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PART I
Despite his best efforts, Akihito can’t help but gawk at the breathtaking views in front of him.
He’s currently on the 79th floor of a New York skyscraper, touring what he can only describe as the most insane penthouse he has ever (and most likely, will ever) set foot on.
Not only is the place massive, occupying the floor in its entirety; it features a whopping seven bedrooms, a private gym and an indoor swimming pool.
And if that wasn’t already over-the-top, the floor-to-ceiling windows, running the full length of the place, reward its occupants with unguarded views of Central Park to the south, the Hudson River to the west, and in between, just about every iconic New York City building Akihito recalls from American movies.
As if on cue, the young man recognizes the silhouette of the Empire State Building in the distance, and has to bite his tongue to prevent making a complete fool of himself by pointing it out loud to Asami, who at present is standing on the other side of the large living room, engaged in conversation with one of the building’s concierges who previously escorted them into the apartment.
Asami can very well guess the effect the place is having on Akihito though, and whilst the concierge points out to him the new diptych painting adorning one of the walls (apparently purchased on Asami’s instruction at a local auction just the week before), Asami breaks eye contact with the man to smile over the shoulder at Akihito.
The latter flushes as their eyes meet. He still can’t believe Asami owns this penthouse.
True, the man is known for his expensive tastes, but this place? It puts even his lavish Tokyo penthouse to shame.
The concierge calls for Asami’s attention again, this time to go over some renovation work recently completed on the marble fireplace, and the older man breaks eye contact with his lover.
Akihito frowns. He doesn’t like that concierge.
Tall, young, impeccably dressed and with impeccable manners, he’s been eyeing Asami with a little too much unconcealed lust ever since their limo dropped them and their luggage off under the building’s awning earlier on in the afternoon.
Normally, Akihito wouldn’t be bothered by the man’s undivided attention towards his lover. He’s gotten used to Asami being coveted by other people’s eyes. But the man’s ravenous looks every time he speaks to Asami, coupled with the superiority ones he bestows on Akihito every so often, are really starting to rub the young man the wrong way.
“So what if you look like you belong on a modeling shoot?” Akihito glares at the concierge. “What do you think you have, that I don’t?”
He suddenly catches his own reflection in the mirror hanging on the wall beside him, and his defiant demeanor abandons him in the space of a heartbeat.
“Fuck.” He grimaces. “I look like shit.”
His hair is sticking out in all directions, his T-shirt is all rumpled up, and there is a massive coffee stain on his jeans just above his knees, from when the jet plane hit some turbulence on the way down to JFK Airport and his coffee cup tumbled to the ground, spilling the drink over him in the process.
Scowling at his own reflection, he lifts up an elbow and takes a quick sniff of his underarm, only to freeze on the spot.
“Well, no wonder that dude keeps giving me side glances. I stink. Bad! Bloody hell, I need a shower. Like, right now!”
Just then, he hears the concierge say: “Well, I’ll leave you to rest now, Mr. Asami. You must be tired from your long flight. I trust you will find everything in the apartment to your liking.”
“I’m sure I will.” Asami replies politely. “Thank you once again for taking care of the penthouse during my absence.”
The concierge’s eyes lighten up. “Oh, but it was a pleasure, Mr. Asami.” He states eagerly. “And might I add, sir, it is also a pleasure to see you back in New York”.
Behind the man, Akihito rolls his eyes; his mouth silently mimicking the former’s last words in a mocking fashion.
Asami’s lips twitch upwards at the scene. “Thank you.” He nevertheless replies in a composed manner. “It is a pleasure to be back.”
And with that, he accompanies the concierge to the front door, who still transfixed by the older man’s mere presence, forgets even to bid Akihito a good day.
“Asshole.” Akihito mutters under his breath.
He’s still pouting when Asami returns to the living room, now free of his human appendage.
He goes and leans against the back of the sofa, facing Akihito with a curious grin on his face.
“What?” The younger man asks, seeing the grin widen.
“So…how impressed are you?”
Akihito shoves his hands in his pockets, playing it cool. “Oh, about this place, you mean? Hmm…it’s a bit small, don’t you think?”
“Small!?”
“I mean, only seven bedrooms and seven bathrooms?” He quips, moving towards the bar area, and losing no time in rummaging through the expensive drinks on display there. “Come on, that’s got to be below the minimum living standards for a ‘Billionaires’ Row’ apartment… That’s what that concierge dude called this area of New York, right? Billionaires’ Row?”
He’s about to pour himself a drink from a very expensive-looking beer bottle, when he feels Asami’s arms snake round his stomach; the man’s face leaning down to whisper into his ear: “Actually, there’s an eight bedroom and bathroom in the penthouse. But those are a secret.” His voice drops an octave lower, and his grip around the other man’s frame tightens then. “Would you like me to show them to you, Akihito?”
The younger man chuckles.
“You had a secret area built in this place?”
“Huh-Huh.”
“Why am I not surprised?”
Asami doesn’t answer, what with his mouth being currently busy ravaging the back of the younger man’s neck.
At first Akihito leans into the embrace, happy with the pampering he’s receiving, but when Asami’s hands move further down to unbutton his jeans, he suddenly startles and tries to put some distance between them.
“H-Hey there. Not so fast.” He calls out, turning round.
But the older man takes advantage of the change in position to issue an attack on his lips instead.
“What’s the matter?” Asami whispers between kisses. “Don’t you want this?... Don’t you want me?” He asks huskily, pulling Akihito closer to him.
Akihito feels his face flush. “That’s not it.”
Whatever he was about to add slips his mind entirely when Asami bites his lower lip, licking it apologetically a second later.
A moan escapes Akihito’s mouth, or maybe it was Asami’s, or maybe it was both their mouths, as their lips clash together once more.
A familiar fog is threatening to take over Akihito’s senses. He knows he’ll be a goner if he lets himself go any further, but thankfully, in the midst of the wave of lust, a shred of reasoning manages to break-through to Akihito and he uses it to break their latest kiss.
“Wait!” He exclaims, both hands pushing back against Asami’s chest.
Asami pulls back, albeit reluctantly.
They are both panting now, Asami’s shirt already lying at his feet; Akihito’s jeans pooled around his ankles, both their hairdos a disheveled mess.
“What is it?” Asami asks amused. “What on earth’s the matter, Akihito?” He says, moving in to kiss his lover again.
But the latter dodges the move.
“…I stink.” He mutters sheepishly.
“…You what?”
“I said, I stink… I don’t want to do it feeling all grimy from the plane ride, okay?”
Asami stares at him perplexed. That is, until he bursts out laughing.
“Well, excuse me, Mr. My-Sweat-Doesn’t-Smell. I, on the other hand, being a regular human being, do smell when I sweat. And right now I stink- Hey! What’s the big idea?! Put me down!”
Akihito’s protest produces no effect, as Asami picks him up in his arms, and starts carrying him towards the hallway.
“You’ll be glad to know, Akihito, that that eight bathroom I was telling you about just now is equipped with an infinity shower big enough for two people. I’ll get you squeaky clean in no time, you’ll see.” He announces triumphantly.
“Wait… You had an infinity shower big enough for two installed in the secret bathroom?”
“Sure did.”
Akihito sighs. “Why am I not surprised?”
They end up laughing all the way towards the bathroom.
PART II
It’s 3 a.m. when Akihito finally gives up on trying to sleep; one hour of mindlessly tossing and turning in bed being enough to convince him of the pointlessness of the endeavor.
He rolls to one side, and can’t help but smile at the scene he finds.
At least Asami was spared a sleepless night.
The older man is lying peacefully next to Akihito, one arm tucked under his pillow, the other reaching over the mattress towards Akihito.
His lips are slightly parted, and his chest rises and falls in sync with his silent breathing.
Every now and then his nose twitches though, making Akihito wonder what he’s dreaming about.
Slowly, so as not to wake him, the young man reaches out a hand to brush a strand of hair away from Asami’s eyes.
As if sensing the touch, the latter leans closer to the warmth; a content sigh escaping his lips in the process.
“How do you manage to sleep with your head resting like that?” Akihito asks softly, noticing the odd angle in which the other man’s head rests against his pillow.
It will forever remain a mystery to him just how it is that Asami manages to wake up every morning without a neck sprain.
By now he knows better than to try and fix the situation though, for every time he attempted to do so in the past, Asami invariably woke up grumbling.
So instead, Akihito contents himself with spending the next few minutes staring at his lover in silence; his fingers moving towards the man from time to time to trace the contour of his bare shoulders or arms with featherlike touches.
Asami’s nose continues to twitch every so often, making Akihito smile every time.
“Are you dreaming about me?” He whispers into the silence.
Eventually, thirst comes knocking at his door and he decides a trip to the kitchen is in order.
He sits up in bed, looking round the floor for his boxer shorts, only to suddenly recall that Asami freed him of them inside the massive shower of the secret bathroom hours before, and that he’s been naked ever since.
Thankfully, one of his suitcases lies open nearby, and rummaging through it, he quickly finds a clean pair of boxers and puts them on.
As he starts walking through the silent apartment, a familiar sting on his lower back, not altogether unpleasant, makes itself know to him.
He stops for a second, frowning as he rubs the sore muscles. He really hopes they didn’t overdue it this time. It will be really embarrassing for him if he’s not able to walk straight come morning.
But alas, Asami somehow put it through his head that he wanted to ‘christen’ every bedroom in the penthouse and…well… what was Akihito to do against the wishes of a sex god like him?
He smiles as he remembers the last few hours. All things considered, they did manage to make it until the 5th bedroom before they collapsed, completely spent, into each other’s arms. Not bad for a first night in a new place.
The kitchen is every bit like the rest of the penthouse: massive, lavish, over-the-top. The appliances look brand new, the marble looks stupidly expensive and the views outside the windows look so stunning that for a moment Akihito forgets why it is he walked into the kitchen in the first place.
The interior designers clearly knew what they were doing, for throughout the apartment, a series of window bench seats are strategically placed to provide a spectacular viewing experience of New York City to whoever chooses to sit or lay on them.
Mesmerized by the city skyline, Akihito soon moves towards one of the larger benches; his gaze losing itself over the city that never sleeps.
Time passes, but still sleep will not come to him that night.
“Are you trying to catch a cold?” An amused voice calls out to him from the kitchen doorway.
Akihito startles, but as his head turns toward the source of the sound, a robe falls on it, momentarily blocking his view.
“Here, put this on. It’s too cold to be walking around in only your underwear. ” The voice adds.
Akihito obeys, pulling the garment away from his face to find that Asami has come to sit in front of him on the same bench.
He wraps the robe around him, finding that the scent of Asami’s cologne is infusing the fabric all over.
“How long have you been awake?” The older man asks.
Unlike Akihito, he was sensible enough to put some clothes on before leaving the bedroom.
And he’s right. Despite the state of the art A/C system, the night is cold.
Akihito shrugs before answering: “Awhile I guess... What about you?”
“I always wake up around this time when I travel here. At least for the first few days.” Asami smiles. “It’s lunchtime in Japan.”
“Ah, yes, I think I read somewhere that jet-lag gets worse as you get older.” Akihito quips. “Is age finally catching up with you, old man?”
He tries to bump his ankle playfully against the other man’s legs, but the latter is quicker, catching his foot mid-air, and bringing it to rest on his lap.
“Nice try, Akihito. But you aren’t sleeping either.” Asami remarks, as he begins to massage the younger man’s ankle, knowing it is still tender from a recent sprain made whilst on a job assignment.
Akihito closes his eyes, sighing quietly at the attention his sore ankle is receiving. “Mm…that feels nice.” He whispers.
“Why aren’t you asleep?”
He opens his eyes to find Asami staring at him with a raised eyebrow.
“It’s not like you can blame it on the jet-lag, young man.”
Akihito feels himself blush. So much so, that he turns his gaze away from the other man.
Still, he doesn’t reply to the question.
So Asami replies for him.
“Are you worried about tomorrow?” He asks.
“No.” Akihito replies a little too quickly. “…I mean, maybe…That is,…perhaps a little, yes.”
When he again looks toward the other man, Asami’s lips have morphed into a thin line and a frown is marring his forehead.
“Akihito, if you don’t feel up to it, you don’t need to accompany me tomorrow.“
“But I want to! Really, I do. Besides, it’s not like I’ll be in any danger…right?”
Asami stares at him in silence for a moment, but eventually shakes his head.
“No. No, you’ll be fine, don’t worry. My father... He is a criminal, and a world-class viper, but he’s not a liar. He never was. If he said that you will not be harmed, we can trust him. Still…the thought of you… around him…I don’t like it.”
“Hey, I agreed to it, remember? If meeting your father in person is his one condition to leave us alone for good, I don’t mind doing it. It will just be for a few hours anyway.”
“Still…I don’t like it.”
Asami’s gaze seems to turns inwards then, as if his mind has started playing back scenes from his past. Unpleasant ones. A reaction which Akihito has grown accustomed to every time the other man reminisces about the time spent under his father’s iron wing.
“What is it?...Tell me.” Akihito asks, trying to coach him away from the bad memories.
“…I know my father won’t harm you. I’m sure of that. But this sudden request to meet you in person… I just can’t shake off the feeling that he’s up to something.”
Akihito attempts a grin, trying to lighten the dark mood. “Come on, what’s he going to do? Throw a tantrum at his own son’s wedding party? In front of all the…How many guests did you say were attending the party? About a hundred and fifty?”
“Try two hundred and fifty.”
“Blimey! It’s going to be one heck of a party…Hey, do you think there’ll be fireworks at the end?”
Asami chuckles at the hopeful look on Akihito’s face. “And a forty-piece orchestra, and a team of Michelin chefs and bakers, and solid gold cutlery, and just about every obscenely expensive bottle of champagne that money can buy. I’m sure the old man is sparing no expenses. The press will be covering the event, after all.” He pauses for a moment, turning his gaze towards the view outside. “…And you are a fucking fool to go along with all of it, Maxim.” He utters under his breath.
To be fair, the news of Asami’s older brother’s impending nuptials caught just about everyone by surprised. A little less, when it was found that his bride is the daughter of an oil tycoon who reportedly also owns the monopoly of arms’ trafficking throughout the Middle East.
An “interesting family merger”, Feilong called it the last time the three of them dined together in Tokyo.
Asami didn’t bother to correct Feilong’s remark at the time.
“I feel bad for the bride.” Akihito says after a moment. “And Alec… I thought your brother and he...”
“Did you think they were lovers?...They are.”
The younger man gasps in surprise, making Asami shake his head at the reaction. “It’s a marriage of convenience, Akihito. It’s common in families such as ours. Besides, I doubt Maxim and his future wife mind it too much. For them, it will be just another family business transaction. They’ll lead separate lives after the wedding, I’m sure. ”
He lets out a heavy sigh, before turning his gaze back towards the New York skyline.
“Is that what happened to your parents?” Akihito wants to ask him, but refrains from doing so; afraid he’ll bring the mood further down.
“Still, it’s pretty sad.” He can’t help adding though. “Watching the person you love having to marry someone else…”
He feels a weird lump on his throat at the thought. It’s impossible not to imagine himself on Alec’s shoes. What would it feel like if he were to witness Asami walking down the aisle, holding someone else’s hand?
A hand ruffling his hair is what he feels at that moment though.
“Stop it right there, you.” Asami tells him, ruffling his hair again.
Akihito breaks away from his dark musings to find his lover frowning at him.
“Stop making movies inside your head, Akihito. My father doesn’t have that kind of power over me.”
The younger man flushes. Were his thoughts that transparent?
“I would never marry anyone my father chose.”
“Good! ‘Cause I wouldn’t let you anyway.”
“Oh, really? And what would you do to stop it? Crash the wedding?”
“You bet I would!” Akihito replies playfully. “I’d make such an epic scene it would be opening the eight o’clock news!”
“And knowing how much of a troublemaker you are, I don’t doubt it for a second.”
The thought ends up making them both laugh.
“What’s on your mind?” Asami asks, minutes later, when their laughter has faded to a comfortable silence, and a somber look seems to take over Akihito again.
“For real?”
“Yes.”
“I’m terrified about meeting your father.” But Akihito doesn’t want to say that out loud.
Instead, he pushes his worries aside for the moment, and sporting a cheeky grin, he crawls across the bench towards Asami.
“Do you really want to know?” He asks, sitting comfortably across Asami’s lap.
The older man nods, intrigued by the sudden mood change.
But Akihito’s grin only widens. “I was thinking how many millions this place must have cost, and how many other penthouses around the world you’re still hiding from me.”
It’s not a complete lie. The thoughts in question have crossed the young man’s mind several times already that day.
Asami laughs.
“I can’t spoil all of them at once, Akihito. Your face when you first walked into this place was rather priceless. I’d like to see that face on you again.”
“Hm, do you know what else I’m thinking?”
“What?”
“We still have three bedrooms left to christen. And seeing as we’re both awake right now…”
Akihito whispers this last part into his lover’s ear, hoping to elicit a certain reaction from him.
Which he does. Just not the one he’s expecting.
Instead, Asami grabs him by the shoulders, pushing him gently away.
“Don’t tempt me, Akihito.” He warns; his eyes narrowing. “Or you’ll be too tired tomorrow. You need to get some sleep.”
But the younger man shrugs, unconcerned. “I guess you’ll just have to carry me around in your arms all day. Hey, do you think that would be enough to cause a scene at the wedding party?”
Asami laughs at the question. “You sure can act like a brat when you want to.”
But Akihito is already up on his feet and moving towards the doorway. “Bedroom number six, it is.”
“Are you coming or not?” He calls out from the hallway moments later. “Hey, where is bedroom number six, anyway? This place is too big. I’m lost.”
Asami chuckles as he hears the complaint. “Oh, now it’s big?! I thought you said it was small?” He answers back as he too gets up from the bench. “Wait up. I’ll help you find the room.”
And it takes them a good five minutes, but they eventually do find it.
PART III
“You’ll be fine, Akihito. No need to worry. Just keep on breathing, and whatever you do, just pretend you’re confident about doing it.”
It doesn’t matter how many times Akihito whispers encouraging words to himself. He still feels completely out of place amongst all the glitz and glamour surrounding him.
It’s not like he had expected Maxim’s wedding reception to be a demure affair, but… this? Bloody hell, everything looks so extravagant, he feels like he’s attending some sort of royal wedding instead.
The venue, the food, the drinks, the various entertainments – all seem to have been carefully selected from the most expensive catalogues. And what to say of the guests in attendance? Half of them look like they’ve just stepped out of fashion magazines. And the other half? Well, those look wealthy enough to own the damn fashion magazines.
“I so do not belong here.” Akihito mumbles to himself for the n-th time that day.
Even the waiters look posh, gliding smoothly about the place in their matching liveries; their trays filled with expensive hors-d'œuvre and cocktails whose names Akihito has no clue how to pronounce.
Well, at least liquid courage is in abundance.
He signals to a nearby waiter, who readily walks up to him, presenting Akihito with a tray of drinks.
“May I interest you in a Disaronno Fizz, sir?” The man smiles charmingly.
“Huh…S-Sure, why not?” Akihito smiles back, hoping to sound natural.
“What the hell is a Disaronno Fizz, anyway?”
He waits until the waiter glides away to take a sniff of the amber liquid, wondering what it is he’s about to drink, but the action oddly ends up causing a bout of pain to shoot down his lower back.
“Ouch!” He winces.
The arm resting round his back tightens its hold on him, and a voice says, low enough so that only he can hear: “We overdid it yesterday, didn’t we? I did warn you.”
At the words, Akihito can’t help the tiniest of blushes from tainting his cheeks.
He looks up to find Asami staring at him; a mix of worry and amusement in the man’s eyes.
“I-I’m fine. It’s my ankle. It’s still acting up, that’s all.” He says.
From the way Asami grins at him though, he can tell the man knows he’s not telling the truth.
Just then an acquaintance of Asami’s moves in closer to greet the man, and a circumstantial conversation ensues.
The scene has been a constant ever since they first arrived at the wedding venue. It seems Asami is personally acquainted with more than a fair share of the guests; and being the groom’s brother, it’s only natural that his attention, however briefly, is sought after.
But just like during the first time he was approached upon arrival, now too Asami makes it a point of never letting go of the hold he has on Akihito. Furthermore, he makes sure to introduce Akihito as his lover to whoever comes to greet him; a situation that in itself has already brought many a blush to Akihito’s face.
“What’s the matter?” He asks Akihito, as the latest acquaintance walks away from them. A banker this time, lest Akihito’s poor English skills tricked his ears.
“What’s with that somber look all of a sudden?” Asami asks again; a hand coming up to rest against Akihito’s cheek.
For a man who’s normally so private in his displays of affection, Akihito sure feels Asami is going out of his way with his PDA. He suspects he knows the reason why though. It’s one that has been weighing on them both all afternoon, after all. But still he prefers not to verbalize it… just yet.
Instead, he leans his cheek into the palm of the other man’s hand, and smiles mischievously, hoping that will help to soften his somber expression.
“You do realize that man was hitting on you just now, don’t you?”
Asami’s chuckle feels like a soothing balm to Akihito’s soul.
“What’s this? Are you feeling jealous, Takaba Akihito?”
But the younger man shrugs unconcerned.
“Not really. I don’t think balding, middle-aged bankers are really your type.”
They both laugh at the remark.
“But tell me. Really. What is the matter?” Asami insists after their laughter subsides. “Do you still feel worried?”
Akihito sighs quietly, his eyes roaming through the throng of posh guests.
“It’s just…”
“What?”
“I don’t think I belong here, Asami.”
“…I don’t think I belong here either.”
Asami’s admission surprises the younger man.
“Not anymore anyway.” Asami adds, his thumb sliding across Akihito’s lower lip.
The kiss happens naturally, like hundreds of times before. One moment, they’re looking into each other’s eyes, aware of their surroundings; the next, they’re lips are locked together, gentle but eager, and the outside world has pretty much ceased to exist.
“Well, isn’t this a heartwarming scene?” The intruding voice reaches them from afar at first. “Tell me, would you like me to get the two of you a private room?”
Idyll suddenly interrupted, the two lovers nevertheless keep to each other’s arms, with Asami, on his part, not even deigning to turn round to greet the intruder.
“What do you want, Maxim?” He asks over his shoulder instead. “You have far better things to do today than to stop by and harass me, I’m sure.”
“How hilarious, Ryuichi.” The man snickers. “But you do have a point. I do have far better things to do with my time than to waste it looking for you.”
The man’s eyes narrow as he turns his gaze towards Akihito, who sensing the animosity in the stare, can’t help but move closer to Asami.
Noticing his discomfort, the latter finally turns round to face his older brother.
“Well, you found me. What do you want?” He demands. “State your business, or leave.”
Maxim’s eyes stay on Akihito a moment longer, before replying: “Father’s lawyer wants a word with you. With both of us, in fact.”
“He has my number. Tell him to call me.”
But Maxim shakes his head resolutely. “That won’t do. He has some paperwork he needs you to sign. The sooner, the better… I assume you know what I’m talking about.”
It’s clear Asami does; his sudden ominous expression is a dead giveaway.
As for Akihito, the latter is at a loss. What business can Asami possible have with his father’s lawyer? This is all news to him.
It’s at that moment that Asami’s gaze turns back towards him, but before the man has a chance to explain himself, Maxim adds, clearly reading something else in his brother’s expression: “Don’t even think about bringing him with you to see the lawyer. This is a family matter, Ryuichi. That young man has no business accompanying us.”
“A family matter?!” What could possibly be going on? “Asami?” Akihito asks tentatively.
But the other man’s attention has returned to his brother. “I’m not going.”
Maxim frowns at the statement. “Why the hell not?”
“I’m not leaving him here alone.”
Maxim’s eyes turn in Akihito’s direction again.
“And what are you afraid of exactly? That the boy gets kidnapped?” He smirks. “May I remind you, Ryuichi, that you were the one who originally asked to meet with father’s lawyer?”
Asami’s lips morph into a thin line. It’s clear to Akihito that he’s fighting an inner battle at the moment. Whatever the deal with that lawyer is, it seems to be important.
“Asami,” He says gently, bringing the man’s attention back to himself. “I-I’ll be okay. You can go with your brother.”
But the other man shakes his head. “I’m not leaving you alone.”
“I-I’ll just go and hangout with Feilong until you come back. I’ll be fine.”
But Asami arches an eyebrow at the suggestion. “And how exactly is that supposed to make me feel any better?”
They both look across the venue towards the man in question, who, drink in hand, is currently engaged in amiable conversation with two other wedding guests.
“Ryuichi.” Maxim calls out sternly. “I don’t have all bloody day, you know?”
Asami sighs heavily. “Just promise me you won’t leave Feilong’s side until I return.”
“I won’t.” Akihito replies, but seeing as the other man does not look at all convinced, he’s quick to add: “I swear. I’ll stick to him like glue. Now go.”
“…Why do I get the feeling I’m going to regret this?”
“Ryuichi!”
“I’m going!” Asami snaps over the shoulder at his older brother, before leaning towards Akihito and giving his temple a peck.
“Try to behave.” He whispers into the younger man’s ear. “I’ll be back as soon as I can.”
Akihito stays planted where he is until the two brothers disappear amongst the crowd of guests.
He looks toward Feilong then, who unaware of his last-minute chaperone duties, continues to laugh and exchange pleasantries within his small group.
It would feel awkward for Akihito to just barge in amongst them, mid-conversation.
“I guess I could go grab something to eat instead.”
He looks towards the dessert table not far from where he’s standing, and decides that a ridiculously fancy slice of cake is just what the doctor would order right then.
As he walks towards the table, he can’t help but scan the premises with his eyes. Asami’s father has been strangely M.I.A. throughout most of the afternoon.
To be frank, the man really only made an appearance during the actual wedding ceremony, but even then Akihito only caught a glimpse of the man’s back, sitting as the latter was on the first row, alongside (a very reluctant) Asami, as befitting (nevertheless) of the groom’s immediate family, while he himself had been assigned a seat some rows behind, in between Feilong and Mikhail Arbatov; who had been instructed beforehand by Asami to guard him with their lives, if necessary.
Despite still feeling jittery about the prospect of meeting Asami Senior in person, Akihito must admit that he is also infinitely curious to see what the man looks like. After all, Asami and Maxim, despite having different mothers, do somewhat resemble each other physically. He secretly wonders if they both take after their father in that regard.
“Good afternoon, sir. What are you in the mood for? A specialty cake? Perhaps some French patisserie? We have quite a selection of treats at your disposal.” One of the waiters behind the dessert table flashes a perfect smile at Akihito.
“Hm…I don’t know? Sorry, I don’t know any of the cakes.” Akihito replies sheepishly, still self-conscious on account of his flawed English.
But the waiter comes to his rescue. “Well, allow me to enlighten you, sir. It will be my pleasure.”
For the next couple of minutes, Akihito is given a private lesson on fine bakery. And every time he thinks he’s heard the description of what will turn out to be his new favorite cake, the description of the next treat the waiter introduces him too, sounds even more mouth-watering than the its predecessor.
“So what will it be, sir?” The man asks, satisfied with Akihito’s eager expression.
“Hmm…I think…Maybe…”
“The Devil’s Food Cake is quite delicious.” A velvety voice makes itself heard behind him. “If you don’t mind a stranger’s humble suggestion, of course.”
Akihito startles, but not because of the suggestion; instead, because it was pronounced in perfect Japanese.
He looks over his shoulder to find an impeccably dressed man in his mid-sixties standing but a couple of feet away. He had expected him to look Japanese, but something about the man’s eyes…
“I’m sorry…are you…?”
“Japanese?” The man grins. “I guess half of me is.”
He then looks towards the waiter. “This young man will have a slice of Devil’s Food Cake.” He announces in English. “And while we’re at it, I’ll have a slice too. Frankly speaking, I promised my doctor I’d keep an eye on the sugar intake, but alas, my doctor is not here.” He adds with a wink towards Akihito.
The young man laughs at the quip. His new companion seems fun.
“So tell me, young man, are you part of the bride or the groom’s party?”
“Huh, the groom’s…kind of.”
Akihito suddenly realizes he has yet to introduce himself, and blushing on account of this flaw, he goes and bows respectfully towards the elder.
“Gomen nasai. Watashi wa Takaba Akihito. Hajimemashite.”
He soon hears the man laugh.
“Oh please, no need for such formalities. I’m only half-Japanese, after all… But Akihito, is it? That’s a beautiful name. It means something like… ‘bright person’, doesn’t it?”
“Something like that.” Akihito laughs. “Not sure I’m a good match for the name though.”
“Oh, I’m sure you are.” The man smiles back, while extending a hand towards the youngster.
“Well, Akihito, you can call me Tatsuo.” He announces, as they shake hands. “It means ‘dragon’, did you know that?”
“Dragon?...Wait, why does that sound familiar?”
“I hope you don’t mind if I treat you by your given name. That Japanese custom of addressing everyone by their surnames is something I could never really get used to. Not to mention all those honorifics one is supposed to use along with a name. Things are so different in Croatia, after all.”
“C-Croatia?”
“Oh yes, that’s where I was born.” The man keeps on smiling, his hand still holding on to Akihito’s, despite their handshake being over. “Maxim was born there too. He was always quite fond of the country.... Not Ryuichi though. Oh no, Ryu always preferred his mother’s country instead. With him, it was always ‘Japan this, Japan that’. He could be quite insufferable at times. Why, he used to nag me about Japan so much as a teenager that at one point I even let him move in with his mother in Tokyo for a while.”
Akihito feels the blood drain from his face; his knees start to shake.
He takes in the man’s features more intently.
The signs are all there. The same chiseled jawline, the same strong forehead, the unique way the lips curve upwards when he smiles.
How could he have been so blind?
“But I guess you don’t think I need to lecture you about Ryuichi, do you, Akihito?” The man suddenly asks, squeezing Akihito’s hand a little too forcibly. “You probably think you know him better than I do at this point.”
“W-What?”
“Asami-sama!” A voice exclaims close by.
A moment later, Feilong barges into the scene. “What a pleasure to finally greet you in person, Asami-sama. I was wondering when I would get the chance to congratulate you on the ceremony. It’s been lovely so far.”
He shoves his hand forward, forcing the older man to let go of Akihito’s hand, so that he can shake his instead.
“Liu Feilong.” The man replies politely. “It’s a pleasure to have a representative from your organization in attendance. Thank you for taking the time to come all the way from China.”
Feilong gives him his best fake smile, pretending to realize only at that moment that the man is not alone.
“Oh, I hope I didn’t interrupt anything.” He says, glancing towards Akihito. “My apologies if that was the case.”
But the older man shakes his head. “Not at all. I was just having an amiable chat with this young man. We have some…common interests, after all.”
It’s then that a different waiter joins the scene, going up to Tatsuo discreetly and proceeding to whisper a message into the man’s ear.
“Ah, what a shame.” The man announces as a result. “You’ll have to excuse me, I’m afraid. It seems I’m needed elsewhere.”
“By all means.” Feilong nods politely; a gesture the older man returns.
He then turns his gaze towards the youngest of the three men. “It was truly a pleasure to finally meet you in person, Akihito.” He grins. “I hope to see you again soon.”
He doesn’t wait for an answer, following behind the waiter, who leads the way for him. It is perhaps for the best though, for Akihito is still too stunned to speak.
He’s not too stunned to the point he can’t hear Feilong’s scolding though.
“Honestly, Akihito! What on earth possessed you to speak to that man on your own? Look at you! You look as though you’re about to fall over.”
He lets himself be dragged by the Chinese man away from the dessert table, looking over his shoulder from time to time at Tatsuo’s retreating form.
“Was…Was that…?” He manages to mumble.
“Was that the Head of one of the largest criminal organizations on the planet?...Yes.”
“N-No, that’s not what I meant…”
Feilong sighs. “Was that Asami’s father? Yes. That too. Here, sit down at my table. You look like you’re about to pass out.”
“I just might.” Akihito replies, holding on to his chair with both hands.
“What did Asami Tatsuo want with you anyway?”
“I don’t know. I think he just wanted to…meet me?”
“Here, drink this.” Feilong hands Akihito a drink from the table. “We need to put some color back into your face. You’re paler than a ghost.”
The younger man takes a sip from the cocktail glass, only to grimace at it in disgust. “Bahh, what’s even in this thing?”
Feilong shrugs. “Ask Mikhail when he comes back. He’s the one who went to fetch it from the bar earlier on.”
He picks up his cellphone and starts typing in a hurry.
“Huh, what are you doing?”
“I’m texting Asami to let him know you’re with me. I got a text from him ten minutes ago saying that if I lost sight of you for a second I’d be in for a slow and painful death... Wait until he finds out his father got to you first.”
“Yeah, sorry about that. He’s been in a bad mood since we got here.”
“Really?!” Feilong huffs unimpressed. “Asami, in a bad mood?”
“Well, that was interesting.” Mikhail Arbatov suddenly materializes beside the table. “I just got back from paying my respects to the bride. The woman’s a bloody viper, if you ask me.”
“Why do you say that?” Feilong frowns, as the blond slumps on an empty chair beside him.
“So I might have run over one of her brothers a few years back, see. No harm done, really. He just got a few broken bones. Besides, it’s not like the guy wasn’t asking for it. The guns he sold me had a defect. Long story short, it turns out she’s still holding a grudge against me. You should have seen her just now. She looked like she wanted to chop my head off.”
It’s then he notices Akihito for the first time.
“Oi, what are you doing here?... Where’s Asami?”
“Huh, he had somewhere he needed to go with his brother.”
“Don’t say.” He then winks at Feilong. “Guess that means you’re on babysitter duty again, huh?”
“Hey, I’m not a child, you know?”
Mikhail shrugs unconcerned. “If you say so. So how do you like the Hamptons, kid? It’s quite a popular place for weddings. I bet you never thought we all hanged out here from time to time.”
“You’re right about that.” Akihito replies flatly. “So is that because gangsters get a discount at this place, or what?”
“Ha Ha. Funny. I always thought you had a sense of humor.”
“Look! There they are again.” Feilong suddenly points out to Mikhail. “Unbelievable!”
Both he and Akihito follow the Chinese man's line of vision.
Some distance away from their table, half-hidden inside a gazebo that was decorated with flowers for the wedding, Maxim can be seen in intimate conversation with none other than Alec.
The pair seems pretty oblivious to their surroundings,... not to mention, their present circumstances. At one point, Maxim even pecks the other man affectionately on the cheek.
“For crying out loud! They could at least attempt to be discreet in front of everybody.”
Besides Feilong, Mikhail shrugs in response.
"Why bother? It's not like their relationship is a secret to anyone."
"I suppose so, but...it is Maxim's wedding day today."
"Fair enough." Mikhail agrees, only to smirk a second later. "I bet I can guess who will end up being the one to warm up his bed tonight though."
He then stops, as if toying with a sudden thought.
"Although... inviting the bride to join them for a threesome could very well turn out to be a clever idea. If Alec and the woman learn to share Maxim from the get go, there will be less of a chance for resentments to flare up between the three of them in the future."
Feilong makes a face at the suggestion.
"What?! Oh come on, threesomes can be a great way to strengthen a relationship. Not to mention spice it up." Mikhail adds.
But the Chinese man just stares at him flatly.
"If you say so, Mikhail." He replies unimpressed.
"Huh,...I mean, it's not like we ever discussed it between us, but-."
"And we sure as hell aren't going to start discussing it right now, Mikhail!"
Besides them, Akihito hasn’t really been paying attention to their exchanges. Ever since his eyes first fell on Maxim, he pretty much blocked everything else out; his main concern being that of spotting Asami amongst the surrounding crowd.
After all, if Maxim already finished whatever business he had with the lawyer and returned to the party, Asami has surely followed close behind.
It takes Akihito a few minutes, but he eventually does manage to spot his lover, walking down a path that leads away from the area where he’s currently sitting at.
A sigh of relief escapes his lips. That is, until he unexpectedly spots someone else too.
Asami is following his father down the path! Akihito's easily able to recognize the man now.
As if propelled by a string, he jumps to his feet.
"And where do you think you're going?" Feilong immediately asks him; an eyebrow raised inquisitively.
Akihito blurts out the first thing that comes to mind: "Bathroom! I need to go to the bathroom."
The raised eyebrow stays in place.
"Oh, come on.” Akihito huffs. “You’re not going to follow me all the way to the bathroom, are you?"
"Aren't I?"
"Do you want me to go with him?" Mikhail offers.
"Please tell me that’s a joke." Akihito grimaces.
Feilong, however, seems to consider the offer for a few seconds too many.
But he eventually ends up shaking his head. "No, no need.” He replies. “I mean, how much trouble could he get into inside a bathroom anyway?" And then turning towards the younger man: "You have five minutes, Akihito. And not a minute more. If you are not back in five, I'm going in to fetch you myself. I have no desire to be skinned alive by Asami, which is exactly what will happen if something were to happen to you whilst you’re under my watch."
"I'll be back in no time. Don't fret… It will just take me a bit more than five minutes, that’s all." Akihito mumbles this last part to himself, as soon as the other two are out of earshot.
He is careful to move towards one of the villas that he knows houses guest bathrooms, but as soon as he crosses its threshold, he ignores the restroom area altogether, exiting the villa through a side door that leads into one of many secluded gardens scattered throughout the property.
The latter is in itself quite expansive, filled with manicured lawns, various carefully designed gardens, and the occasional swimming pool, tennis court, and stables’ yard.
It’s not hard to get lost inside the property if you don’t know your way around it, and that is exactly what happens to Akihito as he tries to locate his lover.
After several futile minutes, he fears he’ll be forced to give up on the search (by now Feilong’s most likely already looking for him), but then he thinks he hears Asami’s voice in the distance.
Clinging to hope, the young man is able to use the sound to guide him through the grounds, moving further and further away from the party area; so much so, that at one point he becomes the only person in sight.
It’s clear from Asami’s tone (he’s now convinced it is him), that the man is engaged in a heated discussion, even if at first he’s still too far away for Akihito to be able to make sense of his words.
The young man is nearing the edge of the property, in a secluded cliff garden overlooking the sea, when he finally spots Asami.
The other man doesn’t see him as he approaches the garden from an adjacent orchard; Asami’s attention being focused solely on his father, who’s standing just a few feet away from him.
“I have nothing else to say to you.” Asami states matter-of-factly. “You already have your heir. Now leave me alone.”
But his father snickers at the words. “Oh, Maxim? He is competent at his job, I’ll give him that. But he is no heir material, Ryuichi. Maxim has never had your vision. I’m afraid, he’ll never have it.”
“Not my problem. I have nothing tying me to you anymore. As of this afternoon, I have legally divested from all family businesses. Ask your lawyer, if you don’t believe me.”
Akihito gasps. So that’s what the deal with the lawyer was all about! He wonders how long Asami has been planning this move…and why he chose not to mention it to him before.
Tatsuo Asami seems to recover from the shock a lot sooner than Akihito.
“Do you honestly think a piece of paper can erase the fact that you’re my son?” He asks with contempt.
“I’ve erased that fact from my life long ago.”
One would assume hearing such words from one of your own children would be enough to scar a parent for life, but Tatsuo Asami seems far from being an ordinary parent. On the contrary, his son’s words cause him to laugh out loud.
“And why are you so willing to turn your back on your own family, Ryu? Huh?...Come on, why are you?...Is it because of love?” He asks disdainfully, and seeing as his son doesn’t reply, he adds: “I already met your little boy toy today, by the way. Oh, don’t make such a face! He survived the meeting unscathed. I was just curious to talk to him, that’s all... I must say, I never imagined you’d settle for the ‘street rat’ type.”
“Watch. Your. Tongue.”
But the man simply laughs again.
“Watch my tongue? Am I supposed to take that as a threat, Ryuichi? Do watch it yourself, child. I was the one who invented that game.”
He then pulls a pack of cigarettes from the inner pocket of his suit’s jacket, and proceeds to light one against his lips.
Even from a distance, half-hidden behind a tree, Akihito can recognize the package’s design. It seems Asami got his preference for smoking Dunhills from his father...
“I merely wish to highlight the fact that you used to have far better taste in your choice of bedfellows, that’s all.” Tatsuo Asami proceeds calmly. “What is so special about this Takaba Akihito anyway? I really can’t understand it.”
“There’s nothing to understand. I’m in love with him.”
“Oh, please…”
“And he’s in love with me.”
“And, so what? Are you planning to marry him? What next? Have him bear you children?” Tatsuo asks mockingly.
But Asami doesn’t play along.
“Akihito is a man. He can’t bear children. But yes, I do intend to marry him…if he’s willing to have me.”
Akihito gasps; loudly, this time. In fact, were it not for Tatsuo’s sudden outrage, he’s sure the sound would have given his presence away to the two men.
As it stands though, it’s Tatsuo’s voice that the wind carries: “Have you gone mad, Ryuichi? Are you seriously planning to marry that street rat?”
“His name is Takaba Akihito, and you will address him with respect, otherwise I swear the next Asami family function I attend, will be your funeral.”
For the first time, Tatsuo Asami seems taken aback.
“…My god, you have gone mad!... And all because of that…boy? I should have him killed. Maybe that would knock some sense back into you.”
“Attempt to, and I’ll make sure every major news outlet around the world gets the dirt on your precious organization. You’ll have dozens upon dozens of governments screaming for your and your associates’ blood in no time.”
“…You wouldn’t dare!”
“Try me. I may have divested from the organization, but I still have enough dirt on it to bring you all down with it.”
“If I fall, Ryuichi, you will fall too.”
“Make even the slightest attempt against Akihito’s life, and I won’t care. If he dies…I might as well die too.”
Too stunned to react, Akihito feels something cool roll down his cheeks. He raises a shaking hand to his face only to realize that the coolness comes from the silent tears that have started streaming down his cheeks.
He’s not the only one feeling shaken by what Asami has just said though.
Tatsuo Asami is looking towards his son in utter perplexity.
“Upon my word, I don’t know my own son anymore.”
But the latter merely shakes his head.
“…You never did, father.”
“Mr. Asami?”
Akihito startles at the unexpected voice.
When he looks toward the entrance of the garden, he spots again the waiter that, earlier in the afternoon, inadvertently ‘saved’ him from Tatsuo Asami’s company with a sudden summons.
The waiter looks around somewhat awkwardly this time; as if he’s aware he’s interrupting a private conversation.
“My apologies, Mr. Asami. The bride and groom request your presence. They are about to cut the wedding cake.”
For a minute, it seems as though Asami’s father will say no to the request. But he eventually does nod in agreement, sending the waiter ahead of him with the news he’ll follow shortly.
As soon as the man disappears down the path he came from, Tatsuo turns to his son and says, gravely: “This isn’t over between us, Ryuichi. I hope you can understand.”
“I know.” Asami nods. “…It will never be over.”
Oddly enough, something about Tatsuo’s expression seems to soften then. He contemplates his son in silence, before saying: “As brother to the groom, I suppose it’s only fair that you too be present when he cuts the wedding cake,…but something tells me you’ll prefer to sit this one out. After all, you might need to use the extra time to do some explaining.”
Quite unexpectedly, the man then points directly towards where Akihito is half-hidden.
“Why, it seems we’ve had an audience.”
Caught red-handed, Akihito freezes on the spot.
But he’s not the only one.
Asami too seems to freeze; his eyes widening from the surprise.
“See you around, son.” Tatsuo chuckles; apparently satisfied he’s managed to get the last laugh.
He walks towards garden’s entrance, soon leaving the two lovers alone.
“Akihito…?!“
Asami does not need to call out to the younger man a second time.
Chocking back a sob, Akihito sprints towards him. It takes him but a few seconds to cover the distance that separates them, and even less for him to feel Asami’s arms wrap around his frame protectively.
“What are you doing here?” Asami asks him, still surprised.
But Akihito seems to have lost all sense of composure, clinging as he is to the other man as if his life depends on it.
He then starts to shake all over, and mistaking his reaction for one of fear, Asami tightens his hold around him, whispering reassuringly into his hair: “He won’t harm you, Akihito. I swear to you, I’ll never let that happen.”
But the younger man shakes his head.
“I’m not scared of your father.” He replies quietly, as he lifts his eyes toward this lover for the first time since joining him in the garden. “Not anymore... Not with you by my side.”
He then proceeds to blush profusely; something that doesn’t escape Asami’s notice.
“Then, why…?” The man starts asking.
Confusion quickly turns to suspicion though.
He grabs hold of Akihito’s shoulders, gently coaching the younger man backwards, so that he can better search his eyes. “Wait…how much did you hear, Akihito?”
Akihito’s cheeks somehow turn even redder. “I…Huh…I…”
He’s saved by a sudden angry bellow.
“THERE YOU ARE!!”
The shout is accompanied by a barrage of curse words, as a fuming Liu Feilong suddenly appears on the path leading down to the garden.
Mikhail Arbatov is seen following behind him, but at a much more leisurely pace.
“See. I told you the kid had probably just gone out looking for Asami.” He is heard saying.
“Oh, shut up, Mikhail!” Feilong interjects.
He’s close enough to the couple now that he can point to Akihito and say: “Just so you know, Asami, he lied and told us he was going to the bathroom.”
It’s clear the man’s uncharacteristic distress is a source of unexpected amusement to Asami, but he does do his best at concealing such.
“Is that true, Akihito?” He asks his lover, masking his smile with a fake frown.
“Huh…” The young man chuckles nervously. “…Kind of?”
“What are you two even doing all the way down here, anyway?” Feilong asks, and then noticing the way that Asami holds Akihito in his arms, he adds: “Oh,…don’t tell me I interrupted something?”
Under Asami’s intense gaze, Akihito blushes anew, but before any of them can say anything, Mikhail joins their little group; a grin plastered on his face.
“Hey, guess what? I heard they’re about to cut the wedding cake.”
Feilong rolls his eyes.
“And leave it to you to always be thinking about sugar.”
“Hey, that’s mean! Besides, I heard one of the guests say it’s a red velvet cake.” He grins again. “I know it’s your favorite!”
But the Chinese man ignores him, instead locking eyes with Asami. “You better not hold Akihito’s little escapade against me, Asami. As I said, he did lie about where he was going…. Furthermore, despite the fact he is indeed one of the world’s biggest trouble magnets, he does appear to be completely fine at the moment. Isn’t that right?”
Asami nods, unable to stop his lips from twitching upwards this time. “You’re forgiven, Feilong... This time.”
The Chinese man huffs unimpressed.
“Well then, how about we seal our current truce with a slice of red velvet cake?”
Mikhail howls in triumph, but as the group start on their way back to the party, Asami makes sure to hold onto Akihito’s hand, squeezing it reassuringly every so often.
And every time that happens, Akihito squeezes his hand right back.
PART IV
(later that day)
Akihito feels his back hit a wall as he struggles to pull Asami’s shirt over his head.
The latter’s suit jacket? It’s already keeping the younger man’s own jacket company, somewhere between the roof’s heliport and the penthouse’s private elevator.
Through the haze of lust, Akihito manages to pull himself together for a brief moment in order to point towards the penthouse’s front door. “Hm…D-Door.” He pants. “You should open the front door.”
Busy as he currently is though, ravaging the younger man’s neck, Asami merely states: “I own the whole floor, Akihito. That includes the landing. No one will interrupt us here, don’t worry.”
And with that, he proceeds to kiss a rather sensitive spot on Akihito’s collarbone, causing the younger man to moan out loud.
“But…Bed….I…I want to do it in a bed.”
Akihito feels, more than hears, a chuckle against his neck.
“What’s this? Are we getting picky all of a sudden?” Asami jokes. “But, very well. If that’s what you want…” And with one swift move, he picks Akihito up; straddling the latter’s legs around his torso, before he starts searching through his pockets for the keys to the penthouse.
Now it’s Akihito’s turn to pay the other man’s neck some attention. And he does so quite thoroughly, placing a row of fiery kisses up and down its length; making the man fumble with the lock for longer than necessary.
Maybe it’s a result of the stress of the day, maybe it’s because it’s been hours since they’ve been left alone together, maybe it’s due to all of the alcohol they both consumed once they returned to the party with Feilong and Mikhail, or maybe, just maybe, it’s because of all of the silent glances… The private ones they’ve been sharing these past few hours; the ones filled with questions, filled with promise; the ones neither of them have yet dared translate into words.
Whatever is the cause, the truth is that neither of them has been able to keep their hands off of each other ever since the helicopter dropped them off on the roof of the building.
Feeling bold, Akihito starts nibbling on Asami’s ear, something he’s never done before.
He’s greeted with a groan of approval, and after some additional fumbling with the keys, the lock finally gives way and they both stumble into the hallway inside the penthouse.
In his haste though, Akihito trips over the carpet, and were it not for Asami’s quick reflexes, he would have fallen face-first on the floor.
“Are you alright?” Asami asks, as he gets him to stand upright again.
But the younger man still feels his legs wobbling. “Huh…I think I might be a little drunk.”
Asami’s quiet laughter releases a flurry of butterflies inside his stomach.
The man picks Akihito up again and starts walking towards the master suite.
“If it makes you feel any better, Akihito, I think I might be a little drunk too.” He confesses as he lays the younger man on the king size bed inside the room.
Akihito’s chest rises and falls steadily as he lets the other man undress him, only moving to prop himself up on his elbows when it’s Asami’s turn to take off his clothes.
It seems to him the other man’s taking far longer than usual to do so, as if he can tell that the sight of his increasingly naked body is in itself fueling Akihito’s current lust.
“But you never get drunk...” The afterthought escapes Akihito’s lips in the form of a whisper, just as Asami, now fully undressed, crawls on top of him in bed. “…Why did you drink so much tonight?”
“Because you haven’t told me yet how much it was you heard me say this afternoon.”
Akihito gasps, making Asami grin.
“You’ve started blushing again, Akihito.”
“Have not!”
But the older man’s grin gets wider.
“Shall I go get a mirror for you to see for yourself?”
Before he gets a chance though, a pillow strikes him straight in the head.
“Oh, now you’ve done it.” He says; a mischievous gleam flashing in his eyes.
Soon a pillow fight is underway between them. And there is plenty of ammo to go around, what with the plentiful assortment of fluffy pillows decorating the bed.
By the time the lovers call it a truce, some fifteen minutes later, the bed and floor around it is covered in a thin layer of feathers, and at least half a dozen pillows are in need of serious mending.
Akihito and Asami lie sprawled across the bed, still panting from the recent exertion; their limbs in a tangle with each other and the bedsheets.
At one point, the younger man starts blowing on the feathers scattered around him, watching them slowly rise and fall; lulled by the comfortable silence that has in the meantime fallen over the room.
For a while it seems as though Asami is going to fall asleep; the rhythm of his breaths becoming increasingly slower.
Akihito takes advantage of the opportunity to snuggle closer to the man; grabbing hold of the latter’s arm so as to wrap it around his body.
However, the moment he himself closes his eyes; forehead gently leaning against Asami’s chest, the arm in question twitches, and he soon feels Asami’s hand come up to ruffle his hair.
“Aren’t you going to tell me how much it is you heard?”
Surprisingly, Asami’s voice sounds a lot less groggy with sleep then Akihito supposed.
When he looks up towards his lover’s face, he finds Asami looking intently at him; searching deep in his eyes.
That is, until the corners of his lips suddenly twitch upwards.
“You’re-“
“I know I’m blushing again, damn it!” Akihito retorts, before hiding his flushed face against the other man’s chest.
A chuckle reverberates through it.
“Should I assume from your reaction that you pretty much heard everything I told my father this afternoon then?”
Akihito feels his face burning, but this time around, he does muster up the courage to ask: “…Did you really mean it?”
“Which part?”
“The part about you….about me…about you and me?”
He chances a glance upwards, and finds Asami smiling at him.
“…If you’ll have me.” The man nods reassuringly.
The younger man gasps, his heart beating faster inside his chest.
But his subsequent silence seems to give the other man pause.
“….You won’t need to take up the name ‘Asami’.” The man frowns, trying to read through his silence. “I don’t expect you too. I know you’d find something like that too old fashioned. Besides, with my family being the way it is… Unless…”
“U-Unless, what?”
“Unless you prefer a legal adoption into the Asami family instead.”
“What?! No way!”
Akihito’s grimace makes Asami laugh.
“I thought you wouldn’t.” He says.
And without another word, he suddenly gets up from bed and moves toward the walk-in closet.
“Where are you going?” Akihito asks him, himself sitting up in bed.
With his heart pretty much still racing, he hears Asami rummage through one of the suitcases they stored the day before inside the closet.
“I’ll have you know, I’ve been carrying this around with me for a month.” The man informs, as he reemerges from the closet moments later. “It’s been driving Kirishima crazy.” He grins.
In his hand, there is a small velvet box.
Akihito’s eyes widen at its sight.
“I’ve been holding on to it, waiting for the right time…” Asami confesses as he approaches the bed and deposits it in front of Akihito.
“I didn’t think it would be today, of all days.”
But the younger man is gob smacked, looking from the box to Asami in turn.
“…I confess I’m kind of new to all this, Akihito, but I believe it’s customary for one to open the box in this type of situation.”
Hands trembling, the younger man picks up the velvet box and clicks it open.
Inside, there are two intricate chain necklaces, each with a pendant bearing Akihito’s and Asami’s given names, both carved in exquisite gyosho style calligraphy.
“I…didn’t think you’d like a ring…" Asami offers. "Me neither, to be honest.”
Still unable to speak, Akihito bites down his lower lip which oddly has started trembling.
“…Is that you trying not to cry, Akihito?”
“Of course not!” The young man lies. “…Can I put mine on already?”
“Here, allow me.” Asami offers.
He picks up the necklace bearing the pendant with his own name, and fastens its clasp around Akihito’s neck.
He positions the pendant just above Akihito’s heart.
“See? This way everyone will know you’re taken by me.”
Akihito’s heart skips a beat. “Can... Can I put yours on?” He asks tentatively.
Asami nods and Akihito mirrors the man’s earlier actions, holding the pendant with his own name carved on it, also right above Asami’s heart.
But just as he’s about to move his hand away, the older man grabs hold of it, securing it against his chest.
That’s when Akihito first realizes that Asami’s heart has been beating as fast as his own.
“Again, I’m kind of new to all this, Akihito,” Asami starts, looking straight into his eyes. “but I believe it is also customary to eventually receive a reply to a marriage reque-“
But Akihito doesn’t let him finish the sentence, leaning forward until their lips meet in a tender, but passionate kiss.
“How’s that for a reply?” He grins moments later.
Asami grins back at him. “Hm, I think I’ll take it… Got any more where that came from?” He asks, before he leans in for another kiss.
Outside the windows of the master suite, a brand new day is slowly starting over New York City.
But for a couple on the 79th floor of a skyscraper in Midtown Manhattan, it is a brand new chapter in their lives together that is about to start.
And they couldn’t be happier about it.
THE END