When I posted Business as Usual, I meant it to be a one shot. I seriously never thought I would get any reviews at all but I did! Thank you so much for your encouraging reviews! They gave me some ideas to write this sequel. I hope I have lived up everyone's expectations in this second chapter!
Any similarities to other authors' fictions are purely coincidental.
Self beta-ed. English is not my mother tongue. I have tried to change everything into American English so if there is still any parts where you find weird, I sincerely apologize. Please pm me if there is any mistakes and I will try my best to fix it.
Disclaimer: Viewfinder and its notable characters belong to the great Yamane Ayano sensei. I do not earn anything from writing this fan fiction.
Akihito thought that it wasn't by pure chance he found out that he owned Marukoshi. After his conversation with Asami, he paid a visit to the mart to get the Mackerel fish using Asami's Platinum card. He however, did not flash it to the bitch manning the cashier and announced that he intended to buy the whole store. He still thought it was nonsensical; he didn't think the credit card machine would allow so many numbers being punched in anyways. So when he stood at the counter to pay for the ridiculously high price fish alongside with a few items, surprisingly the bitch at the counter didn't sneer at him like she used to. She was even polite and dared not look at Akihito when she accepted the credit card.
Asami must have sent his men to threaten her. For once, Akihito was pleased with Asami's interference. That'll serve her right.
It was a week later when Akihito realized he needed to get some vinegar for the night's dinner. The vinegar which Asami favored was a special brand sold exclusively at Marukoshi. He dreaded to go back to the store, knowing how the rich patrons would look at his cheap shirt, faded jeans and sneakers. Fishing his phone from his jeans, he made a quick call to Asami.
"Asami, a quick question," Akihito blurted out when the yakuza answered.
"What is it?"
"Do you take any other vinegar besides Miz?"
"No," Asami replied curtly.
Akihito cursed. "Ah, damn. It's all right then."
"You called me to ask my preference in vinegar?"
Akihito could imagine his lover smirking. "Bastard. I wouldn't have to if you eat everything I cook without a hint of sarcasm."
"Akihito, your cooking skills improved tremendously after my constructive criticisms, no?"
Akihito refrained from cursing. "You arrogant jerk. Why did I waste my time calling you? I'm hanging up."
Just as Akihito was about to press the end button, he heard Asami's voice, "So, what about the vinegar?"
Akihito answered sarcastically, "Nothing. I'm sorry to have disturbed you, Asami-sama."
This time, he didn't wait for Asami's reply and quickly ended the call. Ah, fuck it. I don't care. Since I have to stop there anyway, I might as well get the other stuff too. Maybe I'll treat myself to some imported beer and snacks using the Platinum card. Akihito smiled playfully at the thought of misusing Asami's card. He jammed the helmet onto his head and rode his Vespa to Marukoshi.
Xx Business as Usual xX
Club Sion.
Asami starred at his phone. That cheeky brat. Dumping the phone carelessly on the table, he turned to his secretary standing beside him. "Kirishima, did Nakamura finalize the purchase of Marukoshi?"
"Yes, Asami sama. The documents were drawn and signed two days ago. It is now under Takaba sama's name."
Asami nodded coolly. "Good. What about the two bitches Akihito mentioned?"
"There were about twenty female staffs working in Marukoshi. As Takaba sama was not specific enough, I could not be certain of their identities. Would you like me to fire all of them and rehire a new batch?" Kirishima was already retrieving his phone, awaiting Asami's orders.
Asami leaned back against his leather chair. "No," he spoke after a moment of silence. "Leave them be. I believed the manager gave them an earful the other day."
Kirishima raised an eyebrow in surprised. Asami sama is usually not that forgiving.
"However, if things like that happened again, see that the bitches are disposed off." Ah, there's the boss, Kirishima thought.
"And put a call to Marukoshi's manager. Informed them their new owner is dropping by in his motorcycle to get a bottle of vinegar." Asami ordered as he flipped open a report.
Kirishima took that as his cue to remove himself from the boss's office. He took one last look at his boss's satisfied smirk before opening the door and bowed. "Understood, Asami sama."
Xx Business as Usual xX
Akihito parked his Vespa at the one of the parking lots in front of the mart. No designated parking for bicycles and motorcycles. Marukoshi is clearly not expecting customers without a proper ride. Akihito sneered. Any minute, the security would be stepping out to shoo him away like a stray kitten.
True enough, Akihito noticed a man in suit walked out of the automatic doors as he was placing the helmet on the seat of his Vespa. Akihito quickly lowered his glance, pretended not to see him. Ah, shit. He when he realized the man in suit walked quickly towards his direction.
Akihito thought of running but he needed to get the vinegar, damn it. He wondered if he could park his shabby ride at the back alley of the mart. Sighing, he picked up his helmet, intending to move away. The manager's voice halted his plans.
"Takaba sama! What an honor!" The man bowed before straightening himself up to look at Akihito.
Akihito's jaw dropped.
"Why don't you park at our VIP parking right in front of the store?"
Akihito was at loss for words. "Ah… Er…I…."
"Ah, pardon me for my rudeness; I should have introduced myself. My name is Suzuki Kenta, manager of Marukoshi. I have been informed of your arrival." The man bowed again.
Asami. The part time photographer couldn't think of anyone else who could do that except his yakuza lover. That bastard, he must have planned the whole thing. Snapping out from his angry thoughts, Akihito turned to the manager.
"Ah, please to meet you, Suzuki san." Akihito offered his hand to the manager.
The manager took the offered hand and exchanged the handshake enthusiastically. "Takaba sama, you are too kind. Come; allow me to be your shopping assistant for the day." He stepped aside and motioned Akihito to walk ahead.
Akihito almost refused; the thought of someone chaperoning him during grocery shopping did not appeal to him at all. He preferred to shop alone so he could ogle at the rows of sweets and imported chocolates. However, he felt sorry for the manager. God knows what Asami would do to the poor man if he refused and knowing the possessive bastard, the manager would be out of job before the nightfall; so he complied.
The manager followed Akihito closely into the mart, walking a step behind. The minute he entered the mart, two lines of royal blue uniform staff bowed and bade him welcome, much to Akihito's embarrassment. He is so going to kill Asami when he gets home.
The entire shopping experience was mortifying. Akihito, who normally had to carry everything on his own, found himself with two assistants behind him, following his every step. Whenever he stretched his arm out to check on a product, the manager quickly retrieved the item from the shelf and held it out for him, all the while explaining important information about the product.
Akihito did not know which was worse; to have the stuck up bitches and patrons sneering at him or the five-star treatment he was receiving. Decided that he had enough of the manager's over the top treatment, he made a beeline to the condiment section and quickly grabbed a bottle of Miz without bothering to check on the price. He proceeded to the cashier for checkout, hoping to get out of the damn place as soon as possible.
"Takaba sama, where would you like us to send these items?" The manager asked as the girl at the counter packed the items in Marukoshi's royal blue grocery bags.
"Huh? I'll take it home, of course." Akihito passed the Platinum card to the girl.
The girl looked frightened and shook her head. "We cannot accept this, Takaba sama."
Akihito looked genuinely puzzled. Was there something wrong with the card? He scrutinized the black plastic card with gold letterings in his hands, looking for signs that it was unusable. Crap, how is he going to pay for all these stuff? He had only a few hundred yen in his wallet.
The manager suddenly laughed heartily. "Takaba sama, you have such great sense of humor!"
Akihito tore his gaze from the credit card. "Huh?"
"Takaba sama, surely you don't have to pay in your own store?" The manager stopped laughing and smiled at Akihito innocently.
It took Akihito full ten seconds to register what the manager had said. "Ex….excuse me? I must have heard wrongly. Did you say I own the store?"
The manager smiled again. "Why yes, Takaba sama. You bought the store a few days ago, remember?"
"WHAT?" Akihito exclaimed. "If this is another Asami's sick jokes, you better stop it now." Akihito glared at the manager.
Shocked by Akihito's sudden rage, the manager bowed, "I'm sorry, Takaba sama! I didn't mean to laugh at you! I was…"
"So, Asami was behind this," Akihito interrupted the man.
The manager stood up. "Ta… Takaba sama?" He gulped. "I… I don't understand. We received instructions that the previous owner sold the store to you. Your lawyer, Nakamura san came to finalize the sale two days ago."
He knew who Nakamura was- one of Asami's many lawyers whose specialty involves real properties.
"Ta… Takaba sama?"
Akihito whirled around, too mortified to look at the manager. He was beyond embarrassed; imagine an owner of a high class mart came shopping in torn jeans and Vespa- unheard of! If Asami didn't stick his finger in, he was sure the manager would be on the floor by now, laughing at his silliness. Akihito wished there was a hole he could jumped into and escaped from the embarrassment he was facing.
"Takaba sama?"
He turned slowly to face the manager offered a sheepish grin. "I.. er, need to get back now. Here, l'll carry these." Akihito grabbed the plastic bags and literally ran to his motorcycle.
"Thank you, Takaba sama! It has been a pleasure!" The manager shouted, waving his hands. A few cashiers quickly formed a line behind the manager and bowed.
Akihito sped home and reached the penthouse he and Asami shared in a record breaking time. Dumping the bags on the table, he texted Asami.
You are so dead.
He waited for Asami to reply but the text never came. "Arg!" Akihito screamed, frustrated that he could never win against Asami. He dumped the phone on the dining table, marched to the bathroom and stood under the warm shower. When he was satisfied, he stepped out donning only his boxers and plopped down on the long couch.
He looked at the bags on the dining table, contemplating for a while. Ah, fuck it! I'm not going to cook! The photographer stretched himself comfortably on the couch and slept.
Xx Business as Usual xX
Asami returned home a few hours later to find a barely naked Akihito sleeping on the couch. He curved a smile when he saw the unpacked royal blue plastic bags on the dining table.
As if on cue, Akihito stirred and opened his eyes slowly. Realizing his lover was home; he jumped up from the couch and strode towards Asami.
"You bastard! Why did you buy Marukoshi and put it under my name?" Akihito skewered a finger through the older man's well toned chest.
Asami grabbed his hands and yanked him closer. "What's wrong with it? Isn't it satisfying to know that you don't have to worry about the stuck up bitches at the mart? Not to mention you don't even have to pay for the groceries."
The younger man shoved back. "Now, just a damn minute! You bought the store because I complained about the two bitches?"
Asami shrugged off his jacket and dumped it carelessly on the chair. "Akihito, if I buy every damn thing just because somebody laughed at you, how many properties do you think I have to purchase?"
"Then tell me, how many properties have you bought on your whims and put it under my name?" Akihito challenged.
"A few."
"WHAT? Are you out of your fucking mind? Why do you do that?" Akihito threw his hands up in the air, flipping in frustration.
Asami replied coolly, "Because I can."
"Why are you doing this to me? Take it back, I don't want it!"
Asami loosened his tie and proceeded to unbutton his cufflinks. "You know, most wives would be happy if their husbands buy them something."
"I'm not most wives!" Akihito blabbed out quickly only to realize his mistakes. Before he could correct himself, Asami interrupted.
"Of course you're not most wives. You're a yakuza's wife; one with dignity and a screwed sense of pride."
"I am not your WIFE!" Akihito all but shouted. Damn it, Asami was enjoying this too much!
Realizing that the fight was going nowhere, Akihito gave in. "Ah, I supposed no matter how I protest, the damage has been done."
Asami raised an eyebrow. The boy is getting smart.
Akihito walked to the couch crossly. "Imagine what Kou and Takato would say when they find out I own Marukoshi," Akihito slapped his hand on his forehead. "I'll never hear the end of this! Takaba Akihito- the owner of the snobbish mart!" Akihito sulked.
Asami sat on the couch and pulled the boy onto his lap. Kissing his pouting lips, Asami whispered, "Tell them that you are now the CEO of the rich housewives' mart."
"ASAMI!" Akihito let out a thin scream of frustration.
Without giving Akihito a chance to wriggle away, Asami picked him up, threw him over his shoulder and strode to their bedroom. Akihito didn't manage to get out of the bedroom until five hours later. Dinner was truly forgotten.
Thank you so much for reading! Reviews are greatly appreciated!
Uhm...I just realized that my omake is longer than the first chapter!