VF FIC: ROYAL ENTERTAINMENT
6/3/14 01:12![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
nhara
The chapter was checked by ![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif){kind=small}
kawahimes_world, therefore a great THANK YOU to her. If you still will find any mistakes, they are all mine and this means I wasn't attentive to remedy them. Sorry.
'Royal entreatment' epilogue: The future horizons Part 3
Asami Ryuichi looked at the man before him. The official deep bow from people much older than him wasn't a novelty, and even became a routine. But at this moment he felt that this deep bow and exactly from this person made a sense and was indeed important.
"I will defend Akihito with my own life, if he chooses this path." Asami said.
Takaba Takumi straightened up and tilted his head slightly to the side, studying the man before him.
"Do you have any doubt in my son, Asami-san?" An elderly man asked with caution.
"No. I do not." Came the immediate response.
"Then I don't understand..." Takaba Takumi chose his words carefully. "Akihito already gave you the answer, why do you still see any possibility that he can withdraw from this decision?"
"My father insisted on a conversation with Akihito before signing the papers." Asami looked straight into Akihito's father's eyes. "I don't know the outcome of this conversation. My father..." Asami paused.
"You do not need to continue." Takaba Takumi made stopping gesture. "I met your father. Will Akihito be safe?"
"Yes, Akihito will be completely safe. I believe my father has some questions about the sincerity of his intentions and feelings." Asami said studying a man. 'Hm... Met? It's something to think later.'
"Hmm... I'm sure you know that even with Akihito's bragging, he is still very vulnerable. And still, you will let him to get into a cage with a tiger?" Takaba Takumi didn't look away from the man's face. It was a rhetorical question to which he didn't really expect an answer.
"..." Asami looked toward the more shady side of the garden and said quietly. "I don't want Akihito to regret anything later."
"Ahh! I see... Are you sure that this is the reason? Love always goes hand in hand with the fear of losing the loved one. You better more than any person must be aware that it's impossible to protect against everything. Doubt is the one of the most destructive ability. Clear your mind of it and enjoy the time you have been given." The senior man turned toward the house intending to join his wife and a son. "You need to learn to believe in love, Asami-san. Do not underestimate the power of it, because love can cause a person to find a foothold to turn upside down the whole world." The elder Takaba said without turning back.
With the last word Akihito's father opened the slide door and next moment Akihito's and the older man's wife's laughter sounded outside. Asami turned his head toward familiar voice of his mate. The elderly man turned his head slightly back, so there just part of his mysterious smile was visible to Asami.
"Do you hear this?... This is life... don't deny yourself the opportunity to live, because you will be the one who will regret it later. Take one path or another, stay or walk away, fight or take chosen fate, live or exist... We are always given a choice." The older man came into the house and after a few more seconds, his voice joined the lively conversation.
Asami remembered the same words were spoken to him before. The painful memory of the past caused his heart to clench. The movement of leaves in the garden distort shadows into the strange shapes, in which the human mind seeks to find the familiar outline. The rustle of the wind brings memories of a whisper, which was heard a long time ago. Minutes pass. The man made no movement. Soft steps comes close giving hope and dispelling painful recollection.
"Asami?" The man heard boy's quiet voice. "Is everything okay?"
"Yes, everything is fine." Asami turned to the boy, smiled and run with back of his hand on the photographer's cheek. "You have an interesting father, Akihito."
The boy smiled and rubbed his cheek on the hand like a kitten.
"Let's go eat curry. Mom set the table and she is adamant about feeding all of us. She even had dragged Suoh from the car, so he also helps and will join at lunch." Akihito didn't ask the yakuza what was discussed in the garden knowing well that neither his lover nor his father would ever say to him. He wondered, why his mate looked so sorrowful at a moment he came, but still kept his questions back, not wanting to return such sad expression on his lover's face. Instead he smiled widely and brightly, took yakuza's hand and pulled man after himself.
Asami took the last look at the shadows in the garden, then followed his mate into the house.
* * *
Akihito was sitting in a limousine, staring out the window and watching as Yokohama streets staying behind. The rustling of the papers near him said that Asami was already buried in reading of his reports and the photographer was left to himself. Nearby lay a forgotten game console and the young man made no attempt to use it.
Akihito was trying to organize his thoughts. The boy loved his parents, and how they took the news about him and Asami was a relief. Akihito really didn't know what he would do if everything went differently. Both his parents and Asami are important, so there would be no way to make a choice. The photographer thanked all Gods that there were no such need.
Akihito's mother was as always cheerful and loving. The photographer took many features of her bright and inspiring character. Akihito loved and respected his father, though sometimes he felt the distance between them. It was his father's influence on his future choice of the profession. The main work of an older Takaba was in the local newspaper, but sometimes he got projects from other cities and even countries. Akihito's father never spoke about these trips. The young man was trying to find what this work was about with his own ways and even tried to follow after his father, but no attempt was successful. All this mystery directed a young photographer into criminal course.
Akihito lived apart from his parents for a long time, and so made his own decisions, but their opinion and support were still very important to him. His parent's home was always a welcoming place full of love, care and a sense of security.
Ten minutes ago Akihito, Asami, Suoh were sitting together with photographer's parents at the table. Although initially there was a certain awkwardness, but it quickly relented under the contagious enthusiasm of Akihito's mom and conversation. Looking back to the dinner time he smiled.
Suoh from the start didn't feel comfortable at the same table with his employer, but the homely atmosphere allowed him to enjoy of a homemade food. Akihito could swear that the man even rolled his eyes in enjoyment.
"Suoh, relax." Asami said with a sigh as soon as he took a seat near Akihito, he loosened his tie and took his portion of curry from photographer's mother's hand.
The bodyguard swallowed and almost flinched as from voltage, when he was suddenly served with curry much lager portion than his boss got. Suoh looked at Takaba Yuna, who smiled in response.
"Oh, Kazumi-kun, you as well as Akihito get a bigger portion, I think that with such a busy Boss, you don't have much opportunity to eat normally. I hope Akihito also don't forget to eat at least sometimes." The woman said with a sigh.
"Don't worry, Akihito's food is a small black hole in my budget." The yakuza inserted.
"Hey, I pay for grocery from my own expenses! It is you, who is a black hole in my budget... You are always dissatisfied with cheap food, so I have to buy in that overpriced shop near your home." The photographer grumbled.
"Of course, I prefer a balanced food to an unhealthy one. I can't eat an instant ramen noodles every time you run out of money. And I should note that recently this happens quite often." The yakuza commented. "So to avoid this I have to order a take-out. I must say, Takaba-san that I made a very interesting observation about your son."
"Hmm? An observation? What kind of? " The woman looked at him curiously.
"Akihito is a very unusual organism. Even if he says that he has had enough and anything won't fit anymore. Still, his stomach always has a place for a Pocky, another couple pieces of sushi and a glass of beer or even a cake. This all can be placed there in one go." The yakuza said thoughtfully. There was a slight pause, which followed by everybody's laugh, except the photographer's one. The boy in turn puffed out his reddened cheeks.
"That is dessert! There is always a place for dessert!" Akihito tried to defend himself.
"So I say... My little black hole..." Asami shrugged and continued to eat.
"You are so right! He was always has a package of Pocky stashed somewhere." Takaba Yuna said with a smile. "But I think that's common for young mobile organisms. They need food to regain their strength. It's all right as long as it don't go to the detriment of their health."
It's not that Asami was tensed and he needed to relax, but the family atmosphere at Takaba's home made him feel a family's warmth, which he didn't feel up for a long time before a photographer came into his life. The dishes he used to eat in the traditional expensive restaurants were exquisite, but such simple food made with love and care were also extremely tasty.
Akihito still couldn't read Asami's facial expressions and behavior, but during this lunch he was sure that his lover's face softened. The simple conversation the yakuza led with his father gave him the belief that their relationship may be called normal, at least by close and an important to him people.
Takaba Takumi turned to his son after his wife poured tea for all of them.
"So, Akihito, what do you plan on?" He asked seriously.
"Hmm, what do you mean? Next we go to Atami, as Asami's father wants to talk to me, before we made this all official." The young photographer didn't look at his father and stared at his cup.
"Are you sure you want this?" Akihito's father asked slowly while separating each word.
"Yes, I'm sure." The boy took one last look at sinking tea leaves and looked straight into his father's eyes. "You ask me the same questions as Asami asked."
"Akihito, you might be irritated by our questions, and I do understand this. For so long you have been self-sufficient, and living according to your own mind. Please, consider these questions as our concern and love toward you." Takaba Yuna gently touched her son's hand.
"I know, Mom. I appreciate this. But for sure I will feel regret, if I don't go. In any case, I don't know the future, I can't reassure you by saying that everything will be fine. The only thing I can say to you is 'I'll do my best'." Akihito covered his mother's hand.
"I want you to know, son." Takaba Takumi came to his son and squeezed his shoulder while Takaba Yuna hugged her son. "We love you and no matter what changes have occurred in your life, this won't change our feeling and behavior toward you. Whichever surname will come with your name won't change the fact that you're still our child."
"I know, I love you too." Akihito gulped lump in his throat and also hugged his mother.
Asami felt a little uncomfortable with such an open display of a parental love. The yakuza looked at his watch and apologized that he couldn't stay any longer. He extended his gratitude for the hospitality of Takaba's family and thanked for a tasty lunch, then with question he looked toward his mate. Akihito slightly nodded confirming that he was ready to go.
"Yes, it's time!" Akihito said excitedly, clapping his hands.
After five minutes of goodbyes at the door, the limousine moved off in the direction of their next stopping point. Asami almost immediately lit a cigarette and began to read his reports.
In the current time the yakuza was still reading papers while Akihito was caught in his thoughts watching changing scenery outside the window. Time with Takaba's family went by fast.
* * *
"Asami?" Akihito broke the silence after some time.
"Hmm?" The yakuza answered without any interruption from reading papers.
"Asami, will you tell me?" Akihito also kept looking out the window.
"What do you want to know?" The man still continued to read.
"I don't know anything about you... Will you tell me?" The photographer looked away from the view and glanced at his lover.
"Akihito, you know that I can't tell you everything..." Asami sighed and looked at his mate.
"Yes. I do understand, but at least do start with something, please." Akihito crumpled an edge of his shirt. "The family, education, friends... Do you actually have any friends besides Kirishima and Suoh? Are they friends?"
Asami folded his papers and put them aside, then lit a cigarette and shortly cigarette smoke swirled up.
"The Asami clan is quite old and pretty wealthy. The lack of publicity is one of our main priorities." The older man leaned his head against the headrest and relaxed. "You will meet my father and mother today. Besides parents, I have an older brother and an older sister."
"So you're the youngest in the family? What are their names? Tell me a little bit about them." Akihito turned toward his lover, put his elbow on a top of the car seat.
"Yes. You may say so." Asami smiled and stewed his cigarette at ashtray, then he reached the mini-bar and poured himself a quarter glass of whiskey and took soda for Akihito. "Hmm... all this is strange and unusual..." The yakuza said with a chuckle then and handed a drink to a lover.
"What exactly is strange?" The boy raised his eyebrows in surprise, took suggested soda after voicing his thanks.
"To talk about them..." Asami chuckled.
"Hmm... Why?" Takaba asked cocking a little his head.
"Nobody has ever asked me before." Asami said and made a small sip from the glass. "My father's name is Asami Isamu. Currently he is the head of the family as well as the whole clan, which include more then one family. He is a complex and ambiguous person, who thinks everything a few steps ahead and rarely open his cards to anyone." Asami took another small sip. "My mother's name is Asami Hina. My father saw her on the street in Kamakura, and then after a short acquaintance decided to make her his wife." Asami looked away through the window.
"She didn't... " Akihito began phrase.
"No. It wasn't her choice initially." His lover interrupted. "And before you start jumping to conclusions, my mother doesn't regret anything. Therefore there is no need for sympathy."
"It seems like all Asami men take their partners by force..." The photographer muttered.
"Yes, we do. This is all Asami men's fate. Me, my brother, father, grandfather, great-grandfather..." Asami turned his face to his lover and looked straight into his eyes. "Every Asami man must tame his own 'light'."
"Huh? What does this mean?" Akihito's eyebrows furrowed.
"This is the principle of the Asami family, which guided us for many generations. All our partners are taken forcibly, seized as a trophy, conquered and so on. The truth is one - it was not originally their desire." Asami shrugged slightly.
Akihito frowned down in displease.
"It's not right... It is wrong to force others to be with you." Akihito declared.
"Maybe." Asami tilted his head to the side, studying his mate, raised his hand and cared his lover's cheek. "But this is the key to success and happiness of the Asami family, which was predicted many generations ago."
"Wha? Do you believe in predictions? Really?" Akihito looked at him with surprise and a look of child's wonder, eyes becoming huge and filled with shining lights. The yakuza ran with his thumb over his boy's lower lip and then withdrew his hand.
"Hmm... No, but maybe it is worth to believe. Otherwise you wouldn't be here now." A little gentle smile appeared on Asami's face, almost shadow of a smile.
"Perhaps. I see your reasons." The photographer replied with blush and a soft smile, straightened up on his seat, moved closer with all body to his lover and gave him a gentle kiss, and then flopped back on the seat. "Go on!"
"My older brother's name is Asami Taro. He lives and works in America. Also, he is married and has three children. Two girls and a younger boy. And yes, before you say something, he is in the family's 'business'." The older man emphasized specially the last word. "My older sister called Shimizu Kimiko. Currently she lives with her husband in England. She has a son and now she is on her eighth month of a pregnancy. They expect this to be a girl. Her husband is from a wealthy family, who joined the Asami clan after their wedding, and now they are also in our 'business'."
Asami poured himself another quarter of a glass.
"What about Kirishima and Suoh? And Friends? Do you have any? " Akihito almost was jumping on the spot from curiosity.
"Kirishima belongs to a family who has served the Asami family through generations. Initially, he was destined to be my companion and helper. We grew up together, studied together and so you can call him my friend. I met Suoh when I was sixteen years old, he was beaten up in the alley when he ran away from the orphanage, where he was sent immediately after the birth. Apparently his mother didn't have enough courage to raise a son with mixed blood. I took him from the street and after some time he joined the clan and since then heis always was near me. So you also can call him my friend. As for more friends... Yes, there are some people whom I can call that way, but still in my position I will prefer to call them 'an acquaintance', 'a business partner' and so on."
"That is so sad to hear." Akihito lightly touched his mate's elbow. "As if you don't believe anybody."
"It's safer this way." Asami answered quietly.
"What about Kirishima and Suoh? You did call them friends. And what about me?" Akihito narrowed his eyes.
"Hm. It's not that I absolutely don't believe to anybody, it's that I prefer to check all information. Kirisima and Suoh are trusted men and friends, as for you... If I will find out that you lied to me, I will take a great pleasure in punishing and teaching you not to do so again. If you will ever betray me... That would be painful for both of us." Asami put his fingers on Akihito's lips. "Shh. Don't tell me anything. It's nothing that have to be said." The yakuza withdraw his hand.
"But..." Akihito began to speak, but the boy stopped when his lover shook negatively his head.
"I think we should conclude the conversation at this point, since we're almost there." Asami nodded toward a window.
* * *
After Asami's remark Akihito immediately turned to the window. The first thing that caught the photographer's eyes was a sign informing that they were entering Atami. The boy stared at the passing streets, remembering and noting places that he could go.
The same time Asami stared at his mate. 'He is like a curious child. A little more and he will put both his hands on the glass, and then his nose also will be glued to the window. When we leave the limo, there will be traces of him remaining on the glass... As he has already left traces on my life.' Asami thought with a small smile.
"Why Atami? " The boy asked.
"My parents have a property here and it is Atami where they are staying at the moment." The yakuza answered quietly.
"Why are they now in Atami?" Akihito didn't take his eyes off the street.
"I don't know why here exactly. Atami is a city of fireworks, plum blossoms and hot springs. My mother loves plum's blossoming." Asami said thoughtfully.
"It isn't the season for plum blossoms now." The photographer said frowning. "I have always associated Atami with a place for the elderly. Well, you know, kind of like here is not too much fun. This place is too quiet."
"Maybe this is the answer to your question. Because it is quiet here." The yakuza grinned.
"Or maybe it is a way to remove your mother and me from Tokyo." Akihito said sadly. "You obviously plan something dangerous, so you don't want me in your way."
"No, it wasn't my intention." Asami said carefully choosing words so not to anger his lover. "As I told you, my original intention is to conclude a formal alliance with you through adoption."
"Yeah, it is. But you said you have business here or most likely not here... So I assume something dangerous still plans to be." Akihito said, and leaned his forehead against the glass.
"I wouldn't say that it's more dangerous than ever." Asami said with a sigh. "Changes come, and there is always somebody unhappy."
"...And it's better, if I wasn't in town..." The photographer said quietly. "So you will go back in to Tokyo?"
"Yeah, I guess I'll have to go back to Tokyo. I don't know yet how soon, if it will it be immediately or tomorrow. We will see a bit later. A trip to Atami wasn't originally a way to get you out of town." The yakuza said. "I had no such intentions. My father insisted that we come here."
"Um..." Asami got only in a response from the photographer.
After some time, the car moved beyond Atami, that confused Akihito.
"Hmm... I thought you said we were going to Atami... why do we go out of it?" The photographer asked, not looking from the window.
"I said that we were going to the suburbs of Atami. We need to rise a little up on the hill outside the city " Asami continued with a half smile. "Our house is there. Surrounded with even greater peace of mind. There is a hot spring on the property. I even have a private outdoor bath in my terrace."
"Heh! And I thought I will have the opportunity to walk around the city." Akihito puffed out his cheeks, pulled away from the window and plopped down on the seat folded his arms.
"Don't worry, if you want to get to the city it's not difficult. " Asami said assuring.
The next moment the car drove up to the gate. Akihito looked outside again. A man in a black suit came out from a small guard's house, bowed and in the next moment automatic doors began to open, allowing a car to enter.
There was the beautiful huge garden behind the gate. In five minutes a car stopped before a big one-storey villa in traditional style immersed in greenery. The building was very beautiful, but it wasn't house which the photographer 's imagination has drawn.
"It's just a one-story house... " The boy muttered. Asami raised an eyebrow.
"I hope you didn't expect to see the Himeji Castle, no? Or maybe you thought that the Matsue Castle will suite the Asami clan better?" The yakuza said with a grin.
"Of course not!" Akihito replied with puffed-out cheeks, but the pink blush on the cheeks only confirmed the assumption of his older lover.
"Don't worry, we have a property that meets your tastes better. It still won't be the Matsue Castle, but you will be more impressed. As for this house it's just a small summer house." Asami patted his young lover's head. "Come, let's go."
Suoh opened the door and the yakuza got out pulling Akihito with him. There were two rows of servants and guards lined up in different sides from entrance and as soon as they approached everybody synchronously bowed.
"Welcome home, Master Ryuichi." A man slightly older then Akihito stepped forward.
"Tetsuya." Asami slightly nodded. "Father?"
"Master Isamu is in his study, receives a call. As for a madam..." Tetsuya answered with a bow.
"Ryuu!" A joyful female voice came from the door.
"Ah... and here is madam..." Tetsuya finished.
"Hello, Kaa-san." Asami greeted approached woman, then bent down and kissed her on the cheek.
"So, your father said that you finally made a choice. I'm so excited! " The woman said beaming. "Is this quiet little kitten who looks out from behind your back your bride?"
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(no subject)
5/3/14 22:46 (UTC)(no subject)
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6/3/14 16:04 (UTC)(no subject)
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6/3/14 17:27 (UTC)"hugs"
(no subject)
7/3/14 18:10 (UTC)(no subject)
11/3/14 09:11 (UTC)Thank you for everything! Good luck!
"Hugs"
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9/3/14 10:35 (UTC)(no subject)
9/3/14 13:00 (UTC)(no subject)
26/4/14 01:59 (UTC)(no subject)
2/5/14 11:35 (UTC)(no subject)
1/5/14 00:20 (UTC)I love that Aki is his "light" and that the way of the family is to take their light. Nice word play on white and dark or light and dark. :)
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