VF FIC: ROYAL ENTERTAINMENT
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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."Hmm... Indeed, my kitten is quieted down." Asami turned slightly his head and glanced in his lover's direction. The older man raised an eyebrow feeling that Akihito grabbed the fabric of his jacket on the back with a strangle. "Mother, this is Takaba Akihito. He will be my 'wife', of course unless he decides to play a runaway bride." The photographer blushed and let go of the jacket. "Akihito meet my mother, Asami Hina."
"It is very nice to meet you, Asami-sama." Akihito stepped to a side from the lover's back and bowed. The photographer was ready to swear that the two rows of guards and servants became more quiet then they already were as his lover introduced him. All people were bowed in greeting no one looked up, there was no whisper, and there was no external reaction, but the photographer felt with his skin tension and attention emanating from them.
"I am also pleased to meet you. There is no need to be so official for now. Please, just call me Hina. I want to feel myself younger. Allow me to have such a pleasure." The woman smiled.
"Huh? You are not old at all!" The photographer said heartily. "You're much prettier then some models I take photos of!"
"Ha-ha! You're such a nice person. Akihito-kun." Asami Hina laughed. The woman waved with her hand. "Let's go inside."
"You are very kind, Hina-san. " Akihito bowed then looked at her straightening.
Akihito was very worried. The first reason for anxiety was the property. Yes, though the photographer could admit to himself that he expected something larger with hint to stately, but this house was very impressive too. The building occupied a large area and was made in classical Japanese style, but Akihito saw nuances of modern comfort. This house was what that the designers called simple luxury. Whole territory was encircled with greenery. The photographer was ready to bet a cup of ramen that here can be found a rock garden, which wouldn't be inferior to the garden in the Ryoan-ji Temple.
The second shock was the people and their reaction. Most of the free and nearby servants and guards came out to meet them, to meet their 'Master'. This was the moment when Akihito actually realized that Asami was indeed a son of the influential and important family with ancient traditions. Two rows of synchronously bowed heads made the photographer to feel uncomfortable and embarrassed, when at the same time for his lover this was a natural action.
When Akihito looked up and he finally had the opportunity to study more closely the woman who was the mother of his mate, the young man at once noted her natural beauty. She was the same height as himself and had a slim figure wrapped in elegant clothes. Her dark long hair with strands of gray was pulled up, exposing her neck, and secured with two hair sticks with the decoration on the ends. This hairstyle allowed some strands of hair to fall out, thereby giving a romantic feeling coming from her.
The most Akihito was struck with was her eyes. They were the same light brown color as his lover's, at a certain angle they gave the impression that they were almost golden in color. The only difference was that Asami Ryuichi's eyes were mostly cold and hard, relenting only in a moments of their intimacy. Asami's mother's eyes radiated with a warm, giving comfortable feeling, but Akihito was sure that they can became as hard as his lovers'.
"...and not in a black kimono... " The photographer muttered.
Asami Hina arched an eyebrow and looked questioningly at her son. Asami Ryuichi chose sighing instead of rolling his eyes. Unfortunately it seems his lover's imagination didn't stop only with picturing a castle.
"It seems that this comment is the impact of recently viewed old movies about the Yakuza." Asami said. "I was privileged to accompany him on viewing one of these film as a critic." Akihito's cheeks flushed.
"Huh? As a critic? How's that? " Asami's mother asked.
"Presumably, I had to assess the authenticity of the facts represented in the film. The film itself was absurd, but as it turned Akihito's interest wasn't limited only by a film, but the theme of yakuza and their traditions in general. I'm ready to bet that this all was a prelude to write an article about yakuza traditions. Unfortunately the only sources of information he could think were films and me." Asami said, heading toward the house and gently pushing the silent photographer to go with him.
"I see... Hmm... And what about a kimono? " The woman asked keeping a pace near her son.
"I think that in his opinion the yakuza's clan leader's wife should wear mostly black kimono or something like that. " Asami shrugged. Akihito flushed a deeper red and kept looking straight ahead of his steps.
"Really? And I assume that the Asami clan in this story have to be a yakuza's clan? So that makes me 'the yakuza's clan leader's wife'... I see... I have plenty kimonos, they all are different colors and prints. The black colored kimono is kind of gloomy one in my opinion. I mostly wear a navy kimono with only a family blazon on it if it's some official functions or event. As for black one... Hm..." The woman paused. "Aha! Akihito-kun, I have a black kimono!" Asami Hina happily raised a finger to the air. "Isamu-san presented it to me... I think after five years of our marriage. I mostly wear it to the funeral and refrain dressing it daily. I hope it's okay for you and you won't be disappointed. Well, Ryu and what is the result? Did you give comments to the movie?" The woman asked.
"Hmm... I remember that we went to more entertaining activity in a middle of the film, so I wasn't able to finish watching." Asami said with a grin. "An article also didn't saw the light, Akihito abandoned it."
Akihito's cheeks reached a tomato color and his breathing quickened, so Asami began to worry that his lover will hyperventilate. In the hall the servants helped them to change the shoes for slippers. Asami decided to change the subject.
"Tetsuya said that father is in his study." Ryuichi looked at his mother. "I'll leave Akihito for a moment with you, Mother. I need to greet father and have a word with him."
"Of course, Akihito-kun will be in safe hands. Also it's a chance to get acquainted." The woman smiled warmly.
"Akihito." The man turned to his lover. The photographer looked up at his mate's eyes. "I won't be gone for long, be a good boy. I will come to pick you up in about five to ten minutes."
Akihito nodded. His older lover leaned over and gently kissed him on the lips. Asami straightened, nodded to his mother, turned and walked down the corridor.
* * *
Akihito watched the retreating back of his lover, then turned towards the chatelaine. The woman had a pensive expression on her face.
"Ryuichi has changed, I believe it's all your influence." She said with a slight smile. "...every Asami man needs his 'light'..." Asami Hina murmured and chuckled lightly. "Indeed..."
"Hmm? Asa... um... Ryuichi..." Akihito's cheeks reddened. "...he said the same words to me before. That is a prediction or something like that..." The photographer's cheeks were still pink and he continued with slightly quieter voice. "What does that mean anyway?"
The woman gestured to the photographer to follow her into the room where there were low sofas. She gracefully sat down on one of them inviting the young man to follow her example. Akihito was uncomfortable being with his lover's mother alone. The young man was pretty embarrassed, but after a slight hesitation he clumsily sat on the edge of the couch nearby.
"Akihito-kun, there is no need to be so skittish. I understand that to be introduced to your lover's parents and relatives is certain amount of stress, especially given that you are both of the same sex. We known about Ryuichi's interests to both sexes for a long time, so we had enough time to get used to this idea." Asami Hina smiled sweetly.
"I'm sorry..." Akihito looked embarrassed even more. "Everything happened so quickly. A week ago I couldn't even imagine that I would end in such situation."
"I understand." The woman leaned toward him and patted him on the arm. "Don't apologize and try not to worry. I believe Isamu-san knew about you from the beginning. If he didn't do anything against this so far, then I think it is a good signal."
"Eh? From the very beginning? How?" Akihito looked surprised and startled.
"Although our children are already grown up, independent, don't need our care and have their own life, Isamu-san still looks after them." The chatelaine shrugged. "Whatever the person Isamu-san is with other people, he is a good father and husband. A couple of months ago, I expressed concern that Ryuichi was thirty-seven and still a bachelor. Imagine my surprise, when Isamu-san said that our son has had the same partner for more then a year. And then! Imagine my shock, when I learned that you even live with Ryuichi! With Ryuichi, who prefers that even his parents don't foot in so personal territory as his apartment. Also I learned about it last." The woman puffed out her cheeks.
"..." Akihito lowered his head. "I'm sorry..."
"Hmm? Why do you apologize?" Asami Hina asked in surprise. "In fact, I am very happy that my son found 'his light'. I'm really interested to know you better as the person who was able to catch my son's attention."
"'Light'? Why do you and Asami call me a 'light'? ...I'm not..." The photographer began to speak, but he was interrupted by his lover's mother.
"So Ryuichi has told you about the prophecy." The photographer nodded. "I heard that this legend exist for more than a century or more. Nobody can remember where it came from and who told it. The belief is that the success and welfare of the family depend on the ability of Asami's men to see truth. Every man in the Asami family must tame his own 'light' to see in the darkness, to judge everything with truth value. My theory is that to judge people correctly there is a need in a 'clear' person for comparison. Far-fetched, but I like to think so."
"So does the whole Asami family believe in this prophecy?" The young man blurted and woman melodiously laughed.
"Oh, Asami men are most hard-nosed creatures that I encountered in my life. They don't openly admit anything. Strange but true, though they say they don't believe, still they all follow this fate." Asami Hina looked at the garden outside the window. "This path is chosen by each Asami. This way I became the wife of Isamu-san. There was no fabulous meeting circumstances, there was no courtship or flowers, and the meetings we had I wouldn't call a dates. I was faced with the principle 'Veni, vidi, vici', which means 'I came, I saw, I conquered'." The woman looked at the photographer.
"But this isn't right! It isn't right to force others to be with you..." The boy said heartily.
"Perhaps. As for me, I have no regrets. At first it was uncomfortable and difficult to accept the man who forced me, but eventually it all were paid off. I learned to understand my husband as much as possible for me." Asami's mother gently stroked boy's hand. "I believe that your acquaintance with Ryuichi wasn't bright too, but the fact that you are here today shows that you are willing to accept this fate too."
The photographer didn't say anything. In some way Asami Hina was right, and he accepted Asami as his partner, but at the same time the future frightens him with uncertainty and prospects. Akihito was experiencing tremendous fear to change his life dramatically, to abandon the objectives and principles of life which he lived until Asami.
A pause hung in the air. Asami Hina watched the emotions on the boy's face sitting next to her. The young man was nice, open and emotional. On the one hand it was sad that he was involved with her family, as he will need to fall deeply into the darkness, as she did herself once. On the other hand, as a mother she was happy for her son, that he had found his star, his beacon which will guide him while he floats in the ocean of life.
"Asami gave me a choice." The photographer suddenly looked up straight into her eyes. "He gave me choice to refuse. Then it turns out that there was no choice from the beginning?"
"If Ryuichi said that you have the choice, then you have it. My son doesn't throw words to the wind. I'm sure you already know this. I can bet that he will fulfill this promise, even if it might hurt him." Asami Hina all also affectionately patted the photographer 's hand. "Don't think too much. I can just advise you to follow after your heart and to be truthfully honest with yourself. " The next moment, a serving woman came into the room with a tray on which was a small teapot and two tea bowls. She left room after pouring a tea.
Asami's mother took the cup sipped hot liquid, looking at the sad young man she decided to change the subject.
"So, I heard, you're a photographer!" The woman said with enthusiasm. "What type of pictures are you taking? Where can we see your photos? Newspapers or magazines? Are you making an advertising one? Or it maybe a nature?"
"Um...Yes, I am a photographer and a journalist. I graduated from the Yokohama City University in the direction of Urban Social and Cultural Studies." Akihito blushed again. "However I don't have a permanent job at the moment. I'm rather hunting after a sensation and news than doing a studio photo shoots. Sometimes I write articles. Recently there was an article about the art exhibition in the magazine. Also an interview-article with Okamoto Suzuki-san was published on Wednesday, but I wrote it under pseudonym, because this person related to Asami's business. Even so, Asami still got a call from Okamoto Takeshi."
"Oh yes , I read it! I got a great pleasure from this article. I never really liked Okamoto family. They all resemble scavengers. So you wrote it! You used nice and delicate language." The woman chirped joyfully. "By the way, I supervise a charitable foundation that supports culture. We want to organize an event in two months. But decided on any idea yet. So now I think that the photographic exhibition will fit perfectly this time. Maybe you can help? How about we hire you as a curator for this exhibition? Will you take an offer?"
"I... I don't know... Are you sure? It's not that I ever done this before." Akihito looked wide-eyed at woman in front of him, his eyes were filled with sparks of wish and some uncertainty.
"Of course, you can do this." Asami said from the door as eyes in the room fixed on him he headed toward his lover. "I have a whole room packed with your collections of magazines, photo-books, photo-albums. You regularly browse through them, scattering them around the house. I'm not talking about the cries of joy when you receive postcards from famous photographers with whom you corresponded. After receiving such mail you run all over the apartment in excitement. Besides, you have good taste." Asami paused then critically examined him from head to toe. "It's a pity that your taste doesn't spread on your own choice of clothes."
"My clothes are perfectly fine!" Akihito jumped up and started poking his finger at his lover's chest.
"He's so cute!" Asami Hina was laughing in the background. Ryuichi was glad to hear her carefree laughter. It was long as she did it.
"Yes, especially when he's angry." Asami said with a grin, lifted his boy's chin and kissed. "Come on, we have to go. It is better not to keep my father waiting."
* * *
As Asami went to speak with his father, he felt his lover's eyes followed him further into the depths of the corridor. The sense of gaze snapped as soon as he turned the corner and there remained only a feeling of a longing. The thought of the meeting between his boy and his father left an unpleasant aftertaste.
Asami Isamu always looked far ahead, playing in his mind all possible options and aftermath. He had taught all his children to think over, to analyze and to foresee any situation like he did, but Asami clan leader, as someone who surpassed them in experience, always had card a hidden up in his sleeve. This ill-considered probability and worried Asami.
Ryuichi felt a deep respect and pride to his father, though he stopped verbally and visually expressing his feelings toward him when he became five year old, but in the back of his mind he knows that he loves his parent. Asami Isamu was a strict tutor, but his mother didn't allow him to feel unloved. Asami Isamu never openly showed his feelings, but family learned to feel his moderate love and care. Over time, the son appreciated everything the head of the clan as a father did for him and was grateful.
Today Asami Ryuichi could say with certainty that although his life has all that could be possibly wished, but a feeling of emptiness and even loneliness has long pursued after him. Everything changed with the emergence of a troublesome photographer whose presence made tune brighter colors and added spice to his life. His dormant emotions began to play inside. Even though Asami Ryuichi didn't show them openly as well as his father did, he felt the need for them as a thirsty man who can't get drunk. Akihito became his pearl, his treasure, which he will defend at any cost, even if it means going against his father.
A couple of steps and Ryuichi was standing before his father's study. He stopped his running thoughts, he composed his face, then confidently knocked on the door and entered without waiting for an answer.
The man in the room was still talking on the phone, looking up he raised questioningly an eyebrow and gestured to one of the chairs standing in front of his table. Another moment and he finished the conversation and put the phone aside.
"It assumed that you will bring your lover with you. Are you alone, Ryuichi?" Asami Isamu asked in a deep voice and lit a cigarette.
"No. Akihito is with mother. She is enthusiastic to get acquaint with him." Asami said, and sat down on the arm of the chair his father pointed.
"Ah, I see. She really was very excited when I informed her that you finally will show your partner. So that is not surprising." Isamu reached for a crystal ashtray and flicked cigarette over it, in his eyes were visible sparks of fun. "So, you definitely have something to say to me. Don't tighten, as there have been other things pops up."
"I want you to give me your word that you won't do any harm to Akihito either physically or mentally." Asami Ryuichi looked intently into his father's eyes. The battle of gazes lasted a little longer than a minute, but it was enough to thicken air between them and almost to produce voltage. Asami Isamu has always been respected as authority and even his son wasn't always able to maintain durability and not to look away, but now there was the goal in the confrontation. The younger Asami had a clear intention, the goal to defend.
"I give you my word." The head of the clan replied slowly and quietly, without demonstrating that he was pleased with his son's determination. Ryuichi nodded and relaxed his body, which was tense as a spring, ready at any moment to come into a move.
"So, what did happen? Are there changes of the plan?" Asami Ryuichi's voice gained businesslike tone.
"Hmm. I have received an interesting call about large quantities of the heroin." The head of the clan stretched his hand with a cigarette to ashtray watching rising smoke from it. "Wakagashira of Matsura-gumi contacted with me directly." Ryuichi raised an eyebrow. "The party allegedly which disappeared a year ago from Mura-gumi will be offered for sale tonight to Koreans in one of the warehouses of Tokyo. Did you hear anything about that?"
"Nothing." The younger Asami put his hand on the top of chair he was sitting. "But I have information that this party has got into the police hands, although they didn't advertise this. They failed to apprehend anyone in connection with this case, so the incident hasn't received publicity to avoid police' incompetence. And what exactly does Takashi Wakagashira want?"
"He insisted on our presence, intervention and holding court. His accusations that Terada-san, oyabun of Matsura-gumi, broke the established rules of the truce with Mura-gumi. Oyabun's activity violated the current peace between clans, which led to serious problems in the Matsura-gumi. Takashi-san as an ardent follower of the clan wants to save it from further shame. He also invited several other clan leaders interested on the 'hunt'." Asami Isamu shrugged. "I would say that a lot of people involved in the case happened a year ago..."
"The reason is far-fetched. It seems, Matsura-gumi's problems appeared of the bad sheep in the flock, and I'm not talking about Oyabun. I have reliable information that a year ago, the consignment of heroin got into the police hands." Ryuichi said confidently. "Most likely this is a trap or rather, somebody want to disrupt tomorrow's meeting of the clan leaders."
"Yes, I am inclined to the same opinion." Asami Isamu slightly inclined his head in agreement. "In any case, we have to wait for the call, which will specify the location, so let's not delay the main reason, why you originally came here."
Asami Ryuichi stood up, slightly bowed and walked to the door. It wasn't difficult to find his mother and his lover. He saw that Akihito still was uncomfortable in presence of his mother, but the atmosphere has become much easier and more relaxed.
* * *
Akihito was slightly behind Asami going on the same corridor where his lover disappeared earlier. Turn and one more small corridor. It took only three minutes to get to the needed door, behind which was the head of Asami clan.
Akihito got a wave of nausea and he put his hand on the back of his partner to stabilize himself. Asami lowered his hand, which he raised to knock on the door. The man turned to his young lover and pulled him to his chest.
"Don't worry. Everything will be fine." Asami whispered and kissed the top of his head. "Are you ready?"
Akihito moved from gentle embrace, took a couple of deep breaths and nodded that he was ready. Asami knocked, then immediately opened the door and moved slightly aside to allow the photographer to enter and then stepped into the room too.
The young man made a couple of steps inside and froze. The man who was sitting at the table and reading the papers was almost an exact copy of his lover, but an older one. Akihito immediately envied Asami's family's genetics. If his lover will be aging as his father did, then for a long time a photographer will have to fend off pesky women and men eager to get into bed with his man.
The man was of the same build as his son's. Akihito willing to bet that his body was perfectly trained and without a gram of fat. Just as his son he was dressed in perfectly tailored three-piece suit. The man was over sixty, but his hair was almost all dark, as well as his wife he has only a few gray strands, which only gave him sense of respectability. The man was reading in glasses, but as soon as they entered with Ryuichi, he put the papers aside and took them off.
Perhaps the only difference between them besides age was eye color. Asami Isamu's eyes were coal black. The photographer had the impression that the man in front of him was looking straight into his soul, but possessing natural stubbornness Akihito didn't look away, though he was sure that even a little bit longer and his knees may buckle.
The head of Asami family was surprised. Only few people were able to hold his gaze, others preferred to look away. His son's lover cheekily looked back. 'Although...' Isamu smiled inwardly. 'Judging by the pupils he is near a panic attack.' But to his surprise, the boy gulped, blinked, his body relaxed a bit and he lifted his chin up with the intention to hold his gaze further. Ryuichi stood slightly behind with folded arms leaning against the door and obviously pleased with his lover's behavior.
"Welcome, Akihito-kun." The senior Asami smirked and was the first to break the silence. Indeed, his son chose a really interesting partner.
The younger Asami with cat like smooth movements stood at the side of his photographer.
"Akihito, meet the Head of the clan and my father, Asami Isamu." Asami introduced his father.
"Pleased to meet you." Akihito politely bowed.
"Mutually." The man said with a deep voice.
A hand on lower back pushed the photographer to sit on one of the chairs before the table. Asami himself intended to sit in another one, but his father's voice stopped his intention.
"Ryuichi, go make company to your mother, while Akihito and I talk in private. She complained about rarely seeing you." The older Asami made a stronger emphasis on the word 'in private'. His son looked at him intently with narrowed eyes. Akihito swallowed.
The photographer's skin felt that his mate almost took a defensive stance and ready to object his father. The boy took his lover's hand which was closer to him, squeezed it a little drawing the attention of the man. When Asami turned to look at him, he said almost soundlessly moving his lips: "Ryu, please, go. I'll be fine." He squeezed his mate's fingers one more time.
Ryuichi relaxed, leaned over him and kissed gently on the lips, then also quietly whispered: "I'll be close by."
Akihito slightly nodded, and Asami Ryuichi in a few seconds went out of the room without saying anything, closing the door behind him. The photographer turned his attention to another man in the room, who was sitting in a chair propping his chin with a hand and closely watching everything that was happening in front of him.
"So I may assume, Ryuichi said why he brought you here, no?" The head of the clan asked without walking around as soon as the door closed after his son.
"The adoption." The boy said simply and looked straight into the black eyes.
_______________________
info:
Ryoan-ji Temple - Ryōan-ji is a zen temple located in northwest Kyoto, Japan. The Ryōan-ji garden is considered one of the (if not the) finest surviving examples of kare-sansui ("dry landscape"), a refined type of Japanese Zen temple garden design generally featuring distinctive larger rock formations arranged amidst a sweep of smooth pebbles (small, carefully selected polished river rocks) raked into linear patterns that facilitate meditation. Wiki
Yokohama City University - is a public university, in Yokohama, Japan. Wiki
"Veni, vidi, vici" (Classical Latin: [ˈweːniː ˈwiːdiː ˈwiːkiː]; Ecclesiastical Latin: [ˈvɛni ˈvidi ˈvitʃi]; "I came, I saw, I conquered.") is a Latin sentence phrase which reportedly extends from a letter Julius Caesar wrote to the Roman Senate after achieving victory in his short war against Pharnaces II of Pontus in the city of Zela around 46 B.C. (currently known as Zile, in Tokat province of Turkey). The phrase refers to a swift, conclusive victory. Veni, vidi, and vici are first person perfect forms of the three Latin verbs venire, videre, and vincere which mean "to come", "to see", and "to conquer" respectively. Wiki
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