him, looked up and there was Takaba standing at the top of the stairs motionless. It wasn't an accident though the police ruled it so. Asami-sama Hamada beat both Takaba and his mother, that scar on his neck it was Hamada that did that Takaba Akihito had more reason than anyone to want Hamada dead. He's killed once there is nothing to stop him killing again."

The next morning Asami received a call from Ayame "To what do I owe the pleasure Shidou-san?"

"Do you still have any of Suzumebachi's blood?"

"Yes why?"

"I believe that the Hornet is a man named Sanada Daisuke. And I want to know for sure because I want to help, I want this Hornet out of the way as well he's bad for business."

It was Akira's first day back he was lucky there was no neurological damage. However there was damage to his GI tract and vision Akira was now wearing contact lenses for the time being and his diet had to be altered. At least he was now an outpatient he didn't like hospitals. He'd only been allowed back on the condition that he take things easy, which meant that strenuous interrogations where off the menu for a while. Mifune had done well in his absence but Akira was glad to be able to do things for himself again. Mifune filled him in on everything that had occurred in his absence, Akira made a mental note to thank Shidou san for her aid. The only new information that Mifune had to report today was that early that morning an underworld doctor was found dead. Akira decided to have this investigated. The autopsy report stated that the doctor had been dead about a week. Which would be around the same time that Suzumebachi was injured by Kirishima and he had to have been treated by someone.

Later that day Akira a visit to Shidou Ayame's establishment Medea. They settled down in her office "I'm pleased to see that you're feeling better Akira san. Now what can I do for you?"

"I wish to thank you for aiding Asami-sama."

"There is no need after all is it not a vassal's duty to assist their lord? Let me tell you this Akira-san I may not be serving Asami out of choice but my business has done well under his reign. I see no reason to rock the boat. I hope I'm making myself clear?"

"Crystal." For the next half an hour they talked of their respective networks, methods, agents though not in great detail but enough to give both sides a healthy respect for one another. "You are a very intelligent women Shidou-san."

She smiled broadly "Thank you Akira-san the men I meet tend not to like intelligent women, I've learnt to hide it over the years."

Akira gave Asami his report on Shidou Ayame "She extremely intelligent with her own moral code. She would only betray someone unless crossed or desperate. She is right her business has down well under your rule Asami-sama I don't think would jeopardize that by intentionally upsetting the balance."

"What about unintentionally?"

"Perhaps we are both far sighted individuals but we can't see everything. As long as her independence is not encroached on there is nothing to fear. She can be cruel and vindictive,but would only be dangerous when pushed too far. And her profession has given her a level of forbearance. I would say her only weakness is Takaba-san he is the only person she will compromise for as we have already seen."

"Thank you Akira. How are you feeling?"

"Better than I did last week Asami-sama."

Once again Akira, Suoh and Kirishima sat down in Kirishima's office to discuss everything they had so far on Suzumebachi, retailing the few conversations and encounters they have had with him in hope of seeing something they didn't see before. "How did your meeting with Shidou-san go Akira?" asked Kirishima.

"Very well she'll be a useful ally. She asked about you, wanted to know if you had a girlfriend I told her you didn't." said Akira with a smile.

Kirishima muttered something under his breath and cleaned his glasses. "You could do worse." Said Suoh.

"Well if you like her so much you go out with her then." Retorted Kirishima sounding just a little petulant.

"Are you out of your mind?! My wife has access to medical equipment, drugs and a knowledge of anatomy it is more than my life is worth to piss her off."

"It no use Kirishima I think you're the one on whom Shidou-san's mind is set, she says you show off your assets in a most provocative manner." Chortled Akira.

Suzumebachi campaign against Asami began once again in full force. And this time it was the civilian staff taking the brunt of it, especially those who worked at Sion. They found themselves victims of vicious assaults and muggings. Needless to say Asami paid for any hospital bills, gave sick pay to those who needed to take time off and generous severance packages to those who decided to quit. Asami had Suoh set traps to catch the group of thugs hired by the Hornet. When they were caught it was Akira who carried out the interrogation.

Not only was he keen to get back in the swing of things, he needed to take his anger out on something ,since he couldn't have the Hornet he took his anger out on the next best thing the trash employed by them. The method that he used to get them to reveal what little they knew involved hungry rats, a pipe and cream cheese. Suoh and his men disposed of the remains this was not before however Akira had removed some bones. Bones make excellent fertiliser and his garden was one of Akira few true passions. Suoh watched as Akira removed the bloody bones with glee,sometimes he really wondered about Akira, but then thought compared to what he was like when they first found him he was in a much better place both physically and mentally.

Akihito sat the breakfast bar in his apartment with a cup of hot chocolate in his hand which he sipped slowly. This was the first time today he was by himself, he'd spent last night at Kou's, then school and straight on to his second job at the coffee shop. He'd been on the go the entire day but now sitting here by himself his mind began to drift. Drift on to Asami. He wasn't in love no he was far too strong to give in that particular emotion but he reasoned at the very least he was in lust. He had some idea of what Sudoh might have said to Asami and that unnerved him. It was weird as a rule Takaba is not a nervous person, but something about Asami made him feel like he had peanut butter in mouth, it was irritating but at the same time it was thrilling. Akihito was pondering what to do about this situation when there was a knock at the door. He wasn't in the mood for company but it would do him good and take his mind off Asami.

Asami had instructed Akira and Ayame to work together to find out what they could about the true identity of the Hornet which DNA had confirmed was Sanada Daisuke. It was proving difficult because there was little or no trace of him, it was as if he'd wiped himself from existence. For the past few hours Akira and Ayame had been closeted in his office they both agreed that Sanada had faked his death. The remains found in his home were only identified via some distinctive jewellery he wore. "But what I want to know is where did he get the other body from?" asked Ayame as she flopped on a couch. "My guess would be that it is the body of his sister's lover." Said Akira. Ayame picked up her IPad and went through some files "The guy's name was Obata Soichiro and he disapared not long after Yoko. I think your right both men were similar heights and weights. And well one charred corpse looks like another. "

"All Daisuke had to do was kill Obata dump his body in the house and start the fire. And with the discovery of Obata's corpse which everyone though was Sanada's he was free to do whatever he wanted, because he was a dead man."

Akihito opened the door expecting to see Kou, Takato or Ayame instead there stood Asami. Akihito swallowed hard "Can I come in?"

"OK"

Asami stepped over the threshold and Akihito closed the door behind him "Sudoh told me an interesting story."

"I can imagine." Said Akihito with a wry smile.

"I read the police report but I'd like to hear it from you."

"I will tell you what I told them, what I told everyone Hamada fell. He was drunk and lost his balance. Those stairs aren't level lots of people have had accidents on them."

"How did you get that scar?"

"It was Mariko's fault. She brought Hamada into our lives one day he was horribly drunk and came at me with a broken bottle nearly killed me. Mariko had one of her friends patch me up. So it was never reported to the authorities".

"Why does Sudoh think you pushed Hamada?"

"Well I suppose it would be logical conclusion. I hated him I'm not going to deny it. When I saw him laying at the bottom of the stairs I felt nothing and when they told me he was dead I was relived."

"You could have had that scar removed no doubt Ayame san would have paid for it."

"I keep this scar for remembrance as a reminder of what people are like. Just because you're a child it didn't mean people wont hurt you, because you're crying didn't mean anyone would help you. Hamada's fall was an accident nothing more."

"So it was serendipitous?"

"Yes it was."

"What makes Sudoh hate you so much he'd accuse you of murder?"

Akihito sat down at the breakfast bar "My mother and his father had an on and off affair for about twenty years. Sudoh's mother was a quite women rather meek. She just seemed to ignore her husband's infidelity and my mother wasn't his only paramour. One day Mariko had been drinking and went up to Sudoh's mother and told her all those gruesome little details that she had for so long ignored. Mariko ridiculed her told her that husband was going to dump her for a real women. I've never seen a human being looked that crushed.

The next day she was gone but not before she told Sudoh the truth she wasn't his biological mother, she had died when Sudoh was nine months old. His dad was furious he was a drinker, a lazy bastard and he'd just lost his source of income. I can remember the fight that he and Mariko had, he was yelling and Mariko was screaming. Me and Sudoh were trying to separate them when she told him I was his son. He just laughed at her and walked off. Not that I blame him my mother is the town bike I could be anybody's son. Sudoh never spoke to me again after that. And I understand why the Takaba family destroyed his own it wasn't a great family but it was his and to insult to injury he could be related to the son of the women that drove his mother away."

Asami looked at Akihito he'd read the police report and the medical report, the evidence pointed to Takaba's guilt but that same evidence also pointed to his innocence. The event was ruled an accident because no one could say for sure what exactly happened on that staircase, the evidence was inconclusive. But truthfully Asami didn't care what had happened. He'd done far worse than Takaba had been suspected of, Asami knew he was the last person in the world to pass judgement on Akihito. "I suppose Sudoh wanted to warn you after all if I've killed once I might do it again." You could find yourself tumbling down the stairs."

"Asami leaned forward his arms resting on the counter and looked Akihito straight in the eye "I'm willing to take the chance. When is your next night off?"

"Why?" Akihito's eyes narrowed.

"I want to take you to dinner that's why."

"Dinner?"

"Yes dinner."

"That wouldn't happen to be code for anything else would it?"

"No just dinner. So when is your next night off?"

"Friday coming."

"It's a date then."

Suzumebachi was incensed by what he was hearing he had already looked into the matter with Hamada and it was closed as far as he was concerned. But what really enraged him was Asami's blatant seduction of Akihito. The boy was just too naïve for he own good which meant he was susceptible to the lures that Asami threw out. Akihito needed to be protected Asami would rip the sweet boy to pieces. The thought of those bright eyes filled with tears tore at his heart. But he pushed that away for now for he had a little task to complete.

The next morning a crate was delivered to Sion addressed to Asami. When Kirishima examined the paperwork the name of the sender was Sanada Yoko. Souh cleared Sion and his men set about examine the crate. It was found to be ordinary crate it was carefully opened by Suoh "It's a body Asami-sama." Asami, Kirishima and Akira approached each of them wearing latex gloves handed out by Akira who always carried a few pairs. They looked inside the crate from which came a smell of bleach and the sight of dead body. It was a man around thirty years of age he was stark naked, his head had been shaved and the body was tucked in the fetal position. There were only two other visible items in the crate: a mobile phone and a driver's license. Kirishima reached in and picked up the licence. "Does anyone recognise him?" Asked Asami

"Asami-sama."

"Yes Kirishima?"

"According to this licence this is Sanada Daisuke."

And that's a wrap folks. I hope you all enjoyed it. Yes I know this chapter was short but I like the way ends.

If Akihito did commit murder or not I'm not saying, I leave it up to you to decide for yourself.

Any way please review, PM me if you want. Constructive criticism always welcome. I wanted to give Sudoh some backstory and maybe explain the reason he is the way he is I didn't want him to be a 2D character.