A/N: Hi there! Sorry for taking so long to update this story. Hope you enjoy this last installment. It turned out to be the longest chapter in the whole story he he ;) Thanks again for your reviews, follows and favs :)) Happy readings!

Caught by the Viewfinder

PART VIII

Akihito heard himself moan in pain as his consciousness started to return to him.

He didn't know what the hell had happened, but the sides of his head were throbbing like crazy, to the point he was having trouble focusing his vision.

He desperately tried to organize his thoughts, searching deep within his memory for a reason that could justify his current state, but it was all a blur; the pain spasms he felt in his brain making it impossible to think rationally.

"Where am I?" He thought to himself.

The last thing he recalled was crossing a quiet street about a block away from Feilong's hotel. The rest was lost in the foggy depths of his mind, though he had a distinct feeling he hadn't made it to the end of that street…

Something or someone had prevented him from doing so, and he had a strange suspicion that his current migraine was a direct consequence of it.

Taking a couple of deep breaths, Akihito chanced opening his eyes again, only to be blinded by a searing light placed right above him. He quickly tried covering his eyes with his hands, but soon realized he was prevented from it.

Tilting his head upwards he was shocked to find both of his hands bound by a pair of handcuffs to the bedpost of the unfamiliar bed he was laying on.

Alarmed by the discovery, the youngster quickly scanned the room trying to recognize his surroundings.

For a second he thought he was back at the hotel, but the odd eastern European décor of the place soon made him give up the idea, as a more terrifying thought took its place.

A flashback of an unmarked car stopping in front of him and from within it exiting an armed giant with a deadly look on his face was already playing on his mind when a familiar voice called out to him from inside the room, making a sinister chill travel down Akihito's spine.

"Ah, you are finally awake!" The voice exclaimed. "I'll be damned, I really thought my bodyguard had killed you for a second there. The way you fell after he hit you was quite distressing. I did tell the idiot not to use too much force, but that guy never listens… How's your head?"

Feeling his breath caught in his lungs, Akihito shifted in bed, noticing for the first time since he'd waken the figure sitting on the plush chair beside it. He felt nauseous just from the sight.

Mikhail Arbatov was looking at him with an interested expression though, his eyes roaming Akihito's body as if making sure no other damage had been done.

"How are you feeling in general? Light-headed? Nauseated? It was quite a blow to the head. It knocked you out for almost 12hours. You should take it easy for the next few minutes." He advised, watching the younger man clumsily sit up in bed, putting as much distance between them as his handcuffed hands would allow him.

"W-Where am I? What the hell do you want from me?" Akihito asked firmly, despite the fact that his head began to throb furiously again.

As his senses were becoming slightly more acute, he also became aware of the sound of loud club music coming from outside the room. The proximity to the sound was in fact so apparent that the floor and walls of the bedroom they were in seemed to be reverberating in unison to the beats of the dance music.

Akihito quickly figured out that they must be above a nightclub, and judging by the Russian's ease and the room's choice of décor, either one of his clubs or of a fellow Russian acquaintance.

Mikhail seemed to be able to read his thoughts; a grin appearing on his lips as he finally replied. "We're at a friend of mine's… establishment in town; let's put it like that… It doesn't exactly show up in Tokyo's yellow pages mind you, so don't expect Asami to stop by anytime soon. " He said with a hint of amusement, as he noticed Akihito's eyes visibly widen in despair.

"Which I suppose is not a bad thing…" The Russian continued thoughtfully. "It will give us an opportunity to continue our conversation from last night. We were so cruelly interrupted by that guy, don't you think? I swear, Asami has no bloody manners sometime-"

"W-What do you want from me?" Akihito interrupted, clearly aware his voice didn't sound nearly as steady as he'd hoped. And the icy stare that the Russian chose to bestow on him at that point didn't appease his growing apprehension one bit.

"…From you?" Mikhail repeated, cocking an eyebrow at the youngster. "Why nothing… at least for now. I just need you to stay put and behave yourself for the time being… You see, I plan to teach Asami a valuable lesson, one which he should have learnt a very long time ago about the dangers of messing with other people's property, and I've come to the conclusion that you are exactly the right person to help me with the task." He added mischievously, noticing Akihito shiver ever so slightly at his words.

"I'm not going to help you with anything, you hear me?" The young man retorted immediately, gathering up the little courage he had left to look defiantly at the Russian.

His attempt at it only managed to make the other man laugh though. "Uhhh, how brave!" Mikhail mocked. "I think you'll find I can be very persuasive when I want to though. Besides…" He added, slowly getting up from the chair and walking towards the bed where he stopped right next to Akihito, who uselessly tried to avoid the Russian's tight grip on his chin. "…It would be a shame if an accident were to happen to you while you are under my care. I wouldn't want to be forced to send you back to Asami chopped up into little pieces just because you were stupid enough to oppose me."

Though the threat sounded real enough to freeze Akihito's bones, he didn't let the other man sense his fear.

"I'm not going to betray Asami. I don't care what you do to me." He retorted, causing the other man to snicker dejectedly at him.

"How very noble of you…" Mikhail joked, finally releasing his hold on Akihito. "Aw, isn't love such a pathetic feeling? Although in the case of the two of you I haven't managed to figure out yet who's the bigger love sick fool. You're both so pent-up on protecting each other it's nauseating." He grimaced, looking up and down at Akihito. "…To think a mere rat such as you, was responsible for the near demise of a legend such as Asami Ryuuichi."

The confused look that came over Akihito's features caused the other man to arch an eyebrow at him.

"What? Don't tell me you never realized that the sole reason why the great Asami Ryuuichi disappeared into oblivion for half a year was to protect your life? That he lost millions of yen in potential deals over these past few months of being under the radar just so he could protect his precious boy toy?"

"W-What?" Akihito asked, almost inaudibly. Though a part of him really wanted to, he couldn't bring himself to believe any of the Russian's words. Why on earth would Asami make such a big sacrifice for his sake? It was completely out of character for him.

Mikhail on his part seemed to be having a hard time believing the youngster's surprise.

"Oh come on, you can't be that dense!... What next? Are you going to tell me you also have never realized that Asami is in lov-?

He would have finished the sentence, but a knock on the door interrupted his speech.

"Come in." He said in Russian, quickly being greeted by his chief bodyguard, who crossing the room in a few quick strides, placed an iPhone on his boss's hand.

A few words were exchanged by the duo in their mother language, but by Mikhail's amused expression, Akihito was quick to comprehend something to his liking had just occurred.

Soon enough he got the confirmation. The mobster turned to him gleefully, sporting an amused grin on his lips. "Well, well, Akihito-kun. It seems even I misjudged the value you have to Asami. My subordinate tells me Asami has just offered to exchange you for a very considerable sum of money. I have to say I'm pleasantly surprised by the offer. You're turning out to be quite the valuable asset, Akihito-kun." He said, lifting the cellphone to his ear after dialing a number on it.

"Shall we see just how much you are worth to the man?" He added, waiting for the call to get thru.

Akihito felt desperate. Something told him there was no way in hell that Mikhail would let him walk off unscathed in exchange for money. There was a look in his eyes that screamed 'revenge' against Asami, and he feared the Russian might end up taking it down on him, hoping to distraught the other man.

He didn't have much time to dwell on his dark thoughts though, as Mikhail soon spoke up again against the cellphone.

"Asami!" He exclaimed, making Akihito's heart fire up. "Nice to speak to you again. How are..?... Oh, Akihito-kun? He's right in front of me actually. Oh, he's fine; don't make such a fuss over it. He just received a little blow to the head, that's all… Now, now, Asami, mind your temper! As I said, Akihito-kun is unharmed at the moment, but that can very easily change with an order from me. As I've told you before I'm not into men so I do not intend to personally defile your precious boy toy, but I do have half a mind of ordering my men to gang rape him just for the fun of it… We wouldn't want that to happen, now would we? Poor Akihito-kun would probably not survive the experience…"

His threat seemed to do the trick, because Asami suddenly went silent on the other end of the line… much to Mikhail's apparent satisfaction.

"Shall we talk business now then?" The Russian asked after a couple of seconds, his eyes darting towards Akihito greedily. "It has come to my attention that you are willing to participate on a trade… Personally I find it quite surprising that you have already offered so much money to have your favorite sex toy returned to you unharmed, but you know me, I wouldn't dare accept such a thing from you. No, I am after another sort of compensation… What do you say about the deed to your Hong Kong nightclubs?"

The silence that took over the conversation only managed to increase Mikhail's grin. "What? I think it is a rather fair compensation for the trouble you have caused me over the past few months, don't you think? Besides, you have so many nightclubs as it is. It's not like you'd miss a handful of them, albeit as profitable as they are."

The Russian let the idea sink in with the other man for a few seconds, before pulling out another card. "Well Asami? What do you say?... Shall I give you a little incentive to speed up your thinking process?" He offered, as a demonic glint crossed his eyes.

Before Akihito had a chance to acknowledge the change in the Russian's expression, he saw Mikhail pull out a gun from his jacket and aim it straight at him.

…The sound of the gun being shot ended up being muffled by the loud club music pumping outside the room, but the same couldn't be said of Akihito's scream.

He felt the projectile scratch the side of his shoulder, the heat radiating from it coming in contact with his skin, just before the bullet embedded itself in the wooden bedpost behind him, with a crackling sound.

The youngster looked down at his shoulder just in time to see a thin red line starting to peek through the slash that the bullet had opened in his shirt during its path.

He felt immediately nauseated, his mind momentarily flashing back to Hong Kong and his last close encounter with a fire weapon.

He didn't know if he'd screamed due to the surprise caused by the Russian's action or due the pain he felt on his shoulder. He just knew that his scream reached Asami's ears, because he very clearly heard the older man shout out his name through the phone.

"I'll be dammed. I missed!" They both heard Mikhail exclaim astounded, looking at the hole in the bedpost with a surprised expression. "Well, that was embarrassing… Shall I try it a second time?" The Russian asked again against the iPhone, while he took aim once again at Akihito's shoulder, who cowered against the bedpost defensively despite himself.

Asami's shout was once again heard thru the phone, this time making the Russian lower his weapon.

"Why that was quick, Asami… And just when I was starting to enjoy our little game." Mikhail said amused. "But I suppose I always knew you to be a sensible man when the situation calls for it… Very well, then. I propose that the trade is made tonight. No need to drag this situation any longer. How about 2 a.m.? 4 hours is more than enough time for you to get all the necessary paperwork in order. What do you say we meet at Dock 17 just outside of Tokyo bay? I know you conduct business there on a regular basis. See how thoughtful I am?... You bring the deed. I'll bring your precious boy toy. We make the trade and go about our lives like nothing happened. Sounds good to you?"

Asami's silence on the other end of the line didn't exactly translate into an approval of the Russian's plans, but it was not like he could be the one dictating the terms of the exchange given the present circumstances.

"Glad you don't abject to it." Mikhail answered for him. "See you in a few hours then." He added, just before he cut the phone call short without giving the other man a chance to refute his plans.

"Well, that worked out quite well, don't you think?" The Russian mobster asked Akihito after returning the iPhone to his subordinate and sending him away.

"You're a lowlife scumbag." Akihito spat out furiously at him.

"Now, now, no need to be rude." The Russian returned, placing his gun inside his jacket again.

"I'm not going to let you use me against Asami."

"No one is going to use you against anyone, you idiot. You are going to stay right here in this room... Do you really think I'm taking you along for the trade?" Mikhail asked, sauntering closer to Akihito as he spoke.

"But you said…"

"I lied." The Russian shrugged with a snarky grin, as he caught hold of Akihito's chin again forcing the youngster to look straight at him.

"I hope Asami shoots you." Akihito replied; venom pouring out of his eyes.

"Or... I could shoot him." Mikhail retorted coldly, suddenly tracing Akihito's lower lip with his thumb. "…I do wonder what's so special about a brat like you that would make Asami put so much at risk though. Are you that good of a fuck?" He asked, letting his eyes roam the rest of Akihito's body.

Akihito tried to kick him on the knees then, but the Russian anticipated the action, grabbing his lower leg in a swift movement and twisting his ankle until Akihito screamed in pain.

Before he knew it the young man found himself lying down on his back in bed, both his legs trapped under the other man's weight. "Maybe I should just fuck you, and see what all the fuss is about…" Mikhail pondered, his face dangerously close to Akihito's.

"I thought you said you weren't into men." Akihito retorted, fighting against his hold with all his strength.

"…I lied." Mikhail replied, before he forcibly locked Akihito's lips with his own.

The kiss didn't last long though. As soon as Akihito got the chance, he bit into the Russian's lip with all his might, causing the other man to yelp and break the contact immediately, putting some distance between them.

He saw Mikhail taking a hand to his injured lip noting his angered expression as he realized he was bleeding from the bite.

"Why you miserable rat." Akihito heard Mikhail curse, just before the Russian's fist connected with his jawline and the entire world went black.

Akihito woke up moaning in pain for the second time that day.

This time around though, he could clearly recall what had caused him to lose his consciousness.

Wincing in pain, he took one of his handcuffed hands to his cheek, carefully massaging the spot that had received the bulk of Mikhail's punch, thinking to himself that his skin must already look bruised.

At least the bastard had been content with just the punch, Akihito thought, as he surveyed the rest of his body relieved to find he still had all his clothes on.

The whole rape threat had been clearly nothing more than a sly maneuver on the Russian's part to emotionally destabilize Akihito even further. And it would certainly have been successful were it not for Akihito's desperate action to stop him.

The young man found himself hoping that the cut he'd opened on the mobster's lips would require him to get a truckload of stitches to fix it.

He looked around the silent room, noticing at first that the club music he'd previously been aware of had diminished in volume considerably. So much so that he could now clearly hear voices coming from just outside the door of the room he was being kept in.

No doubt Mikhail had dispatched a couple of his thugs to stand guard of the door. As if Akihito was in any condition to escape the place in the first place, handcuffed as he was to the bed!

Sitting up as best he could on the hard mattress, Akihito rolled his wrist against the handcuffs checking his wristwatch.

When the Casio flared up its nightlight displaying the time, Akihito felt dizzy. 2:20 am.

"Shit!" He said out loud. How long had he been asleep this time?

2:20 am? If nothing had changed since the last phone conversation he'd listened to between Mikhail and Asami, then the "trade" was taking place at that very moment, and that Arbatov bastard really hadn't taken Akihito with him.

A cold chill travelled down the young man's spine as a terrifying thought started to form in his mind.

It was a trap.

Mikhail's sudden intent to set-up the stupid trade was nothing but a trap. He had no desire for the deed to Asami's nightclubs in Hong Kong. The fact that he hadn't taken Akihito with him was proof enough of that. Asami would never agree to give the Russian the deed without having Akihito safely back in return.

No, Mikhail's true intent had been to drag Asami out in the open and no doubt settle the whole Irina ordeal once and for all with him.

The means he would choose to do just that only made Akihito fear for Asami's sake even more. Knowing the two subjects involved, he was convinced that heavy gunplay would be used.

The only thing that brought Akihito some consolation was knowing that Asami was a careful, cunning man that no doubt would not show up at the meeting unaccompanied...or unarmed for that matter.

Dammit, he really needed to find a way to get out of that place. He couldn't keep depending on Asami to come and save him all the time. Not if that meant endangering Asami's own life in the process.

Resolution taken, Akihito started to work on his handcuffs with the retractable knife he extracted from his jeans' back pocket.

Apparently Mikhail had been so confident of the success of his endeavor that he hadn't even bother to get Akihito searched thru.

The youngster had already managed to free one of his wrists; courtesy of the ample experience he'd obtained during his troublesome teen years, when he heard a commotion outside the room.

Mikhail's bodyguards' voices suddenly increased in tone, to the point that they were shouting, yet before Akihito had the chance to even ponder on what on earth might be happening, a tremendous bang shook the closed door on its hinges. It sounded to him as if a bulldozer had just tried to knock it down.

As if prompt by an invisible force, Akihito quickly went to work on his other wrist, and just as he was about to set it free, another bang shook the door, though this time the force of the impact was enough to throw it wide open.

It turned out that the source of the loud noise Akihito was hearing was not a bulldozer after all but in fact the sound of Mikhail's bodyguards being slammed nonchalantly against the door, the last of which receiving such a blow that sent him flying unconscious inside the room.

Not understanding what the hell had just happened, Akihito quickly went back to work on the handcuffs, pulling with all his strength on the chain trapping him to the bed, that just didn't want to give in.

...He noticed the presence even before he saw it.

A strange menacing aura suddenly filled the room, making Akihito immediately stop what he was doing and look at the doorway as if in a trance.

What, or better yet, who he saw made him gulp in fear; his throat suddenly feeling dry and constricted.

A giant, twice as big as the biggest of Mikhail's thugs was standing in the doorframe, staring at Akihito with a blank expression.

His hands were still curled into fists at his sides and it didn't take Akihito long to put 2 and 2 together and figure out that the two unconscious bullies now splattered on the floor of the bedroom and hallway were the giant's doing.

"Are you Akihito Takaba?" The foreigner asked in English; his accent slightly off for a native English speaker.

Akihito was too transfixed by his presence that he didn't think about denying the evidence, instead finding himself nodding quietly in reply.

It seemed that that was all the confirmation that the giant needed, because with just a couple of quick strides he was beside Akihito, picking him up and throwing him over his shoulder, after breaking Akihito's remaining handcuff as if it were made of cheap plastic.

It all happened so quickly that Akihito didn't think about protesting against the man, until he found himself being carried out of the room and along the outside corridor.

"Hey! Put me down." He said, first in Japanese and then in English, kicking his knees against the giant's chest in the process, even though he figured the action produced little to no effect.

It was only when he saw the trail of destruction that the man had left along the corridor that he decided that perhaps annoying him was probably not such a good idea.

There were unconscious bodies on the floor everywhere. Every few steps Akihito and his captor would pass by one of Mikhail's thugs, a couple of which he recognized from Feilong's hotel opening party, though they were now depleted of their dangerous aura and were now instead populating the tile floors in various uncomfortable positions.

There was even one sprawled on the floor at the backdoor of the club, half of his body being soaked by the heavy rain falling on the alley connected with it.

As for Akihito, he only seemed to regain the ability to speak when the giant set him down on the street alley in front of a long white limo.

"Get in." The man requested in English, even though his tone made it seem more like an order.

"W-Who are you? W-Who sent you?" Akihito finally asked.

"Get in." The man repeated sternly, slapping Akihito's shoulder lightly, though the action nearly caused the youngster to lose his balance.

Akihito stared at the fumed windows of the vehicle, feeling his hands shake. There was no way that the man had been sent by either Asami or Feilong. He looked like a carbon copy of the men he'd just knocked out inside the club, he was just bigger and more menacing. Not to mention the fact that he was clearly foreigner.

Who could possibly be responsible for what had just happened then?

Taking a deep breath Akihito opened the door of the limo, and climbed inside. Even though he didn't know where the ride would take him, his instincts told him that sticking around and chancing another encounter with Mikhail Arbatov was infinitely worse than anything else that could still yet happen to him that day.

It took a few seconds for his eyes to adjust to the darkness inside the limo, but he noticed the woman's presence before he could see her properly.

It was the flash of blonde hair and her graceful movements as she lit her cigarette against her lips that made Akihito recognize her though.

"We finally meet, Akihito-kun." The woman said; her voice as crystalline and seductive as Akihito always imagined it would sound.

"Irina Drugov..." Akihito whispered wide-eyed, as the cigarette light illuminated his former 'nemesis' face.

Akihito was so surprised by the unexpected encounter that it took him a long time to say anything else.

He felt the limo start moving at high speed, soon leaving the dark alley behind and entering the busy city's main roads, but still he couldn't find it in him to utter a single word.

He figured at some point he'd actually started gapping at the woman sitting across the limo from him, because the hint of a smile soon appeared on Irina's face.

"Nice of you to remember my name. How have you been Akihito-kun?" She asked him, seemingly amused by his baffled state.

Shit, she was gorgeous. Akihito didn't know any more if he was paralyzed by the surprise of the situation he was finding himself in or by her stunning beauty.

Everything from her figure, her hair, her complexion, the way she dressed and moved seemed to have been made to order. She looked so unearthly perfect that Akihito found himself thinking whether or not she was actually human.

How could Mikhail Arbatov have ever had the guts to cheat on a vision such as Irina? He had to be the biggest idiot that ever walked the face of the earth.

A flashback from the kiss Akihito had witnessed her share with Asami 6 months prior suddenly popped up in his mind, making his heart sunk.

The real question he should be asking though was: how could Asami had refused Irina as his lover? There was no way Akihito could ever compete with someone like her for a place in his heart.

He figured Irina picked up on his change of expression because she calmly cut thru the silence that had fallen between them; a curious glint in her eyes.

"I suppose you are wondering why my bodyguard took you out of that place and brought you to me..." She started, her Japanese accent sounding perfect to Akihito's ears.

Irina waited for the youngster to nod in agreement before continuing.

"...I'm doing a favor to someone, I suppose. A mutual acquaintance of ours." She added, studying Akihito's face intently before smiling mischievously. "I confess I was surprised by Ryuuichi's phone call… He's not the type of man to go around asking for favors, after all. But, given the circumstances, I suppose it would make sense he'd call me."

"A-Asami sent you?" Akihito asked surprised, causing Irina to arch an eyebrow at him in response.

"You seem surprised… Do you know that many people with powerful connections?"

"N-No…I mean…That is… But why did Asami sent you?"

His last question caused an amused laugh to escape the blonde woman's lips. "Why me of all people? Is that what you want to know?" She asked in return. "The answer to that is very simple, actually... It's because I know Mikhail's mind better than anyone, and because I suppose Ryuuichi knows I will gladly take just about any chance I can get these days to mess with his plans… whatever they are."

From her spite filled words, Akihito figured Irina hadn't forgave Arbatov for his supposed cheating episode and for a second wondered what Irina's own husband must have felt when faced with her own 'indiscretion' with Mikhail, though he was wise enough not to mention any of it to her.

"It was sheer luck that I happen to be in Tokyo today though. The moment Ryuuichi filled me in on what had happened yesterday, I knew exactly where Mikhail had brought you to." She confessed, smiling to herself as she turned to look out the limo's window. "Mikhail can be so boringly predictable at times…"

"…Then w-where's Asami now?"

"He's gone to meet Mikhail, of course." Irina stated, turning her attention back to the youngster. "Ryuuichi had to play along with the game, if he was going to sidetrack Mikhail's attention and give me time to rescue you from the club… But worry not. He planned everything in detail. I am instructed to drop you off at Ginza, where a limo is already waiting to take you to safety." She added with a sigh, almost as if she rescued people from peril on a daily basis and found the whole thing entirely boring.

Akihito stared at the woman's calm expression, and just had to ask.

"…Won't you get in trouble with Mikhail Arbatov for rescuing me?"

Instead of answering, Irina let out an amused laugh; her crystalline giggles filling the air between them. "How cute... yet naïve of you to ask." She answered, looking at Akihito more intently. "Your personality is quite refreshing, Akihito-kun. I can see why he likes you so much... Though I confess I never thought he'd prefer you to me... Well, I suppose love is stronger than lust sometimes." She added with a meaningful gaze.

"W-What?... Who are you talking about?" The young man asked confused, as he felt the limo screech to a sudden halt.

"Oh, what a shame! It seems our time is up." Irina said, looking out the window again. "I believe that is your ride." She added, pointing to a black limo on the other side of the street. "It's best not to keep them waiting. Go along!"

Despite her words though, Akihito stayed motionless in his seat for more than a few seconds, unsure of what to do.

"T-Thank you." He finally said with a polite bow, reaching out for the door's handle.

"Don't mention it… Just one last thing." Irina said, as Akihito stepped out into the quiet street. "…Next time, be more careful where you point your viewfinder to, photographer-kun." She warned him albeit the amused look that crossed her eyes at that moment, just before her limo drove away leaving Akihito speechless.

So Irina knew all along he'd been the one to take those photographs of her and Asami all those months ago…

Akihito didn't have time to muse on the discovery though, because he soon heard his name being called out by a familiar voice.

"Akihito!" Liu Feilong called out again from inside the black limo parked a few meters from him. "What are you doing standing in the middle of the street? Get in!"

The youngster had never felt happier to see the Chinese mafia leader in his life. He sprinted towards the vehicle in a hurry, getting in just as the limo driver kicked the engine back to life.

"Where's Asami?" He immediately asked, even before he'd settled on the seat across from Feilong.

"I don't know. I'm expecting a call from him any minute now." The Chinese man said, running his eyes all over Akihito, as if making sure no parts were missing. "What happened to your arm?" He asked, as soon as he spotted the cut on Akihito's shirt.

"I-It's nothing. It has healed already. Where are you taking me?"

"To the airport."

"To the airport? ! What the hell for?"

"Well, Asami apparently doesn't want to take any chances once this whole ordeal with Mikhail is over. He's taking you away from the country for a while. Consider it a sort of vacation."

"What? ! Is he insane? I can't just go away all of a sudden. I have a job!"

"Well, take that up with him once he joins you at the airport then. I swear, the man acts completely irrational when it comes to you. I just had to put up with his "charming" personality for the last 24 hours while he fretted for your safety. I would have rather dealt with a raging bull." Feilong complained, as his cellphone suddenly went off.

"About bloody time!" He said, looking at its display screen, before lifting it up to his ear. "Asami, what took you so lo-…Oh, Kirishima, it's you…Where the bloody hell is Asami?... What? !"

His tone made it immediately clear to Akihito that something very wrong had just happened.

"Alright, calm down Kirishima. What hospital are you taking him to?...Ok, we are on our way. I'll meet you there." He added, before closing his cellphone shut and shouting in Chinese to the limo driver. "Lee, change of plans. Back to the hotel. And step on it."

"W-What happened? Is something wrong?" Akihito asked, unable to hide his concern, as he noticed the other man's aggravated look.

"Slight change of plans. I'll have to drop you off at the hotel. My men will protect you while I'm away, don't worry. I need to go meet Kirishima at Tokyo Medical University hospital."

"W-Why? ! W-What happened? Did someone get hurt?"

Feilong's unease in replying to him caused Akihito to grow even more frightened. He wouldn't dare think about the possibilities.

"Feilong!" He pressed.

"… It seems there was an unexpected shoot down breaking out between Mikhail's and Asami's bodyguards during their meeting."

"And…?"

The Chinese man's next words, nearly caused Akihito's heart to stop beating.

"A stray bullet ended up hitting Asami in the chest."

(2 days later)

Akihito stared at the hospital bedroom door unable to move.

He knew he should be going in by now. He had been standing in front of the door for so long that even the nurses that walked past him every so often on the corridor were starting to raise their eyebrows at him inquisitively.

He wasn't sure he was ready yet though...

He wasn't sure he was ready to see Asami plugged into whatever machines were apparently helping him to breathe.

Deep down he was scared to see the older man in such a defenseless position. Asami had always been the stronger of the two, the one Akihito always ran to in case of trouble. He was the protector, the one who always knew what to do. What was Akihito supposed to do now?

From what he'd managed to extract from Asami's doctor, who only agreed to disclose any information to Akihito after he lied his ass off and told the physician he was Asami's close relative, it seemed the bullet had punctured one of the older man's lungs.

He had been submitted to a lengthy surgery two days ago to extract the metal and control the heavy blood loss he'd sustained and had only been discharged from the IC unit that morning.

Once convinced of Akihito's family relation to Asami, the doctor had not beaten around the bush to declare that the other man was very lucky to be alive. A few more inches to the left and the bullet would have punctured his heart, instead of his lung.

Now that the patient's life was out of threat though, it seemed the doctor had a whole different predicament to deal with.

Given the nature of the wound, protocol demanded that he'd call the police to alert them to the fact, however, given Asami's social status, he was sure that the police would soon be followed by the pesky media, and the last thing he wanted was for the hospital to turn into a media circus.

Akihito had left the doctor to his devises soon after and had stirred towards the VIP patients' hospital ward in a zombie like state.

Deep down he felt responsible for Asami's near death experience. Nothing nor no one could convince him otherwise.

If he had stayed behind with Asami at the hotel… If he had for once in his life acquiesced to the man's demands, he wouldn't have fallen right into the Russian's hands and this whole situation could have been avoided.

His heart ached so much from the realization that Akihito had to bite down his lower lip, in an attempt to prevent a treacherous tear from escaping his eyes.

He knew he couldn't stay standing in the hospital's corridor forever though. So taking a deep breath, he finally closed the distance separating him from the door, and placed a shaky hand on the handle.

To his surprised though, the door flung inwards before he had a chance to turn it.

He was however less surprised than he thought he would be when his eyes met Feilong's, who seem to be on his way out of Asami's room.

"Akihito. There you are!" The Chinese man said, eyeing him inquisitively.

They hadn't seen each other since Feilong had dropped him off at the hotel after the shoot down, before rushing to the hospital where Asami had been taken.

Akihito had spent the last two days freelancing in Asami's hotel suite, being chaperoned by Feilong's security team, without any chance of escape.

The young man supposed the tight security measures were for his own good. They were still trying to figure out how much of a threat Arbatov and his men still posed to him, but the lack of news of Asami's condition had nearly driven Akihito mental.

As much as he had inquired Feilong's men on the subject, they had kept giving him the silent treatment, which only led the youngster to assume the worst. He was so worried sick that he had barely eaten or slept in the last 48 hours.

It was only when Kirishima-san stopped by the hotel that morning to inform him that his boss was out of danger that Akihito was able to somewhat relax for the first time in a long while. When Asami's subordinate asked him if he'd like to accompany him to the hospital that afternoon while he dealt with the necessary hospital paperwork, Akihito had all but yelled a sounding "Yes" before the man had even finished the question.

He had been in a frantic state of mind during the entire ride to the hospital, mostly because Kirishima-san was also not very keen on disclosing any information to him concerning Asami's current state. The older man seemed in fact to feel so uncomfortable by Akihito's many questions, that the younger man found it strange that Asami's assistant had invited him along for the ride in the first place.

"I thought you would be arriving sooner." Feilong's voice interrupted his musings, making Akihito aware of his surroundings again. "Perhaps I should have sent my driver to pick you up at the hotel, but since Kirishima was on his way here anyway, I asked him to give you a ride."

Ah, so Feilong was the one behind the reason why he had been brought to the hospital after all.

Akihito opened his mouth intent on asking him why, when he suddenly got distracted by the noises coming from within the room. His stare shifted past Feilong, but he couldn't see much within the dim lit room. Only the characteristic sounds of life support machinery kept reaching his ears; the distinct beeping noise of a heart rate monitor above them all.

He assumed all color was drained from his face, because when Feilong spoke to him again, he sensed a reassuring tone in his voice.

"He's ok now. The worst is over." The Chinese man said, eyeing him intently.

Akihito gulped, hoping his voice wouldn't falter. "Is…Is he awake?"

"On-and-off… He's sleeping now. The pain meds make him a little groggy, so he doesn't stay awake for long periods of time… But he's already started bossing people around when he is conscious, so that definitely means he's pulled thru… Charming personality that guy has!" Feilong stated, unable to hide an amused smirk.

Akihito released a sigh he didn't even know he was holding. "C-Can I come in and see him?"

Feilong answered his question by shuffling to the side, making room for Akihito to pass by him through the door. "Come in. I was on my way out anyway. I have to go back to the hotel…Oh, by the way, I've spoken with Irina Drugov's bodyguard; the one who brought you to my limo that night. It seems Irina has somehow convinced Mikhail to return to Russia." He said, noticing Akihito's eyes widening in surprise. "As soon as she heard what had happened with Asami, she went to Mikhail demanding an explanation. I don't really know what ploy she used to convince him, but whatever it was it worked…. It seems the rumors about her are true! She can achieve anything she sets her mind to." Feilong added; a hint of awe in his voice.

Akihito's poignant disbelief of the piece of news pressed him further though. "You won't have to worry about Mikhail in the near future. He'll be keeping low for the next few months for sure. I don't think he really meant for Asami to get shot, but I suppose this situation makes them more than even now. I'm sure he won't trouble you again."

"…Feilong?" He heard Akihito ask quietly, as he made his way out of the room.

"What is it?"

"Why did you sent for me today?" The youngster inquired, quickly noticing a mischievous smile appearing on Feilong's lips.

"He kept calling your name…"

"Who?"

"Asami, you pinhead… He kept calling your name. Granted, he was mumbling in his sleep and heavily sedated, but I suppose in the end it means the same." The Chinese man explained, finding it amusing that Akihito seemed to be trying hard not to blush.

"Just go to him Akihito… Right now you are a far better medicine to him than any hospital drug." He added, gently closing the door behind him.

Akihito stood staring at the closed door as his eyes adjusted to the darkness around him. The lights had been dimmed to the max inside the room and save for the noises coming from the medical machinery, all else was dead quiet.

Feeling his heart skip a beat, Akihito slowly made his way down the small entrance hall, going past the room's private bath chambers; the beeping noises coming from the heart rate monitor becoming loader and loader until he finally turned the corner and Asami came into view.

Akihito's breath caught in his throat immediately.

The room he found himself in was actually quite large. Big enough so that it could accommodate a sitting area equipped with a small couch and coffee table on one side, while the other side was basically taken over by the hospital bed and associated equipment.

What caused Akihito to lose his breath momentarily weren't the high tech props he saw though; all state of the art medical material for sure, but instead the patient linked to all of them by a bunch of clear medical tubes.

The mattress was slightly raised on its upper side, no doubt courtesy of a mechanical bed system, giving him an ample view of Asami laying on it peacefully.

The man's torso was bare save for the bandages wrapped around his chest area, no doubt to permit easy access to the medical team in case of an emergency.

Strategically placed patches were secured around his heart area, being linked through a set of tiny wires to what Akihito soon figured out was the heart rate monitor.

Asami's left inner forearm was covered in strips of clear tape securing the IV needles in place, and around his nose someone had placed a breathing tube.

Akihito was sure that the only thing that kept him from bawling his eyes out right then and there was the fact that despite the whole medical paraphernalia Asami didn't really look as bad as he had originally feared.

On the contrary, even though he was in an almost drug induced half coma and clearly defenseless, Asami still looked like a menace; the muscles on his arms and stomach tight and ready for action.

Although he had been shot only two days ago and had nearly died because of it, it was impressive how he still managed to ooze off that alpha male vibe of his, that endless amount of stamina, even when lying on a hospital bed.

Akihito didn't want to disturb his slumber, but he soon found himself right by Asami's bedside, staring at his sleeping face intently.

As the older man made a shallow groaning noise in the back of his throat, Akihito reached out to touch his arm. "Hey Asami…" He said, barely louder than a whisper.

Asami's body jerked at the sound of the youngster's voice and his eyes opened. Well… at least a little bit.

He seemed to have trouble focusing his vision, no doubt due to the drug cocktail he was under, but the ghost of a smile that pulled at his lips didn't escape Akihito's notice.

The young man sat down on the edge of the bed, still holding Asami's arm as they silently acknowledged each other's presence.

Asami's consciousness didn't last long though. He soon closed his eyes again, his head tilting ever so slightly to the side, a clear indication that he had gone off to dreamland again.

That was enough for Akihito though. As soon as he felt Asami losing consciousness again, all the tension and apprehension he had felt over the past few days hit him hard, and he couldn't stop the tears from coming anymore.

He laid his head on the pillow next to Asami and sobbed his heart out against the soft fabric.

"I love you, you baka…" He said, between sobs, not lifting his face from the pillow. "Don't scare me like that again."

Unknowingly to Akihito though, Asami opened his eyes briefly at that very same moment; the soft smile that managed to appear on his lips a clear indication that he had heard Akihito's confession.

(4 weeks later)

Akihito took a final sip from his martini glass, as the tropical sun set in the distant horizon.

Sighing quietly at the scenery, he dipped his head under water emerging a few seconds later on the other side of the infinity pool.

Placing the empty glass on the pool's edge, he grinned at its only other occupant.

"A person could get used to this lifestyle, you know?" He said, noticing Asami chuckle beside him, despite having his eyes closed.

"…I'm sure a lot of people would agree with you." The older man retorted, seeming to enjoy the feel of the last sunrays caressing his face.

He was sitting on the upper steps of the infinity pool, elbows propped backwards supporting his torso against the pool's edge, while his lower half was submerged in the water.

He didn't want to get the bandages around his chest wet, even though they were by now a mere medical formality. His gunshot wound had already healed after all.

A mischievous look passed through Akihito's eyes, as he caught on Asami's unguarded expression; an idea quickly forming in his mind.

Very, very slowly, Akihito moved towards Asami, making sure none of the water splashed about him in the process, alerting the other man to his movements.

When he got a few inches from him, the young man lowered his face to the water, filling his mouth with the crystalline liquid.

In one swift movement, he propped himself up on the pool's lower steps, until his face was at the level of Asami's, and quickly linked his cold lips with Asami's warm ones.

The action caused Asami to open his eyes instantly in obvious surprise.

…He was still able to catch a glimpse of Akihito's amused grin before a sprinkle of water was shot directly in his face.

"…And what was that for, may I ask?" He enquired a few seconds later, rubbing his left eye, which had received the hit full on, as the younger man's triumphant cries reached his ears.

"That is for sitting on the edge of the pool all afternoon like a dead log and refusing to come swim with me." Akihito accused. "Honestly, Asami. We come all the way to this exotic island and you spend two weeks just sun bathing your ass off? Are you afraid of water or something?...Ha, wait a minute. Don't tell me you can't swim? Is that why you never jumped in the water with me?" The young man asked, unable to control his laughter.

Asami though didn't seem to find the questions at all amusing. Instead, he took them up as a sort of challenge.

Before Akihito's laughter died down, Asami jumped forward into the pool, momentarily forgetting about his bandages and quickly swam past Akihito at high speed.

It took the youngster a couple of seconds to realize what was going on. "H-Hey wait. I'll race you." He said, quickly following behind him.

Asami was a lot faster than he thought tough and it wasn't long before the older man reached the other side of the pool, leaving Akihito still far behind.

"Boy, you're really fast". The younger man said in awe, once he also emerged at the other side of the pool. "You've left me out of brea-"

The word died down in his mouth as soon as he noticed he wasn't the only one panting hard… Although in Asami's case, his hand was also clutching the side of his chest, just where the bullet wound had been.

"A-Asami. Are you ok?" Akihito quickly asked, trying not to panic.

It took the other man a few more seconds to recover his normal breathing. "I'm fine." He finally answered, though Akihito noticed that he was still holding on to his chest. "Just a minor pain spasm. The doctor warned me I might have them from time to time." He added, leaning his back against an underwater bench built into the infinity pool, so that his torso was out of the water again.

"I-I'll go get your pain meds." Akihito quickly said, making a move to get out of the water.

He didn't manage to go far though. As soon as Asami sensed him slipping away, he grabbed Akihito by the waist and slammed his back against his chest, making it impossible for Akihito to escape his hold.

That didn't stop the youngster from trying though. "Asami… Your pain medication."

"You are my pain medication, Akihito." The older man whispered huskily into his ear, making him shiver all over despite the warm temperature of the water.

"Asami, you jerk. Stop it." He pleaded as he felt the other man's hand travel to the front of his swim trunks. "You're not supposed to strain yourself."

A small gust of air blew on the back of his neck, as he heard Asami chuckle. "Stop lecturing me like you are my nurse, Akihito… Besides, I'm not straining myself…" He said, sliding his hand beneath the waistband of the younger man's trunks. "…I'm straining you." He added with a devilish grin, just before he gently squeezed Akihito's member, making the other moan so loud, that he was sure the sound was heard at least two villas' away.

Hours later, Akihito rolled over in bed, waking up from a light sleep only to find that Asami was not beside him, albeit the warmth still emanating from the sheets over on his side of the bed.

He shifted towards the bedside table, picking up his wristwatch while he waited for his vision to adjust well enough to its display screen.

10 p.m.

Great! So that meant they had skipped dinner… again. And thanks to a round of sex… again.

Sighing tiredly, Akihito let himself fall back on his pillow, perfectly aware that he was butt naked above the sheets, yet not giving a damn if someone were to inadvertently walk into the room.

He and Asami had already given one of the resort's cleaning ladies the scare of her life when she had surprised the duo in one of their many afternoon love making sessions' the week before, so the youngster had pretty much lost all sense of shame by then.

He stared intently at the fan strapped to the inner roof of the bedroom, permanently on in an attempt to fight back the scorching heat of the island, which Akihito had already felt was pathetic the last time he had stayed at the villa after his stint in Hong Kong, and continued to feel it was pathetic now.

It seemed as if the island was in perpetual summer, temperatures always high making a person sweaty and bothered and with only one thought on their minds: water.

He really didn't understand how Asami had managed two weeks in the place without a dive in the nearby ocean.

Sure the main point of the trip was for him to relax and get his strength back after spending almost two grueling weeks at the hospital, but he didn't seem to have any interest whatsoever in the ocean, and very little on the private infinity pool located just outside the six bedroom villa he had rented for his convalescence period.

Oh no, hot weather seemed to have a completely different effect on the likes of Asami Ryuuichi. While most of his fellow mortals turned into slugs depleted of all energy, Asami himself turned into some sort of hungry sex machine, and the only way to calm him down was to give him as much of it as he wanted, whenever he wanted it.

Aggravatingly enough, the task of satisfying his urges had fallen all on Akihito, who was beginning to have second thoughts regarding his decision to tag along on the getaway by Asami's request.

It was not like the man had flat out asked Akihito to tag along though. It was more like hadn't even given him the chance to say no in the first place. After all, Asami started arranging for the trip with Kirishima-san as soon as he got rid of the IV tubes in the hospital.

His assistant seemed so glad to be bossed around by him that he followed his orders diligently; so much so that a limo was waiting for Asami outside the hospital the moment he was discharged to take him straight to the airport.

Akihito had tried to escape the deal, but apparently Kirishima-san had put him down on the getaway list along with all the medicine that Asami would need for a full recovery.

Sure, deep down it wasn't a bad deal or anything. Two weeks in an exotic island, all expenses paid, and royalty like treatment by the resort's staff, not to mention the chance to spend some quality time with the man Akihito loved…

Not that the man he loved actually knew he loved him. That part of Akihito's plan hadn't yet pulled thru.

He had tried countless times to come clean with Asami over the past couple of weeks, but at the last second courage kept failing him.

And the worst part was that they would be leaving for Japan on the following day, and then what?

With Mikhail's threat gone, there was no reason for Akihito to be under Asami's protection anymore. And given that they lived in separate apartments now, it was only natural to assume that they wouldn't be bumping into each other as often. Sooner or later they would end up losing touch with each other.

…Although Akihito supposed they could meet up every once in a while for casual sex.

As soon as the thought crossed his mind, the younger man shook his head to dispel it.

No. He definitely didn't want to meet up with Asami just for sex. He didn't want to be just another lover to him. Nor did he want to share Asami with anyone else for that matter.

His deep rooted jealousy made him laugh. Boy, he really got it bad. He had never felt this possessive over anyone before.

Fighting back the thought, Akihito pulled himself out of bed, putting on a clean pair of swim trunks and a t-shirt (he's staple wardrobe choice on the island), before he directed his steps towards the villa's living area expecting to find Asami there.

Kirishima-san was the one to greet him though, informing Akihito that his boss had left the villa a short while ago so that he could take a stroll along the resort's private beach.

Akihito still toyed with the idea of staying back and waiting for him to return but quickly decided to go out looking for the older man, even though he himself didn't understand the purpose behind the action. It was not like he felt particularly brave enough to have "The Talk" with Asami at that moment.

He guessed he just felt a stupid urge to see him, to be around him, as if his subconscious was trying to bask on Asami's aura as much as possible, before the inevitable separation between them would become a reality.

Kirishima was kind enough to point Akihito in the direction his boss had taken, and soon enough the younger man was on his way.

The sun had long since set over the island, allowing a bright full moon to take over the skies, its light reflecting off the crystalline ocean water just outside the villa, providing the scenery with an almost ethereal look.

Akihito breathed in the warm sea breeze, trying to commit it to memory. He didn't know if he'd ever get a chance to return to that paradise after all.

Taking advantage of the deserted beach he walked along the shore line for a while not bothering to change his route even when the shallow waves washed over the sand around him, caressing his bare feet.

He walked for a long time, passing along many villas similar to the one he was staying in, and along the resorts' main buildings where the sounds of the other guests chattering away over on the bar area reached his ears.

After 15 minutes of walking along the coast line with no sign of Asami he began to think that perhaps the older man had only gone as far as the resort's bar and was now enjoying a drink along with the other guests.

Akihito was in fact about to turn around and retrace his steps when he chanced another look ahead of the path he was on, stopping immediately as he did so.

A mere few meters in front of him, Asami was standing alone on the beach facing the full moon above the ocean, his gaze fixed somewhere in the distant horizon.

With his hands in the pockets of his loose trousers and open shirt fluttering at the rhythm of the wind, he looked lost in thought, as if he was looking inwards rather than at the scenery surrounding him.

He looked indeed so concentrated on something, whatever it was, that Akihito found himself almost embarrassed of invading his privacy.

The young man slowly turned around intent on returning to the villa unseen, but didn't manage to go far without being noticed.

"Akihito…" He heard Asami call out to him, a hint of surprise evident in the older man's voice.

He didn't know what exactly triggered the reaction, but Akihito felt his heart start beating erratically against his ribcage, even before he commanded his feet to turn back towards Asami.

"H-Hey!" He greeted, trying to sound casual… and failing miserably, which granted him a curious look from the other man.

"I-I…was looking for you. You weren't in bed, I mean, in the room when I woke up. I-I thought you might want to go grab a late snack at the hotel's lounge, since we both skipped dinner, so yeah…I came looking for you because of that…and stuff…"

Boy was Akihito ever glad it was nighttime and the moonlight was the only source of light available. He was pretty sure his cheeks were crimson at the moment. What the bloody hell was up with him all of a sudden!

Thankfully Asami didn't seem to notice a thing. His eyes left Akihito for a couple of seconds returning to the expanse of ocean between them and the distant horizon. He seemed to be in a continuous contemplative mood of sorts, which was slightly uncharacteristic of him.

"I suppose we can stop by the lounge if you're hungry." He finally said, though it seemed as though he had replied mechanically, his mind being far away at that moment.

"Oh, o-ok then…" Akihito answered, slightly baffled by his behavior. "...Do you want to go now?"

When his question received no answer, he bit his lip nervously. Something was definitely off with the older man, no doubt about it.

Akihito stared at his dream like state, and soon wasn't able to stop himself. "Asami, what are you thinking about?" He asked quietly, only to feel a sudden urge to kick himself. God, he sounded like a woman!

His newest question though, ended up producing some effect on Asami, who seemed to break off from his daze momentarily, turning his gaze once again on the younger man.

He even opened his mouth clearly intent on saying something, but at the last second appeared to have changed his mind, closing it again.

Akihito felt his heart beating inside his throat. A thousand grim scenarios were playing in his mind, all of them ending with Asami declaring out flatly to him that they were not to see each other in the future ever again.

"A-Asami?" He mumbled fearfully.

The older man seemed to be struggling for the proper words though, and so several seconds passed between them in silence.

Curiously enough, that ended up restoring some courage back to Akihito.

"Damn it, if you want to say it, just say it." He said more confidently, though not enough to prevent him from averting his eyes from the other man.

"…Say what?" Asami asked, seemingly surprised by his comment.

"That you don't want to see me again after we go back to Japan…"

"What? !.. Who put that idea in your head?"

"No one put it in my head, but it's pretty obvious, isn't it? You and I belong to different worlds, Asami... I don't have money or connections; I'm not surrounded by fancy stuff like you are all the time. Not to mention that every time I dwell in your world I get either myself or your businesses in trouble."

Asami stared back at him in silence. He looked for a moment like he'd just been slapped across the face.

"Don't put things in those terms. That's not how you feel."

Akihito suppressed a sudden urge to laugh at him. "How do you know how I feel? About anything?"

"I know how you feel about me and that's enough." The older man retorted with so much conviction that Akihito froze in place.

"W-What?" He mumbled as Asami drew closer to him. "What are you talking about? How could you possibly…?"

"…Why are you always so stubborn?" The older man retorted instead, making a move to touch Akihito, who unconsciously stepped backwards away from him.

"I know you're in love with me, Akihito. So don't act like you wouldn't care if you never saw me again."

Akihito felt like a bucket of cold water had just been dumped on his head. Oh shit! Asami knew? ! How? All this time Akihito had worried himself sick trying to muster up the courage to confess to the other man, and apparently his feelings had been somehow plainly visible on his features or actions.

So Asami knew his weakness. Oh man, in all the scenarios in which Akihito had envision himself coming clean with the other man, none of them started with Asami already knowing the truth.

Suddenly he didn't know what to do or say. He felt his cheeks start to burn again, praying that a hole would open up on the ground so that he could jump into it and hide. This was not how he'd plan for things to go at all.

"Akihito…" Asami's voice brought him back from his musings.

The youngster didn't answer him though. Instead, he did quite the opposite. He wheeled his body around, walking back towards where he'd come from in a quick pace.

He didn't manage to go far though, as he soon felt Asami's arms circling his torso, preventing him from walking away any further.

That didn't stop Akihito from trying to escape his hold though.

"L-Let go." He said, feeling Asami's grip on him tightening instead.

"No."

"Damn it Asami, let me go!"

"No." The older man repeated, holding the youngster against his chest, though not forcibly.

"What do you want from me? What were you trying to tell me just now, damn it?"

"…I want you to move in with me." Asami finally said, causing Akihito to stop fighting against his hold due to the unexpected shock.

"W-What?"

"…I want you to move back into my apartment when we return to Japan."

"…What?...Why?"

When Asami didn't answer, Akihito pushed himself free from his grasp, turning around to face him again. "What? You need someone to cook your meals for you? Do some housework around the apartment?"

Asami narrowed his eyes at him, seemingly offended by the remark. "Don't be an idiot. I didn't say that."

"Then what? Need someone close by in case you get a hard-on in the middle of the night?"

"Akihito!"

"What? Do I know too much about you, is that why? Am I a menace to your businesses if I'm let loose? Why do you want me back?"

"Because I'm in love with you too, you idiot!"

The sudden confession pierced thru Akihito's heart like an arrow. He stood staring at the older man as close to stupefied as he'd ever been, thinking he couldn't possibly have heard him right.

"Y-You what?" Akihito mumbled, as his knees strangely felt as if they were about to give in under him.

Asami though was staring back at him with a dead serious expression. There was no chance in hell the older man was lying to him.

"I said," Asami repeated; his voice low but firm as he placed his palm gently against Akihito's cheek. "I'm in love with you, you brat, and I cannot stand the thought of not having you around in my life." He finally confessed, before leaning down to capture Akihito's lips with his own.

It was the deepest, most meaningful kiss that they had shared so far. A silent vow, a promise for the start of a new life together that made them cling to each other as if nothing else mattered in the world apart from that moment they were sharing under the moonlight.

(A few days later – Asami's condo)

Akihito rolled to his side in bed, his eyes catching a glimpse of the alarm clock on top of the bedside table.

11:30 pm.

He unconsciously bit his lower lip, but this time he was actually trying to figure out how on earth he was going to get himself out of his present situation.

He looked over his shoulder making sure the other person occupying the bed had already fallen asleep.

Careful not to wake him, the younger man moved over to the edge of the bed, but before he had the chance to sit up straight he felt a strong arm snacking around his waist and pulling him back under the covers.

"Oh, no you don't." He heard a groggy voice whisper against his ear.

"Come on, Asami you baka. Let me at least get out of bed." Akihito grumbled.

"No." Was the older man's short reply, as he snuggled closer to him, a clear indication he was not planning to let go of Akihito anytime soon.

"But I haven't even unpacked my stuff yet. It's all still inside the boxes from the move over."

"You have time for that, no worries." Asami said, unable to hold back a lazy yawn.

"Can I at least get up to go take a shower?" Akihito huffed, thinking just exactly how much sex could a human being actually physically endure.

"You have time for that too."

"That's what you said yesterday!" Akihito accused, giving up for the time being and settling back down against the other man's chest. "You are so freaking annoying sometimes." He added, hearing Asami's low chuckle in response.

"I'm just making sure I'm compensating for the 6 months we were apart." He said, brushing his lips against the back of Akihito's neck, causing the youngster's stomach to flip.

"S-Stop doing that."

"Why?... Does it make you feel butterflies in your stomach?"

"As if!" Akihito replied immediately, knowing himself to be blushing in denial of his own words.

Asami's subsequent amused laughter only added to his mortification.

"You really do suck at lying, you know?… But I guess I like you either way." The older man said, just before he rolled them both in bed and made love to Akihito all over again.

THE END

Last A/N: Yay, it's finished :) *does the happy dance* Many, many, maaaany thanks to all who followed the story! This was a ton of fun to write and I hope you enjoyed reading it too. See you all next time! ;)