Hello,
I hope you are all well. I was sick for the past few weeks, but I am now recovering.
As always, many thanks for those who were leaving a comment: Minak0003, Elizabeth Melende, finderlov, Capricorn989, Finder lover, and Shiranai Atsune.
This chapter is going to be a very lengthy one. _"
I was thinking to split it into two. That way I can also take longer break while writing the next chapter. But, since it's about how a week in Akihito's life is happening, I'm worried you might have forgotten the 1st part by the time you read the 2nd part. And then, the story won't feel the same. Or so my overthinking brain thought. :D
I personally like the idea of how the people around Akihito loved him so much that they would do anything to protect him. Meanwhile, the main character himself was blissfully unaware of the craziness that was done to keep him safe. That was how I intended "A week in The Life of Asami Akihito". But, some parts took a slightly different turn than I initially planned.
Anyway, I hope you guys enjoy this (super long) chapter as much as I did. Please let me know what you think about it.
Take care!
Disclaimer: VF belongs to YA. Lemon. Violence. Manipulation attempts.
Chapter 22. A Week in The Life of Asami Akihito
Friday, 8.19 AM
Asami tried his best to maintain a neutral expression as Akihito dragged their two annoying sons into the camera's view. Those little brats knew better than giving Akihito a heart break like this! Asami had given them a warning once. And yet, here they were, being caught red-handed by the only person on earth whom Asami had asked them to keep their dirty secrets from.
Now, Asami could only hope that the dirty secret Akihito had found out wasn't so serious that he would still be able to placate his idealistic, although often unrealistic, husband.
"Well?" Akihito's voice sounded so clear Asami wished he could touch him directly, instead of staring at him via a Zoom call, "Tell your father what you both have done."
Nao pouted, "I did nothing wrong!"
A raised eyebrow from Asami was enough to shut the rebellious teen up. Nao bit his lips and shrunk a little, knowing his father could care less whether he did wrong or not. Asami only cared about what Akihito had discovered so that he could mitigate the situation.
The slight wince Rikiya made at his brother's loud claim had indicated that the oldest of the Asami brothers was having a terrible hangover.
Good, Asami thought to himself. Let him suffer the consequence of his action a little.
Despite the obvious headache, however, his oldest son quickly read Asami's silent order to give him the full story. Rikiya said, "I stole a bottle of liquors from The Haven. It had started as a curiosity to find my drinking limit but—"
The boy glanced at his irate dad before continuing wisely, "—I do see now that it was careless and irresponsible of me. I regret it and it will not happen again."
Asami remained silent, waiting.
After an uncomfortable minute, Nao added with a sulk, "And I am sorry that I kept it a secret. I just don't want to worry anyone or cause trouble to Riki-nii, you know?"
"Oh, really?" Akihito asked with a shake of his head. "Is that also why you recorded your own brother masturbating in public place when he was drunk? Because you don't want to cause him trouble?"
Asami fought the urge to shout at those devil spawns of his. Those damn, little troublemakers! Why did he think it was a good idea to have kids again? He swore to God, if only Akihito wasn't around, he would have told Tao to give these two idiots a beating they wouldn't forget anytime soon.
No, Asami didn't care about the drinking or the pranks they played to each other. In the grand scheme of things, that didn't matter to him. But the fact that Akihito was now upset, that he could never allow. His two sons must learn that. The hard way, if necessary.
Akihito started announcing their sentence, "We'd like an apology letter from each of you…"
A loud groan from Nao and a stoic expression from Rikiya.
Akihito continued mercilessly, "…2000 words each. And you both are grounded for one month, after which your father and I will review it again."
Asami and Akihito had decided the punishment together this morning. The kids were lucky. If it was up to Asami only, the punishment would be much, much more severe.
Nao opened his mouth as if he wanted to complain, but Asami cut him off.
"Our decision is final," Asami said with a tone that indicated he would not appreciate any bargaining attempt. "But, I'm happy to add more punishment, if you want."
Nao quickly closed his mouth.
"Now, I want to speak with your dad alone," Asami told his sons.
Afraid that he would add to their punishment, they both nodded and left without another word. As soon as the twin left the room, Akihito sank to the chair in front of the laptop. His younger husband looked tired, as if Akihito hadn't had a good enough sleep for a while.
And yet, as Akihito began to bombard Asami with questions, Asami realised that his husband was more concerned about Asami's well being than with his own. "Why it's so dark there, Ryu? I can only see your face." A pair of narrowed hazel eyes were observing him suspiciously. "You are still working, aren't you? It's almost 9PM there, right? Stop trying to hide it from me, you workaholic. Do you think I won't be able to guess it just because you darkened the room? Have you had your dinner?"
Asami shook his head with amusement before answering dutifully, "Yes, I had dinner, Akihito."
"Alcohol, coffee, and cigarettes don't count," Akihito insisted.
He laughed then. "I know," he replied. "Haruka brought me some food a while back. Don't worry, she took good care of me."
"Thank Gods she is there with you," Akihito grumbled.
There was a moment of comfortable silence before Akihito suddenly offered, "Shall I pick you up at the airport on Sunday?"
Asami sighed. That would be nice, but things had gotten complicated since the last time they had talked.
So, he said instead, "It'll take me a little longer to settle the issues here. I won't be able to go back by this coming Sunday. Maybe next Friday."
The disappointment in Akihito's face was unmistakeable. The younger man really didn't have a poker face. His emotion was written on his forehead for all the world to see. It took Akihito a few seconds to realise what he was broadcasting to Asami. He quickly tried to school his expression but it was too late.
"I see," Akihito answered evenly, clearly trying to sound unaffected.
Even Asami's iron-steel heart clenched at Akihito's sad attempt to hide his disappointment. If only Asami could, he would fly back to his husband tonight. Unfortunately, he had shits to clean up here. His raging fury began to stir again at the memory of what Yakenonokarasu had done to cause all of this trouble.
"I'll be back next Friday," Asami promised his husband instead.
Akihito frowned as he bit his lower lips in hesitancy. With Akihito, it usually meant that the younger man wasn't fully on board with the plan.
Feeling a little guilty, Asami tried to offer the only solution he could think of, "Why don't you spend some time with Tao or the kids while I am away? Go have a meal with them. Do some shopping. Use the card I gave you and buy yourself something nice. You've never used it for anything not related to the household. Isn't this a good time for that?"
That generous offer —or at least that was what Asami had thought of his solution— was answered with narrowed hazel eyes and the tightening of Akihito's lips. Those were never good signs. That was usually Akihito's face a few seconds before the younger man started shouting.
But, to Asami's surprise, no shouting ensued. Instead, Akihito said slowly through gritted his teeth, a tinge of barely controlled frustration in his voice, "When I want you to come back home as soon as you can, it is NOT because I am bored here without you, you dense asshole! Trust me, I have a lot of things to entertain myself! It's just…things have been crazy lately and I—I just—"
Akihito paused. His mouth opened and closed a few times as if he was trying to find the right words and failing.
Then, as if he suddenly found a burst of courage, Akihito snapped, "—I just miss you, okay?!"
And just like that, Akihito ended the call one-sidedly, leaving Asami stunned and speechless.
That was…well, calling it unexpected would be an understatement. Akihito wasn't the type who would say something like missing Asami. Most of the time, the man couldn't even be honest about his own desire. It had taken Asami forever before Akihito could openly admit that he enjoyed sex with Asami. So, this sudden confession caught Asami off guard.
When his surprise slowly turned into the warm realisation of what had just happened, Asami chuckled.
Oh, Akihito.
How could one man steal Asami's heart so easily? What kind of power did Akihito had that he could wrap Asami around his little finger without even realising it? It was like Akihito knew exactly what to say to make Asami his willing slave. Gods knew many had tried to to do so and all had failed. Yet, for Akihito, Asami would walk obediently into the golden cage himself.
Shaking his head with a small smile on his face, he turned away from the laptop, focusing his attention back at what he had been doing right before Akihito had called. The two men who had betrayed him were curled in the shadow, probably wishing that he would forget about them if he couldn't see them. Idiots.
Suoh had purposely turned off the lights in the empty warehouse so that it would be nearly impossible for Akihito to see where Asami was. To be extra safe, the big man had taken these two piece of shits away from the camera view, dumping their sorry asses at the far end of the spacious area.
Now, Suoh turned all the lights back on and dragged the two back to their special spot in front of Asami. The two men lay on their side, shaking with terror. With their mouths fully stuffed by filthy towels and limbs tied tightly behind them, there wasn't much else they could do. Their eyes were swollen and their faces was covered with tears and drying blood. Both had lost a few fingers and nails, blood leaving red trails in the path that Suoh had taken to move their bodies. They smelled like piss and shit, probably losing control over their own bodies after the shock and pain. These men knew their death was near and Asami could sense their horror in the air around him.
A third man sat on a simple plastic chair a few feet to Asami's right. This man was trying to remain calm, but his face was paler than Akihito's favourite bed sheet and his hands were trembling even when he struggled to still them. He was considerably young compared to his two soon-to-be-dead-bosses. Asami had taken a liking to him a few years back and offered him a job. The man had proven his loyalty over the years so, hopefully, Asami could still shape the man into someone he could trust.
"Well," Asami took a cigarette from the pack he put on the table. He waited for Suoh to light it up before taking a full breath of nicotine to calm himself. "You all heard it. We have a new deadline. My husband wants me to be back home by next Friday and I want the goods to be ready before I leave."
The man sitting on the plastic chair swallowed before answering, "With respect, Asami-sama, next Friday would be a little—"
Asami stared at him and the man stop himself, realising that this was an non-negotiable requirement. Slowly, the man nodded. "Of course, Asami-sama."
His tone sounded so careful and even, it almost made Asami believe that he wasn't afraid. Almost. If only his demeanour reflected the same confidence, Asami would have bought his bravado. Well, this young man still had time to learn.
Asami watched him, assessing and calculating any potential risks. His voice was cold when finally he told the man, "I'd hate another failure."
The man shook his head quickly. "I won't fail you, Asami-sama. You took a chance on me once. Without that, my family would have been dead on the street. I am forever in your debt. You can trust me."
"Words mean nothing to me," he said with a scoff of disbelief. "Prove your loyalty and I will ensure your family wellbeing. Fool me once and you will deeply regret it."
The man shivered, his eyes widening in fear, but wisely, he remained silent. Asami nodded at Suoh and the giant offered a gun to the man.
"Your initiation to the management level," Suoh tilted his head towards the two sobbing men on the floor.
The man swallowed anxiously. For almost a whole minute, he just stared at the gun in Suoh's gloved hand as if he wasn't sure what it was. But, after that moment of hesitancy, resolve bloomed in his eyes. Carefully, he took the gun, his lips thinning into a firm, determined line. His bare hands only shook a little as he tested its weight and feel in his grip.
When he walked towards his ex-bosses, the two pathetic men cried, shaking their head vigorously in the silent plea to save their pitiful lives. Without any ceremony, the man aimed and fired the gun. Two shots echoed throughout the empty warehouse. Blood, fat, and brain splattered across the filthy concrete floor.
Suoh patted the man's shoulder. "Congratulations on your promotion."
The young man looked up at Asami. Asami merely nodded approvingly at his new factory manager. His mind was still reeling after Akihito's honest confession.
Asami couldn't wait to go back home.
Saturday, 7.43 PM
The day had started perfect for Tao. Asami-sama was away on a business trip and had instructed Tao to take Akihito out for a dinner date. Apparently, Akihito was sulking because Asami-sama's return was postponed. For Tao, being able to go on a date with Akihito was like winning a lottery. So, he had readily agreed to fulfil his boss' request.
Akihito seemed initially uncertain. Tao noticed that Akihito's mood had been a roller coaster since the incident with the twin. But, at the end, Akihito had agreed, albeit hesitantly.
The restaurant Akihito picked was amazing. The food was incredibly delicious. Tao joked and teased, knowing from their years of friendship that it would sooth Akihito's temper. Soon, their conversation became more light-hearted and full of laughters. Even Akihito started to respond boldly to Tao's light flirting. This dinner was definitely a break Akihito needed from all his concern and worry.
They were playing footsie under the table when a familiar voice greeted him, "Liu-sama, such a pleasure to meet you here."
His lover froze in front of him. Akihito's inviting smile quickly disappeared, replaced with a wince, as if the man was eating something that tasted horribly awful. With a sigh, Akihito closed his eyes and muttered something under his breath. Most likely, a curse.
Tao stood up as the uninvited company approached them. Behind the two ladies, he could see Tanaka Haruo hovering as a bodyguard. Forcing a respectful smile, he answered politely. "Takamiya-san. Suzu-chan. What a surprise."
As if she just noticed Akihito then, Takamiya-san turned and gave the other man a curt, "Asami-san." The ice in every syllable of that short greeting was unmistakeable.
Clearly annoyed with these people for intruding his dinner, Akihito didn't even bother to stand. The man gave a polite smile with an equally frosty, "Takamiya-san."
They had chosen this restaurant literally because —well, aside from its amazing food and cozy ambience— it was located on the outskirt of Tokyo. The chance of them meeting anyone that could ruin their dinner was supposedly almost zero. And here was the Takamiyas, following them like a plague.
Returning her attention back to Tao, Takamiya-san said, "I really didn't expect to meet anyone I know here. I was under the impression that this place is such a hidden gem that's only well-known among food connoisseurs."
Tao kept a respectful facade. "Well, I wouldn't know this place myself if Asami-san didn't tell me about it. He knows the owner quite well. Otherwise, we won't be able to get a table with such a short notice."
Suzu-chan narrowed her eyes at the statement. She mocked, "Oh, it's not so hidden then, mother, if even a commoner knows about this place."
Tao's polite smile stilled, as if it was permanently tattooed into his face. If only Suzu-chan had been under his care, he'd have belted her. He wouldn't have cared whether she was young or a woman. This spoilt girl could definitely learn a lesson or two about respect and grace.
Noticing Tao's change of demeanour, Takamiya-san told her daughter, "Shush, darling. You are being rude now."
It might sound like a scolding but the indulging tone betrayed the gravity of her error. Tao was about to open his mouth to rebuke the cocky princess himself when Akihito grabbed his wrist.
"Let's go home, Tao. I am a little tired and I want to spend some time with the kids before they go to bed."
Suzu-chan grinned as if she just overheard a dirty little secret. "Uhh, are you both staying together? I guess I shouldn't be surprised after seeing that footsie."
Takamiya-san sighed and even that simple gesture seemed very elegant. Her voice sounded genuinely concerned when she said softly, "I can understand that a powerful man like you would like a fiery company every now and then, Liu-sama. But please remember that this is a public place and everyone can see you flirting with this wh—with Asami-san. I only hope that Asami-sama knows about this. Is he a…a reward for you?"
Tao felt like his heart stopped beating for a second. That last question had hit too close to home. If only he hadn't trained his body to stay still whenever he needed to, he would have flinched at the simple question. He had suspected that this time alone with Akihito while Asami-sama was away was a sort-of-reward from Asami-sama for the recent millions-dollar deal he made. He didn't want to believe Asami-sama would do such a thing, not when Akihito was involved —his boss always treated Akihito with the possessiveness of a dragon guarding its treasured mountain of gold— but, Tao couldn't help but wonder.
Coming from Takamiya-san, it made the supposedly quality time with the love of his life sound so cheap. So filthy. As if Akihito was just a thing that could be passed around and not a human being with feelings.
For a brief moment, Tao literally saw red. Nobody could demean Akihito like that. Not even Asami-sama. Tao would kill them before—
The grip around his wrist tightened until he could feel Akihito's fingernails pressing against his skin. Nothing painful, but the warning was clear.
His lover said firmly, "I will wait outside. Take your time to finish your conversation with them."
There was a sharp emphasise on the word 'conversation' that gave Tao the hint. His master was expecting him to behave. Akihito didn't often give him a command. Being bossy just wasn't the way Akihito was built. So, every time Akihito did, it still sent a shiver down Tao's spine, calming his violent side faster than any beating, and yet, rousing his desire like nothing else.
Akihito turned to the ladies and said, "Have a good evening, Takamiya-san, Suzu-chan, Tanaka-san."
And without waiting for a response, the man left.
Tao saw the shock in Takamiya-san's eyes for being dismissed by Akihito. Suzu-chan dropped her jaw in disbelief that Akihito dared to treat her mother like the matriarch's presence and opinion didn't matter. Even Tanaka Haruo's eyes widened a little.
Trying to control his own temper, Tao took a few deep slow breaths as he watched Akihito walking toward the main entrance of the restaurant. He waited until Akihito closed the iconic Parisian door before he turned his attention back at the Takamiyas.
His master had ordered him to be civil. Well, he could do civil, but his duty first and foremost was to protect Akihito. To do that, he couldn't allow such disrespect, no matter what Akihito said. If he let one to be disrespectful, many would follow, and soon, it would be too dangerous for Akihito's safety. Everyone must know that they couldn't fuck around with Asami Akihito. That Tao would be merciless to anyone who tried.
Casually, he walked closer until he was barely a few inches apart from the older Takamiya lady. Tanaka Haruo stepped forward with a hand buried inside his suit jacket, perhaps reaching for his gun. Oh, did he think Tao would be scared? Hell no.
But, to his surprise, before he could even say anything, Takamiya-san raised a hand and the simple gesture stopped the alarmed bodyguard on his track.
"You are upset, Liu-sama. That's not my intention. I was merely…concerned. For you. But especially for Asami-sama. I don't want anyone to think of him as a cuckolded man, especially after all the grand announcements he made of Asami-san's status," the lady explained calmly. "But it seems that my concern have angered you instead. For that, I apologise."
As if he was just talking about the weather, Tao kept his tone conversational when he said, "Angered me? Takamiya-san, you don't have to be worried about angering me. Or even about angering Asami-sama."
He bend down a little until his lips was right beside Takamiya-san's right ear, whispering like he was about to tell her the secret of the universe. "Trust me. Even if you angered us, neither of us cares enough about you to bother."
With a smirk, he straightened himself and said evenly, "What you need to be worried about is angering Akihito."
Takamiya-san's smile now had an edge, like it was unnaturally sculpted onto her beautiful face. But her soft, melodious voice remained pleasant when she asked, "And why is that, Liu-sama?"
He waved a hand at a passing waitress and gestured for her to bring him the bill. While waiting, he answered simply, "Because both Asami-sama and I care enough about Akihito that we won't tolerate anyone who makes Akihito angry."
Even with such provocation, the lady didn't lose her temper and Tao must applaud her for that. Her tight control over her emotions was a stark contrast with her daughter. She held herself like a royal, proud and regal as if she had iron will running through her veins.
He added, "With the accumulating debts on your side, we both know that the Takamiya Group needs our alliance more than Sion Group does."
The waitress came with his bills and he threw his black American Express card onto the tray. After the waitress left to process the payment, he turned back to Takamiya-san.
"To avoid a bloodbath, Sion Group needs this alliance, too," she argued calmly.
He laughed. "For Akihito? Oh, I will turn Tokyo bay red with blood myself, assuming Asami-sama hasn't done so."
His smile was pure evil when he continued, "Honestly? I don't see Takamiya Group contributing much to the alliance. So far, it only gives us nagging women and empty promises. It doesn't seem like a good bargain for Sion Group, does it?"
Takamiya-san's smile grew thin at that insult but she didn't say anything else. Her daughter shrunk behind her mother, looking like she wanted to run away from Tao. Tanaka Haruo, on the other hand, stared at Tao with such unreadable expression on his face.
The waitress was back with his receipt. He signed it carelessly and returned a copy to her. Oblivious to the tension around her, the waitress bowed respectfully at Tao and said gently, "Thank you for dining with us, Sir. We hope to see you and Takaba-san again soon."
He gave her a smile and nodded briefly.
When the waitress left, Tao returned his piercing gaze back at the Takamiyas. His easy smile was completely gone. His voice was now as cold as the darkest winter. "Another disrespectful comment at Akihito, Takamiya-san, and your husband can kiss our protection goodbye. Let's see then how long Takamiya Group can survive without Sion Group. Half a year, perhaps? Less? Tell me, do you and your daughter prefer prostituting yourself or selling your organs? I will personally make sure that your wish will be honoured."
Her jaw tightened as she gritted her teeth. But there wasn't much she could say to defend herself because it was all true. If Sion Group pulled out from this alliance, it would only be matter of time before the Takamiya Group fell apart. She was smart enough to read the situation.
Tao sneered at her. "What? Cat got your tongue? Beggars can't be choosers, Takamiya-san. Face it: the more you disrespect Akihito, the sooner you need to make a choice. I suggest you start thinking about it."
And with that final remarks, Tao walked away to find his lover and master.
Sunday, 8.27 PM
Soga was inhaling a deep breath full of nicotine as he watched Asami-san talking to that magazine lady at the cafe across the street. Both the lady and the cafe were familiar so he didn't see the need to hover so close to Asami-san. After so many years following the man around, he had learnt when to keep his distance and when to stay close.
The fancy cafe stood amongst a row of luxurious boutiques and eateries. Many were often frequented by upper class ladies and high profile gentlemen. So, it wasn't such a surprise to him when a few minutes later, another bodyguard —built like a giant— joined him in the dark, shaded corner. This was the best spot to watch over the various establishments after all.
"Fuck, the wind is cold," the other man grumbled under his breath. "I hope she will finish her fucking shopping soon."
Soga ignored him. He wasn't here to make friends so he didn't bother to socialise.
Unfortunately for him, this man was a chatty one. "Mine is buying a lingerie. My boss taking her out for a cruise or something. Where's yours?"
Hoping that the man would get the hint that Soga wasn't looking for a conversation, he just shrugged.
The giant, however, followed Soga's line of sight and made an educated guess.
"Oh, is it that guy? The one sitting by the glass wall?"
Soga frowned. "Maybe it's the lady talking to him."
The man laughed, obviously enjoying their barely existing conversation. "Ha, so I am right! You just confirmed my blind guess! You don't strike me as the blabbering type, so if it's her, you'd have keep your mouth shut."
Fuck, this guy wasn't completely dumb after all and Soga had fallen for his shitty trick like a newbie. He cursed himself silently.
The man continued with his unsolicited explanation, "Besides, her outfit is too professional. Female bitches don't do that."
Annoyed, he couldn't stop himself from commenting, "Well, perhaps, she is working today, just like us."
This time, the man roared in laughter. He was so amused that his eyes watered a little. Wiping his tears away, he said, "Oh man. You're funny. Yeah, yeah. I agree. Those bitches need to try working like the rest of us. All they can do is moaning under their men and faking orgasms. Ahhh. Ahhh. Ahhhhhhh."
The man made a crude gesture with his hips while making the mocking sound of a fake orgasm. Soga restrained himself from rolling his eyes. What a stereotype.
Then, the man suddenly fell quiet. He narrowed his eyes, trying to get a better view. "Wait, is that—"
He paused in disbelief. Then, turning towards Soga, he asked, "Are you working for Sion Group? Is that Asami's bitch you are watching over?"
Instinctively, Soga kept his face blank.
Wrong fucking move.
The man covered his gaping mouth with his huge hands, like a fangirl seeing his favourite celebrity. "Holy shit. You are! Man, everyone is talking about him! You lucky dog! You are practically guarding a royalty's bitch! You know that, right?! They said Asami spoils him like he is a national treasure! That lucky fucker!"
There was nothing Soga wanted more than for this man to shut his fucking mouth. He tried to go back ignoring the irritating man.
But, the man went on and on, "Isn't he a little average though? I mean, yes, good looking. But, for a bitch who won the ultimate grand prize, I was kinda expecting someone more…I don't know, breath-taking? Otherworldly? Young?"
What a bullshit.
Come on, just treat this like a background noise, Soga told himself. He wasn't here to create problem after all and he knew Asami-san hated violence.
"Well, I guess, to each his own. Oh, oh. Is it true that Asami only shares his bitch with Liu Tao? Heard the fucking crown prince loves fucking that ass so much, he pledges a fucking lifetime loyalty!"
The man laughed again at his own not-funny not-exactly-a-joke.
"Shit, don't tell me you have tried it yourself! Of course, when your boss is not around. Nobody is that stupid! And you don't seem stupid! Oh, God! I got hard just from imagining how tight the ass owned by Asami is—"
And, that was where Soga's patience run out. Nobody could disrespect Asami-san like this. Like the man was just a fucking piece of meat. Soga had been Asami-san's bodyguard for almost a decade. He knew —perhaps almost as much as his boss— how hard Asami-san worked to be his own man.
His punch flied before he could even think twice. There was a loud satisfying crack when his fist met jaw. Blood spurted from the open mouth, accompanied by a teeth or two. As expected, this goon's bark was worse than his bite. The big man fell down easily, his hands quickly covering his dislocated jaw.
"What the fuck?!"
Or at least, Soga guessed that's what the man was trying to say, because the words sounded more like a gargle.
As Soga took a step forward with a vicious grin on his face, the man tried to scoot away from him. Oh no, he didn't get to run away now that he had insulted Asami-san like that. Grabbing the man by his collar, Soga lifted the enormous body like it weighed nothing and slammed it against the dirty concrete behind him.
He moved closer until their faces were barely inches apart and growled, "No one can disrespect Asami Akihito and leave without fucking paying for it, do you understand?"
When the other man didn't reply, Soga slammed his body again and again, emphasising every single word with brute force. "Do. You. Understand?!"
The man nodded frantically in fear.
Only when he was certain that his words had been taken seriously did he release the man. He gave the useless brute one last kick before spitting at the man who was curling on the ground like a newborn baby.
Watching the man sobbing, he commented conversationally while wiping his hands clean with the handkerchief and hand-sanitisers he always brought with him these days. "You should be thankful that Asami-san doesn't like violence. Otherwise, I would have tore your tongue from your mouth for what you said just now. But, you know how it is with tongue, the blood will get everywhere and it's damn hard to clean."
He looked down then. Fuck, the blood on his shoe would be impossible to remove in such a short time. He just hoped the strong scent from the sanitiser would at least cover the smell of blood on him.
This was starting to become a concerning pattern, though. After Asami-san was introduced as Asami-sama's husband, people recognised the man everywhere he went. Most would be smart enough to stay away from Asami Ryuichi's partner, but there was always a few idiots like this one who liked to test the water.
Honestly, it's getting harder and harder for Soga to hide the beatings he had given these idiots from Asami-san. The man wasn't stupid. Asami-san had started asking why Soga was so obsessed with cleaning his hands with such a strong-smelling sanitiser these days.
But, Asami-sama's order was clear and Soga would never even think to disobey his boss.
So, when Asami-san's meeting was finally over, Soga was ready by the car to open the door for the man, just like he had always done despite Asami-san's countless protests. This time, however, the man paused on his way into the car.
He sniffed the air and asked, "Did you hurt your hands from washing it too often, Soga? I think I smell blood. I told you that much sanitisers will make your skin dry. Did you use the hand lotion I gave you?"
Soga carefully moved his foot to hide his stained leather shoe from the man. "I did, Asami-san," he lied easily. "It helps. Thank you."
Asami-san stared at him with concern in those hazel eyes. Or was it curiosity? But, then, the man simply shrugged and went into the car.
Sighing in relief, Soga closed the car door, ready to drive Asami-san to wherever the man wanted to go next.
Monday, 7.03 AM
Kirishima stared at the folder Akihito had dumped unceremoniously onto his desk. Sion Group building was still quiet at this time of the day and Kirishima had come earlier hoping to finish some work in peace before the rest of the staffs started bothering him with a thousand trivial issues. But, Akihito had ambushed him the moment he'd sat his ass on his chair.
He sighed in resignation as he slowly took the folder and flipped through the content inside.
"So?" Akihito asked.
"So, what?" he returned the question as he observed the photos included inside the folder.
The brat huffed impatiently, "You know what this is about."
He shrugged his shoulders, "No, I don't."
Yes, he did. But, Kirishima didn't want to give away a clue of what Asami-sama had ordered him to do for the last 15 years.
The brat leaned forward until they could see each other in the eyes, his palms resting on Kirishima's desk, those hazel eyes full of accusation. "Stop lying, Kirishima."
Kirishima raised his hands in a sign of surrender. "I am not. I'm really not sure what's exactly happening. I am sorry, Akihito, but you will need to explain it. If I don't fully understand what's the issue, I can't help you."
Haruka would be a better choice to handle Akihito. She knew exactly what Akihito would want to hear and what would calm him down. But, Haruka was away with Asami-sama. So, Kirishima had no choice but to shoulder this storm himself.
Akihito covered his mouth —probably in an attempt to stop shouting— before starting pacing back and forth in front of Kirishima's desk. The agitation was clear on the tense line of his neck and shoulder. His entire body was stiff as if he could barely control his emotions. He had the air of someone who was going to threw a punch out of frustration. But, Kirishima stood his ground. He might be old, but he could still handle Akihito just fine.
"Reiko-san—" Akihito paused, then added an explanation, "—a friend who is working in this magazine I often work for—"
Kirishima knew perfectly well who she was. He had a file full of her background check result in one of the drawer in his office. But, he let Akihito to continue.
"—she gave me that folder yesterday. She said that the photos were sent to her office. It was handled by an editor, who then passed it to a junior member of the team to write a story for this week edition. By the time the team brought it to her attention, she consulted her boss for advice just to be shut down in a blink. Right after the meeting, she found that the junior writer was already moved to some shitty department, the editor was fired, and the photographer who sent these photo can no longer be contacted."
Akihito stopped briefly to take a deep breath.
The brat turned towards Kirishima and continued shakily, "She quickly called me to meet. She was worried she would be next and she wanted me to tell Ryu that she didn't mean to offend him. She swore that the moment she saw it, she was planning to drop the story and she just needed to check with her boss on how to mitigate the situation. She even apologised for any inconvenience caused."
Kirishima stayed quiet.
Akihito gritted his teeth. "She literally begged me to ask for Ryu's forgiveness, Kirishima. I have never seen her that scared for as long as I've known her."
He watched Akihito carefully. There was no point telling Akihito that this woman had nothing to fear. Nobody wanted to cross Asami-sama. Anyone who realised that they might have done so, despite unintentionally, had a reason to feel fear.
When Akihito realised that Kirishima wasn't going to respond, the brat started pulling his hair in frustration, "Fuck, Kirishima! She needs her job. And honestly, I like working with her too! She is so damn good at what she is doing! You can't just make people get fired simply because they are doing their fucking job!"
Kirishima frowned, "Would you prefer these magazines and tabloids to publish articles about your personal live without your permission, then?"
Akihito hesitated to answer that blunt question. Kirishima scoffed at Akihito's naivety. One of these days, Akihito must begin to learn that he couldn't have his cake and eat it too. Sometimes, one must chose the lesser of two evils.
When no reply came forward, Kirishima assumed the matter was closed. "Don't worry about her. Nothing has happened to her so far, so I doubt anything will."
Akihito stared at him with suspicion. "So, you do admit that you have anything to do with this."
He shrugged. The brat was persistent, Kirishima must admit. Like a dog that wouldn't let go of a bone thrown at him. It was pretty annoying.
"No," Kirishima said firmly, trying to hold on to his thinning patience. "I simply made an educated guess."
For a moment, Akihito was observing him, trying to find any crack in Kirishima's lie. Kirishima was simply staring back him without so much as a blink. At the end, Akihito gave in as he looked away.
"She said that the photos must've been sent to other magazines and tabloids," Akihito murmured, guilt dripping from each syllable.
Kirishima nodded. "That seems like a logical thing for the photographer to do."
The brat was focusing at his own sneakers now, as if trying to find the answer there. "Does that mean that there are others who got fired somewhere else?"
Kirishima answered honestly this time, "I don't know."
And, he didn't care. It was up to each company how they wanted to handle this situation. The only request Sion Group made was to give the most severe consequences to these people so that no one would even dare to try again. The message must be loud and clear for everyone to see: anyone who tried to undermine Asami Akihito's reputation would be dealt without mercy.
"Fine. Just tell me one thing, then," Akihito pled. "Nothing will happen to Reiko-san, right? I will regret it if anything bad happens to her because of me."
The secretary sighed in defeat. It seemed that Akihito wouldn't let this go until he got some assurances. So, Kirishima gave in, "She will be fine. I know she is your friend."
The brat closed his eyes in relief. Tension melted from his body like butter under the sun. He whispered softly, "And…can you please tell Ryu to stop doing this?"
Kirishima raised an eyebrow. How could the brat think that it would be a good idea? Heads would roll on the floor before Asami-sama would allow it. Did Akihito even think of the consequences of his request?
Spreading the papers from the folder on his desk until Akihito could fully see every photos and texts printed on it, Kirishima asked instead, "Are you saying that you don't mind for everyone you know —your parents, your colleagues, your friends, anyone who may not fully understand the reasoning behind your decision— to see this article?"
Akihito winced at the reminder. The photo of Akihito and Tao kissing on the lips in front of the restaurant they had gone to last Saturday was taking almost the entire first page. The title was written on bold letters, "Asami Akihito: The Secret Lives of the Japan's Ultra-rich". Then, photos after photos. Of Tao and Akihito holding hands. Of Asami-sama's hand on Akihito's lower back, guiding him to some event Kirishima couldn't even remember anymore. Of Akihito's personal life throughout the years. All captured in a sensual way, just to grab the reader's attention. To make Akihito look dirty and turn him into a whore in the public eyes.
"So?" Kirishima pushed.
Slowly, Akihito shook his head, his lips thinning into a sad line. Kirishima hoped that the brat wouldn't start crying because Kirishima wouldn't know what to do then. He genuinely cared for Akihito, but Kirishima wasn't comfortable with feelings and validations and whatever woke bullshit kids said these days.
Discreetly, he glanced at his computer, briefly checking the company messaging program. If Tao was already online, Kirishima could dump Akihito on him before the first drop of tear could even reach Kirishima's office floor. Tao would know better how to calm their boss' husband.
Besides, after the ruse to make everyone believe that Akihito held the future of Sion Group in his palm, the brat was now —technically— Tao's lover. It shouldn't be Kirishima's job to comfort Akihito while Asami-sama was away. Let Tao deal with Akihito's temper and tears. Kirishima had enough in his plate with the after-effects of Asami-sama's decision to publicly claim Akihito as his husband. That had put an unhealthy amount of spotlight on Akihito and it began to worry Kirishima.
But, Akihito didn't cry. He just gave Kirishima a forced smile and left.
Tuesday, 5.27 PM
Mizuki watched warily as her dad waved with an unwavering smile from where he sat amongst the other parents —or, more accurately, amongst those rich, irritating housewives. Since Haruka-san was away with her father on a business trip, her dad had taken time-off to accompany her to her ballet class himself. She had been happy to spend more time with her dad, but now she wasn't so sure it was such a good idea.
From inside the studio, separated by a floor-to-ceiling glass window from the waiting area, she couldn't really hear what those stupid ladies were murmuring to each other. But her classmates were talking enough throughout the lesson to give her an idea of what was definitely happening. The worst part was that they actually took pity on her. As if she was ashamed or something. If only she wasn't worried about upsetting her dad, she would have made a scene already.
"Ugh, someone really should have kicked him out. I am so sorry for you, Mizuki-chan," someone whispered from behind her.
She gritted her teeth and focused her attention at the rehearsal in front of her, instead of her gossiping classmates sitting with her.
"My mother told me that it doesn't reflect on you if that whore has no shame after ruining the reputation of a respectable family like the Asami. So, please don't worry, Mizuki-chan. He won't make us think about you differently."
The rest murmured their agreement. One said eagerly, "He is not your dad just because your father decided to acknowledge him as his partner."
"I know, right," another added as if she had seen it all. "Claiming to be your dad! Ugh, his shamelessness has no bound."
"I am sure your father is doing it just because he is bored, Mizuki-chan. Please don't let this bother you."
Aware that her dad was watching her interacting with her friends, she stopped herself from rolling her eyes. Instead, she forced herself to throw his dad a genuine smile. She was a good actress after all.
Her classmates had been kissing her ass ever since they found out that her father was Asami Ryuichi. They came from influential families but they gossiped like bored housewives. She had found it useful. Over the years, she had passed many valuable secrets and insights to her father by listening to these mind-numbing conversation. Today, however, she just found them annoying. And if it was this bad over here, she couldn't imagine what her dad experienced sitting there with those nosy rich ladies.
When the practice finally over, she couldn't pack her bag fast enough to get out of there and rescue her dad. To her dad's credit, the man hid his own reaction extremely well. He gave her a high-five with such a proud smile, ignoring the snickering ladies behind him as if he couldn't hear them. Sometimes, Mizuki wondered whether his dad was truly clueless of what was happening in their house. If the man could remain nonchalance after enduring an hour of these ladies' bitching, wasn't it also possible that the man simply pretended ignorance of whatever her father was doing behind his back?
Her dad asked with a grin, "Ready for ice cream?"
"Always!" she beamed.
As they left, one of the ladies whispering loud enough to be heard by everyone in the waiting area, "Trying to win brownie points from the little princess, isn't he? I just hope his motive is pure."
Another scoffed at that remark, "Well, you will never know what these kind of people will do to gain fame. Today, he is sleeping with the father. Tomorrow, he is molesting the—"
"Now, you better watch out what you are going to say next, Uchida-san," her dad's voice suddenly cut through the room. "I don't care what you want to say about me. But if you dare to say anything inappropriate about my daughter, trust me, I have the means to make you regret it. Without involving Asami Ryuichi. Public opinion could be very cruel and my job happens to give me a direct access to it."
Mizuki stared at her dad unblinking. Here she thought that she was rescuing her dad. And yet, her dad was more concerned of protecting her.
The room was suddenly silent. No one had expected her dad to call them out for insulting his family.
After a brief moment of tensed silence, her dad tugged her hand gently. He said warmly, "Let's go?"
She waited until they were both inside the lift and the door was almost close before pushing her bag into her dad's arms. Then, she jumped out through the small remaining gap of the lift door. "Oh noes, I forget to mark my attendance. Go ahead, Dad! I will catch you up downstairs!"
All she could hear was "Mizu—" and then, the lift door closed.
Once she saw the digital panel indicating that the lift was indeed on the way down, she walked back to find the bitches that had insulted her dad.
"Mizuki-chan, is everything all right, dear? That man is so rude you must be—"
She smiled like an angel. "You are lucky that my dad will never telltale to my father. But, please know that I have no such qualms. No one can insult my dad without paying the price. The next time any of you or your daughters speaks ill of my dad, rest assured it will be recorded so my father can hear all your petty insults, word by word. Believe me, he won't be happy about it."
Then, she turned to Uchida-san and said sweetly, "And let's not behave all high and mighty when your husband's hobby is to sleep with underage girl, shall we?"
Uchida-san flinched, not expecting her to know their family secret. Well, your kids may know more than you think they do, she thought silently in satisfaction as she watched the other ladies turned their attention at Uchida-san.
Her dad was waiting anxiously when she went out of the lift. She grinned at him, "Sorry, Dad. Ms. Angelina is very strict about attendance."
For a brief moment, her dad simply stared at her. Then, he knelt until they were both on the same eye level and said, "This is not because of what those ladies said, right? Mizuki-chan, you must tell me if anyone is bullying you."
She exploded into laughter then. Nobody bullied Asami Ryuichi's daughter. Nobody.
And soon, these people would also learn not to disturb Asami Ryuchi's husband. They just needed to get used to the idea.
Wednesday, 07.41 PM
Nao stared at Tao-niisan from across the dining table. He could see Riki-nii do the same. Certainly, their niisan noticed it but the man chose to ignore their scrutiny.
"Anyone wants dessert?" Dad asked after noticing that they all had done with their meal. "I bought cheese cake from this famous shop Makoto-san told me about. The queue was super long."
"I'll help you, Dad!" Mizuki-chan quickly offered as she jumped from her chair to follow Dad into the kitchen.
"I'd want a slice, Dad," Riki-nii said with a smile.
"Me too!" Nao chirped in.
"It sounds really nice, Akihito," Tao-niisan added as he sent Dad an adoring gaze. "Thank you."
To be fair, Tao-niisan didn't kissed Dad in front of the three of them like what Dad and Father often did. They didn't even hugged or touched each other intimately when one of them was around. Either the absent public display of affection was intentional or it was merely something Dad did unconsciously out of embarrassment.
But, the blatant loving look Tao-niisan threw Dad every time he had a chance was just as loud and embarrassing as the kisses Nao's parents often shared with each other. Who knew a look could contain so much love that it could embarrass anyone who witnessed it?
The moment Dad and Mizuki-chan were gone, Tao-niisan turned to the two of them and said, "So, will the two of you stop staring at me and your dad like that? Or will I need to beat it out of you? You do know that your dad started to notice it, right? You are making him uncomfortable."
Riki-nii merely raised an eyebrow. "Oh, we are the ones who are making Dad uncomfortable, Nao. I wasn't aware of that."
Nao returned Riki-nii's sneer. "I know right. But, you know what people said, Riki-nii. Love is blind."
For once, words seemed to fail Tao-niisan. The man opened his mouth as if to say something, but then he closed it again. Then, a very, very faint blush of pink painted his cheeks. It was barely visible. But, it was there.
Fuck.
Nao almost wanted to squeal in excitement. That was fucking adorable. Who knew that Tao-niisan could blush like an innocent virgin! Oh, Nao loved it. Fucking loved it. It was so fucking easy now to poke fun at Tao-niisan. Dad was Tao-niisan's achilles heels. Or cryptonites. His Dad literally turned the ruthless mentor that Nao knew into a lovesick, careless, speechless man that was now sitting in front of then. If only Nao had known this earlier!
"What do you mean I make him uncomfortable?" his niisan said with feigned annoyance. But, the stern tone had a slight hitch at the end that indicated the man was truly worried about it. The old Tao-niisan wouldn't make such a mistake to show his vulnerability.
Oh, how the mighty have fallen.
Riki-nii noticed it too, of course. His brother grinned and glanced at Nao. "Should we tell him?"
"Maybe not," Nao answered with an evil glee. "Why should we when he threatened to beat us?"
Their older cousin narrowed his eyes in anger. Which might have scared Riki-nii and Nao in the past. But, now, they both knew that Tao-niisan couldn't do much in front of their dad.
"Don't worry," Riki-nii patted Tao-niisan's hand on the table after a moment of staring match, finally taking pity on him. Riki-nii was always the generous one. "Dad is just getting used to have you showering him with so much love and affection in front of us. He will get used to this eventually. In the meantime, maybe you can tone down that lovesick look a little."
The stillness in their cousin's expression told Nao that Tao-niisan didn't expect that advice. Perhaps, Tao-niisan had mistakenly believed that he had hidden his affection well.
Riki-nii saw an opportunity in Tao-niisan's. His expression changed in a blink, replaced by this sharp look which Nao had often witnessed whenever Riki-nii wanted to threaten someone. His twin tightened long fingers around Tao-niisan's wrist. Nails dig painfully into their cousin's skin. Tao-niisan didn't even flinch. That little pain wasn't a serious threat to him. But, the lovesick look on Tao-niisan's face evaporated in an instant. The man's face turned serious as he stared at the two of them calmly. Those black eyes now had a dangerous glint as their cousin quickly assessed the situation with his usual efficiency.
If this turned into a fight, Riki-nii and Nao would lose within minutes. Both of them might be good, but Tao-niisan had years of real-life experience to his advantage. Nao wouldn't even dream of being able to incapacitate his cousin should Riki-nii started throwing a punch.
But, instead of breaking their cousin's nose, Riki-nii simply said, "I just want to remind you that if you ever hurt our dad —or betray our father— we will make it our life mission to hunt you down and hurt you ourselves. And after you are broken, you better hope that Nao will still want to keep you as his toy. Because, trust me, you won't like the alternatives."
For a threat, it was delivered very calmly. No pissing match. No growling. No raising voice. As if Riki-nii was merely talking about his day at school today.
But, Tao-niisan's obsidian eyes grew darker. Colder. Blacker, if that was even possible. There was something in his expression that tickled the edge of Nao's instinct. Something that made him think of a person who hid a dark secret. But before Nao could look deeper into it, the sign had disappeared.
"If I were to hurt your dad or betray your father," Tao-niisan started with an equally calm tone, "I wouldn't be so stupid as to let their annoying brats live long enough to hunt me down."
The silence that followed was terrifying.
Speech failed the two of them as they stared at their cousin in horror, suddenly feeling hurt and betrayed by this one person whom they had looked up to their whole life as their mentor. Nao could see his twin grew tense beside Tao-niisan. The grip on their cousin's wrist tightened beyond a mere warning. Now, it would surely leave a bruise. Tiny spots of blood appeared where Riki-nii's nails made contact with Tao-niisan's skin. Riki-nii's face turned deadly and Nao himself was readying for a fight. That was a threat and he would protect his brother and his family to the death.
Then, Tao-niisan raised his eyebrows. His lips slowly curled into a sly smile, as if he had found their instinctive reaction amusing. He continued lightly, "You both really must learn how to control your reaction better if you want to start throwing threats like that."
His tone now had a hint of humour. It took a second for Riki-nii to realised that the older man had been merely teasing them. But, once the understanding dawned on him, his expression quickly turned into a scowl.
"This is serious, Tao-niisan," he hissed through his gritted teeth.
Their cousin chuckled. His voice had an indulging air now, as if he was just humouring some toddlers who were crying for attention. "Yes. Yes. Of course, boy. Rest assured, I will remember your scary warning and take it very, very, very seriously."
Tao-niisan patted Riki-nii's forearm with his free hand. Affectionally, like one would do to a small child. Talking about adding salt to injury.
There was a challenge in Tao-niisan's smile, a provocation for them to prove that he was wrong. That the two of them were ready to trade threats with him. That they were mature enough to control their own reactions, even when things didn't go the way they had expected it to be. Which, truthfully, they had failed spectacularly. Their cousin had turned the table so fast, it was fucking annoying.
"Is everything okay here?" Dad's voice suddenly cut through the tension.
The three of them turned to see his dad and Mizuki-chan stood at far end of the dining area, watching them. The concern in their dad's eyes were palpable.
"Yes, Akihito, all is fine," Tao-niisan said gently with a warning glance at the two of them. Riki-nii quickly released Tao-niisan's wrist. "They were just teasing me about us."
Dad blushed and stammered as he walked towards the table with small plates of cheese cake on both hands. "A—about…what?"
Mizuki-chan took her seat beside Nao before pushing a plate to him. "Because you are dating Dad now?" she asked Tao-niisan curiously.
Dad's face turned bright red now. "Uhmm, Mizuki-chan, I—I don't think—"
"I saw you both kissing in your bedroom the other day," she told Tao-niisan with a grin. "Then, Dad returned to his own bedroom looking all red."
"W—what—when—"
"Are you worried about that, little moon?" Tao-niisan nudged their sister gently.
She placed the back of her spoon against her lips, staring upward as she took her time thinking. "Is Father worried about that?" she finally returned the question.
Tao-niisan leaned back against the back of his chair, looking certain and relax at the same time. "No, your father has nothing to worry about," he told her with a confident smile.
"W—wait. Wait—" Dad was still trying to interject the conversation. "H—how did this conversation—"
"Right," she said as she took a spoonful of cheese cake. "Because Father and Dad still love each other." She shoved the cheese cake into her mouth.
A pause. Then, Tao-niisan said carefully, "They do."
"A—and th—that—that will never change, Mizuki-chan," Dad added quickly.
"So, are you going to stay here with us now, Tao-niisan?" Mizuki-chan ignored dad's stuttered protest.
Their niisan smiled at her innocent question, "Only when your father is away. Or whenever your father asks me to."
She nodded as if that made perfect sense. "Okay," she said easily. "I like having you here."
Without another word, she dig into her cheese cake again. Everyone else just turned to their own plates, taking her swift acceptance as a sign to start eating.
Everyone but Dad. Who was still standing behind Tao-niisan's chair. Looking like he was going to pass out from a heart attack.
"Seriously? Am I the only person who finds this situation—I don't know—a little awkward, at least?"
Oh, Dad.
Nao merely shook his head with a small fond smile, not even bothering to take the time to answer that absurd question.
Thursday, 11.20 AM
It was Thursday afternoon. The kids had all gone to school and Tao had left for work. The photoshoot I was scheduled for this today had just been cancelled because the model was having food poisoning. So, I had nothing much to do but to wander in my own house, suddenly noticing how huge and quiet it was without the usual troublemakers —aka my family— in it.
Asami had told me that he would come back tomorrow. But, his plan had often changed in the past. It wasn't unusual for a weekend business trip to extend indefinitely. And since he had rescheduled his return from last Sunday to the coming Friday, I wouldn't even blink an eye if he suddenly decided to postpone it again. Sometimes, I wondered whether Asami was truly happy at home. Perhaps, all these long business trips were just his petty excuses to get away from his mundane life as a married man.
The mere thought of him hating his life with me made me feel even more alone. The silence in the house began to suffocate me. The stillness was overwhelming. And I was longing for his voice to fill the void in me.
I glanced at the clock. He hadn't told me where he was exactly, but he had mentioned about the 12 hours differences. So, it would be almost midnight for him. He must be tired and he would need all the sleep he could get before his long flight back to Japan.
If he would even fly back to Japan tomorrow, I corrected myself.
Still, I didn't want to wake him up just because I felt lonely. Instead, I went into his home office, hoping to feel more of his presence there. Asami's home office was always organised and tidy. Kirishima had made sure of it.
The morning sunlight coming from the huge window behind his desk brightened the room. His desk was neat, as usual, without any stray paper on it. He had left nothing there that would give me any clue of his shady business. Asami was very careful about that. Even after living with the bastard for so long, finding anything about his life in the underworld was still like trying to find a needle in a haystack. Fuck, it might be easier to find a needle in a haystack.
The space had a faint, lingering scent of his cigarette and cologne. His outer coat was draped across the back of his chair. I took it and wore it like a child covering himself with his security blanket. It smelled like him. Like home. Which didn't make sense because I was at home. I took a seat in his chair, pulling my knees against my chest and filling my lungs with the air that tasted like him.
It had been a long, difficult week. And I realised I missed him desperately.
I missed his smug voice that sent shiver down my spine.
I missed his overwhelming, overbearing presence that seemed larger than life itself.
I missed his confident touches and caresses that would always set my desire on fire.
My body felt hot from that particular thought. I imagined him here, with me, his fingers brushing my face, slowly down to my jaw, along my neck, all the way to the top of my collarbone. He would stop then, since my shirt wouldn't allow him to continue feeling my bare skin.
I closed my eyes, so I could pretend to hear his calm, collected command, 'Take it all off, Akihito. I want you completely naked. For me.'
Keeping my eyes closed, I moaned, submitting myself to this imaginary order. His possessive claim over my body always turned me into a creature of lust. He knew how to make my body sing for him, like a professional pianist knew how to create harmony with her instrument. My cock was already hard when my underwear joined my jeans and shirt on the smooth parquet floor.
I curled on his chair, one hand pressing his coat onto my face as I inhaled the last remaining scent of him on it. My free hand was holding my cock, giving it long, steady strokes, just like what Asami would have done. I groaned in pleasure. I could feel my desire grew with every rub against my skin. My breathing turned quicker and shorter. Soon, I was panting.
'Oh, someone is enjoying this,' my imaginary Asami commented with a chuckle.
"Oh yes, Ryu," I answered out loud, even when I knew Asami wasn't around to hear it. "Yes!"
His non-existent laugh in my head felt so vivid in my imagination. Imaginary Asami teased, 'You are always more honest when you are deep in pleasure.'
"And you talk too much in my imagination," I complained to myself.
I imagined his displeasure at my defiant reply. I asked myself what would the real Asami do if he had heard me. Punishing me, most likely. So, I tightened my grip around my cock a little, just until it reach the fine line between pleasure and discomfort, and held it tightly for a few seconds.
"Ryu," I gasped as the slight pain became a little too much. "Please…"
'No more witty comeback, Akihito?' he asked in my head.
"Please," I pled, my hand moving faster in the hope to get to the peak of my pleasure that felt so fucking close.
Close. Yet, unreachable.
"Please, please, please. Ryu. Gods, I miss this so much," I begged him.
"I miss you too," the reply came. But—
Even in the midst of my lust, this voice sounded so real.
So unbelievably real.
My imagination couldn't be that good.
I opened my eyes quickly. And there he was. Leaning against the door frame, his arms crossed over his broad chest, a pair of golden eyes twinkling with clear amusement. For someone who surely just went through a long flight home, he looked incredibly fresh in his tailor-made suits. No wayward hair, or puffy eyes, or wrinkled clothes, or any other sign of weariness which usually happened with everyone else after a long flight.
He looked good, actually. His lips was curled slightly at one end, as if he was trying to hold back a smirk. His body relaxed, like he was merely watching the garden outside the huge window behind me, instead of me jerking myself off in his home office chair while sniffing his coat like a pervert.
My face warmed with embarrassment. "I—," I started, but speech failed me.
Asami just waited calmly. Clearly, he saw my shameful attempt at masturbation as an entertainment. When the silence continued uncomfortably, I swallowed and tried again, "I—uhh, I thought you'll be back tomorrow."
For a minute or two that felt like forever to me, he remained silent. But, his eyes were inspecting every part of my naked body with such intensity as if he was molesting me with his gaze alone. And fuck me, but it reignited my desire that had begun to cool after his unexpected appearance.
Finally, he answered, "I decided to fly back earlier. I thought that you'd appreciate that. Although, honestly, I didn't expect such a grand, warm welcome."
He straightened himself lazily and began to make his way into the room. I watched as he approached me like a predator approaching its prey. Strong. Focused. Confident. He kept his hands hidden in his pockets, walking casually as if he just wanted to talk about a trivial domestic matter with me, but the sly smile on his face promised me something completely different. Something…wicked.
I gulped, "Umm, I didn't—I didn't hear you entering the house."
"I suspected as much," he replied easily, "since you seemed very busy."
My cheeks felt so hot that I was sure my face must be red from shame. "How—how long have you been standing there?"
The evil chuckle he let out was full of mirth. "Long enough," he said simply.
He stopped right in front of me, his sturdy body towering like a concrete wall that trapped me in this chair. My nose was barely an inch away from his muscular stomach. His masculine scent filled my nostril and it made the lingering smell on his coat seemed like an inadequate replacement. How could I ever think that it would be enough?
"Carry on," he said with a tone that clearly indicated it wasn't a request. "Don't stop on my account."
I looked up to see his face and the blatant desire in his golden eyes caught my breath. That was enough to push me into action. I dropped his coat onto the floor and rested my forehead against his body. With one hand holding onto his waist, I used the other one to continue stroking my cock.
Asami kept his hands in his pockets. He didn't even move to assist me in any way, simply letting me to lean on his strong body for support. Other than the outlined of his hard manhood tenting the front of his pants, he didn't show any sign that he would join me in my pursuit of carnal pleasure.
And now that he was truly here with me, I realised that my own hand wouldn't be enough to push me into orgasm. It felt wrong. The size of my palm were now a reminder that his would be big enough to cover almost the entire length of my cock. His taut body against me triggered the memory of how safe it felt under its weight. His touches would be rougher. More ruthless. And I would love every second of it.
With my hand kept rubbing my cock in desperation, I pushed my body closer to his. My entire front body was literally plastered against his. I pressed myself against him, hoping for more frictions, wishing for any reaction. A gasp. A flinch. A tightening of muscle. Anything. But, he remained as still as a marble statue.
"Ryu," I whined while searching for his eyes.
He merely looked down at me with a raised eyebrow, inquiring what I could possibly want from him without uttering a single word.
"Please," I whispered, nearly sobbing from the overwhelming need to come, "I need you."
He scoffed in mocking disbelief. "Need me? Am I not here with you now, Akihito?"
I almost screamed in my frustration. But, at the back of my mind, I knew what he wanted.
"I need you to—to—" I paused because it suddenly felt so embarrassing to admit.
A part of me felt anger. We had been married for more than a decade, damnit! He should be able to read my mind by now! The bastard knew what I wanted and he chose to ignore it because he thought it was fun to watch me die from shame.
And yet, another part of me —the one that was too clouded with pure lust— couldn't even care about petty things like shame or pride. At that moment, Asami could order me to worship him as if he was an ancient god now and I would do it wholeheartedly if only to feel his touch on my skin.
"—to?" he pushed. His amusement was clear in his voice.
I shut my eyes tight and gritted my teeth. "…to fuck me," I finally muttered under my breath.
A brief pause, then he said evenly, "You need to speak louder. I couldn't hear you, Akihito."
What. A. Fucking. Lie!
"I need you to fuck me, you bastard!" I shouted at him. "Your cock. My ass. Now! Happy?!"
He bursted into laughter. He laughed so hard, it took him a few seconds to calm down. When he finally did, he teased, "Geez, you don't have to be so crude about it, Akihito. We are not cavemen."
I frowned in annoyance. But, when he leaned down to kiss me in the lips, his tongue sneaking out to lick mine and his arms surrounding me with safety, all my anger was forgotten. After all the craziness in the past week, his strong presence was enough to calm me down.
I smiled. All would be well now.
Because Asami was home.