nhara. VF FIC: ROYAL ENTERTAINMENT (Reply)

Title: Royal entertainment
Author: n_hara
Rating: PG
Pairing: Asami x Akihito, OC
Spoilers: Suppose there are none
Summary: It is all started like a 'Cinderella story'. There were the Masquerade, the handsome King and a marriage proposal... Is it really easy to decide whether to change your life drastically or not?
Disclaimer: Characters are owned by Yamane Ayano.

Author's note: Sorry for the long wait. As always, reader's feedback is welcomed.

This chapter was proofread by

ladyfeather, 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.

I believe,

kawahimes_world has life-issues so I wasn't able to get in touch with her. I hope she is alright.

Part 9
Part 10
Part 11

'Royal entertainment' epilogue: The future horizons Part 5

Asami Hina decided to stay in the living room and spend time reading a magazine after her son and his partner went to see her husband. A short time later her son returned to the room in an irritated mood. The woman raised an eyebrow in surprise. Ryuichi headed straight to the bar where poured a quarter of a glass of brandy and drank it in one gulp. He then poured another, approached the window where he stopped, lost in his thoughts while looking outside toward the garden.

"You have a very nice young man. I like him." The man's mother chose to break the silence; Ryuichi said nothing. The only evidence that he heard her was he transferred the weight from one foot to the other and a barely noticeable turn of his head in her direction. She continued, "Are you sure about pulling him in deeper with us?"

"I gave him a chance." The man said quietly. "The choice of what to do is in his hands."

"Akihito reminds me Kaori." Hina said with pain in her voice. "I got the same feeling as if I were talking with her."

"He is not her, but I have to admit they have something similar in their life views." Asami said and turned to his mother. "I'm sorry if his presence refreshed sad memories."

"Don't apologize. We must remember what happened and should learn from those events to avoid a repetition." The woman clutched one hand with the other, trying to speak calmly. "If something like that happened again... I'm worried about what will happen to you."

Ryuichi clenched his jaw and then looked straight at his mother.

"I won't allow a repeat." He drank the contents of the glass and then headed to the bar to fill it again. Ryuichi rubbed his forehead trying to ease the tension. "At the moment I'm concerned that Father is alone with my lover. Akihito feels quite uncertain because of his relationship begin with a man."

As soon as he filled the third glass he approached a chair, but he changed his mind and returned to the window.

"Ryuichi, I'm sure that Isamu-san won't harm your boy. You don't have to worry." Asami Hina moved to the edge of the couch and poured a cup of tea for herself from the teaset on the table.

"I'm not worried," her son said as he turned to go near the door, where he stood frozen for a few seconds as if listening before heading back to his spot near the window. "I don't like the fact that Father will put pressure on him psychologically."

"First of all Ryuichi, you know perfectly well that if your father wanted, he would have done something much earlier and wouldn't have allowed this situation to go this far." The woman paused. "Secondly, you are truly worried at the moment. At least, admit this to yourself personally."

"Why did you make such a conclusion?" Asami asked skeptically. "I'm irritated, but not worried."

"Ryuichi, you are pacing the room." The woman made a significant pause. "You've already made two full circles in seven minutes," Hina explained. She emphasized the point by making a circular motion with her finger in the air before her.

He stopped and looked around the room. He sighed and eventually sat in a chair near where his mother was sitting.

"Hm... " Ryuichi put his glass in front of him on the table and leaned back trying to make an attempt to relax.

"Your behavior is reminded me a TV program that I recently watched. The plot of the program was about two black jaguars. The pregnant female jaguar has injured paw in a trap. Her partner wasn't allowing anybody to approach closer. Veterinarians had to inject them both with tranquilizers to be able to help. Both animals were taken to a special clinic. The male beast was placed in an aviary separated with glass from the room where the female jaguar had been operated on. She began to awake when the plaster was applied. The male beast had awoken much earlier and was pacing around his aviary in tense circles. He threw himself against the glass whenever he heard yelps from his mate, trying to get to her and protect her."

"Hmm." Asami didn't comment.

"Ryuichi, my moral of the story is that even though the female jaguar was in pain that time, the veterinarians were actually helping her." The woman moved closer to her son and gently patted son's hand. "Believe in your father's judgment."

"I understand his intentions, but I already fell deeply." Ryuichi said very quietly and looked at her with a sad smile confirming his longing. "I..."

"No need to voice this to me. I understand. This is something to voice personally to him." Hina affectionately patted her son's arm again. "Maybe it's not visible, but deep inside your father carries the blame and can't forgive himself for the events that happened to Kaori."

"I know this. We all took the blame on ourselves." Ryuichi covered his mother's hand and squeezed it slightly.

In a minute conversation turned into neutral direction with questions about the general state of his life and his work, possibility of Akihito's assistance with an exhibition.

* * *

"So, the adoption..." Asami Isamu thoughtfully looked at the boy sitting in front of him.

"Well, the signature on the adoption papers I suppose is the main reason." Akihito shrugged. "... Or is it correct to say that your goal is to convince me not to sign the papers?"

"Hmm. Don't put words in my mouth. I didn't say that. Though it would be foolish to deny that such an idea didn't appear in my mind at all." The elderly man smirked with the corner of his mouth. "In any case, the adoption is really the main reason."

"Do I dare suggest that in addition to the main goal there are others?" The photographer asked warily.

"Maybe." Asami Isamu shrugged. "It all depends on how our conversation goes."

"So, you still will try to persuade me to withdraw." Akihito made the statement looking straight into the black eyes in front of him. The elderly man was delighted with the fire he saw in a boy's eyes.

"Everyone will interpret our conversation as he wants to see it. I wouldn't spend so much time if the question of adoption was unacceptable from the start. There were many opportunities not to go that far. At the moment, my main purpose is that you, Akihito-kun, have a clear understanding of exactly what you'll commit with your signature." An elderly man straightened, put his hands on a slim document folder lying on the table.

"That sounds ominous." The boy gave a nervous laugh.

"Did you think to sign a contract with the Devil simple matter? Always pay attention to the fine print." The man grinned. "But let's not exaggerate. I'm ready to offer you a deal."

"A deal?" Akihito narrowed his eyes suspiciously.

"Well, let's calls this a deal. For your peace of mind, I will sign documents right now in front of you." Asami Isamu raised the folder on which his hands lay previously and handed it to Akihito. "Please, check the documents. Kirishima sent them to me yesterday."

"What is the meaning of the deal, then?" Akihito warily took the proposed papers.

"My signature on the documents will have to convince you that I won't retreat in the decision about adoption. However..." The clan leader paused and Akihito looked up from the papers. As before, the boy looked directly at the man's in front of him. "I would ask you to sign them after you well-consider everything that you learn during our conversation. You will have the chance to think over. I got an unexpected call, which caused me to makeadjustments to my plans. I will be required to return to Tokyo for a few days and Ryuichi will accompany me. Please, stay here, take time to sort through everything and if this is still what you want, sign these papers."

"It sounds simple. Not to sign papers immediately and to think. Did I get it right?" Akihito asked. "And so what's the catch?"

"Yes, you understand it correctly. But why do you think that there is a catch?" Isamu raised an eyebrow. "I want you to make the decision independently and without Ryuichi's strong presence involved."

"It sounds acceptable. However, I would hardly call my presence here, in Ryuichi's parent's home, as 'less influenced'." The photographer said slowly. "Also, this simplicity still looks suspicious."

"..." The head of the clan looked attentively at the boy. "I will not lie to you. Your presence here is to keep you away from Tokyo for a few days as well as the reason for my wife being here. I'm asking you to stay so Ryuichi isn't distracted. It is necessary that his attention now be focused on upcoming meetings. He has to show his recollection and steadfastness."

"There is something dangerous going on?" Akihito worryingly moved to the edge of the chair.

"No more than usual, but piranhas show increased activity in recent days. Your persona has attracted enough attention already. It will be better if you'll be off of their radar for a few days." Asami Isamu paused, lit a cigarette and made puff. "You see, to be an Asami - it's not a gift on a velvet cushion."

"..." Akihito thought. "At least it's honest. I assumed that we weren't dragged here only to sign the papers. What's next?"

"Next, I will just tell you what it means to sign those papers; what will be required of you starting the moment you sign those papers and what you can expect of us as a clan. Intimidation is not my goal; our clan lives by certain principles that must not be violated by any of 'us'. I must make sure that you understand this."

The way the head of Asami family said 'us' made the photographer clearly understand that everyone who stood under the banner of Asami Clan was supposed to be one.

"Your personal and intimate relationship with my son is your private affair, one in which neither I nor anyone else would be participating. So do we have 'The Deal'?" The elderly man slightly tilts his head forward in a question.

"I don't think there is too much choice..." Akihito muttered, then spoke clearly and confidently. "Yes, we have a deal."

"Good. Now, please, check correctness of the papers." Asami Isamu nodded toward the folder Akihito was holding.

The elderly man stood up and walked over to a closet and opened it, allowing Akihito to see a safe located inside. The boy heard a bleeping sound of button presses, and in a moment the steel safe door was ajar. Akihito didn't pry as to the contents of the safe, instead he plunged into a closer examination of the legal documents. The folder actually contains the same certificates, forms, family registers of Takaba's and Asami's family necessary for adoption, all of which he had seen earlier in the car. The only difference is that these papers had been signed and certified by the Tokyo Municipality.

The photographer looked up when he heard a sound of a wooden box being placed on the table by his lover's father. Asami Isamu has already closed the safe before he returned to the table and gracefully sat in the chair.

"So, are the papers in order?" The head of the clan continued in a businesslike tone.

"Yes. As far, as I can tell everything is correct. They perfectly coincide with those Ryuichi showed me earlier in the car." Akihito stretched out his hand, holding the documents to give them back.

"Good. Then to my part of the bargain." Asami Ryuichi's father took back a folder, put it in front of him and opened it.

Asami Isamu picked up a pen and put a signature on all the forms. He took an ink pad from the top drawer on his right. He took a small leather case from his inner pocket and upon opening it his long fingers took a personal stamp. At first, the man put his stamp on the ink pad and then made sure that the grooved surface held enough ink. He carefully stamped all sheets, putting each one aside so as not to smudge the fresh red symbols.

The elderly man quickly packed his personal stamp back into his pocket and then reached for the box which he taken from the safe before. Once Isamu opened carved cover the photographer saw a larger stamp there. Akihito correctly assumed it was the Asami family's seal. The clan leader made sure it had enough ink and again stamped all pages this time with the crest.

The man gently packed seal back into the box, closed the ink pad before he returned it to the drawer. Then, smoothly standing he went to put carved box back in the safe. When he returned to the table after he checked that all the papers have dried he put them back in the folder.

"So, with my hand all the documents have been signed." Asami Isamu made an indicating gesture toward lying before him folder. He raised it and handed to Akihito, who nodded and put it carefully near him.

"..." Akihito felt uncomfortable. "And what shall we discuss then?"

"To begin with, I want to know what you understand about this adoption. Do you have any idea why I'm the one who will adopt you?" Asami Isamu kept a neutral expression although emotions so vividly reflected on the boy's face amused him.

Akihito felt confused. In fact, he had never wondered what exactly the adoption entailed; what changes it would bring into his life. The only thing the photographer knew exactly was that he would have to leave his job as a star news and criminal front-pager. He had believed that the rest of his life with Asami won't undergo any major changes. Once Asami Isamu asked his question, the realization hit the boy that he really didn't know what was hidden under the guise of "the adoption into Asami family".

The clan head by virtue of his life experiences and natural ability to feel and read people, knew to give some time to the young man in front of him. The seriousness of the issue has penetrated the consciousness of the young man. Isamu almost from the beginning has overseen the development of relations between his son and the photographer. Ryuichi's decision to formalize relations by officially including his lover into the family's registry spoke Loudly to the clan leader.

All the records on the photographer he received were filled with photos of a confused and blushing boy. All records of conversations were full of indignant shouts or sexual groans. Isamu himself saw them once from afar: his son was with the photographer as they exited from a restaurant and waited for the car to arrive. It was cold and his son hugged the boy, covered him with his coat trying to share the warmth. The clan leader was confident that the photographer cheeks were red not only from the cold. The elderly Asami was sure that Takaba Akihito loves Ryuichi, though perhaps the young man didn't fully admit this feeling yet.

Isamu wached as the boy brought his eyebrows together, concentrating on an internal monologue; naked emotions of embarrassment and confusion showed on his face. A teenager now sat before the head of Asami clan, maybe not by age, but by a lack of maturity. This teenager had already gotten so deeply under the skin of Asami Ryuichi that any violent interference or attempt to stand between Ryuichi and his "light" would not benefit either his son or his clan. The only thing that he, as a father and as the clan head, could do would be to help Takaba Akihito to mature. The main idea of this conversation was to send the boy in the right direction to become support for his son.

"I... I kept thinking... it would be just the formalization of relations, which in fact won't change anything." Akihito looked in the direction of Asami Isamu, but at the same time not at him. His eyebrows were still together and look was unfocussed. "...Ryuu said that I wouldn't be able to work as a photographer as I used to do before now... it's very sad. When you asked me that question I actually realized that I have no idea what it means to be adopted by Asami. And when I learned this morning about the fact that I will be adopted by you and not Ryuichi... that was quite shocking news. As far as I understand, it was your condition to adoption."

"Hmm. I understood. So I'll tell you." Isamu crossed his fingers in front of him on the table. "Ryuichi is very overprotective of you, like a mother hen; he only gives you information as needed. Unfortunately, I don't agree with this policy. The entry into our clan and even more importantly the joining of the family is something that should be thought out very seriously."

"Why do you say he is overprotective? I don't need to be protected!" Akihito said stubbornly, but it only caused a small smile from the clan head.

"Don't get excited. It's just a natural desire: the desire to protect people important to you." Asami Isamu spread his hands and shrugged slightly. "I understand that such protection hurts your pride as a male. Think about it as you are someone who cares about somebody. It is absolutely doesn't matter what age and gender of the person you care about. All you think about is that this person is important to you and you wish to protect him. This intention has no desire to belittle the other, but rather is a way to demonstrate care and concern."

"Perhaps you're right." The words fell into Akihito's consciousness. He blinked and lowered his head. "I also want to protect Ryuichi, but he won't let me." If Asami Isamu didn't watch carefully, he probably wouldn't have noticed the moment when the voltage in the boy's body was gone. Like a dog shaking off the excess of water, the photographer shook off an emotional state in which his thoughts brought him. When he looked back, boy's eyes were confident, stubborn, with sparks of fire. "I guess I have to find a way to do it."

"Of course, you will have to find your own way that is acceptable to both of you." The senior man grinned. "Getting back to the main question, what does this adoption mean exactly? Officially you will become my son. You will be officially presented to the entire clan and to everyone associated with our people as the youngest heir to the clan. Do you understand what that means?"

Akihito swallowed again, frowned and shook his head negatively.

"This means you will have the same rights and obligations as Ryuichi has. You will be the youngest heir after my daughter Kimiko." Asami Isamu said pronouncing the words slowly, allowing each word to sink into the mind of the boy. "In the case of a worst-case scenario such as my death and the death of all my own children the management responsibilities of the clan and all organizations that we own will fall on you, as well as our obligations under the rest of our "other" activities. Of course, you're not going to do that all by yourself, but the final decisions will be up to you."

Akihito was sitting with big eyes full of a shock.

"Of course we will hold the ceremony inside the clan, which will confirm your and Ryuichi's commitment." The elderly man paused. "Paramount, everyone will know you as my son first and only then as Ryuichi's a partner. If you were originally adopted by my son, all your life you would have been perceived in our circle as his pet or his whore. It would be unpleasant, wouldn't it?"

"Yes... it would be humiliating." Akihito muttered. "But... but I don't want to be a Yakuza, this is something I fought against as a photographer!"

The clan head laughed, relaxed leaning back and lit another cigarette. He narrowed his eyes and smiling slyly looked at the boy, releasing smoke at the ceiling.

"Who told you that the Asami clan is a Yakuza clan?" Asami Isamu arched an eyebrow questioningly.

"Well... no one. I guessed myself." Akihito hesitated. "If you aren't Yakuza, who are you then?" The voice of a young man appeared curiosity.

"Who are we?" The elderly man said thoughtfully. "Asami Clan has always belonged to the aristocracy. We have never considered ourselves as a Yakuza clan. At the same time for all who live beyond the usual as ordinary people live we are the law; we are the judge; we are the executioners."

"I don't understand." The photographer said. "What is the difference between you and the Yakuza?"

"Indeed, what exactly is the difference?" The clan head looked at the boy. "I respect some of the principles of the old generations of the Yakuza. They lived according to undeniable principles of respect, commitment, and traditions. At this, we are similar. The Yakuza's current generation prefer to forget the principles that guided their ancestors lives. Often their actions are outside normality even for them, and have had extremely damaging consequences for ordinary people. They forget the cardinal rule that you can't cripple the hand that feeds you. Someone has to control this chaos. In most cases, we act as an arbitrator or guarantor in a transaction that the rules are complied with. In the case of violations, we will put things in order, pass sentence and fulfill it. We can do business just the same way as existing clans do, but for the most part we are doing other function - the functions of control and if necessary punishment. I would say that the concept of a clan Asami is overcome a Yakuza's connotation."

"I still don't understand the difference." Akihito said. "Your actions aren't very much different from a Yakuza's action."

"Hmm." The elderly man tilted his head to the side. "From the point of view of public law and the ordinary citizen who are in no way associated with the underworld, yes - we wouldn't seem to be anything different from the usual Yakuza or common criminals. The police are trying to find evidence of our unlawful activity with the same zeal as for the others. Unfortunately, no one takes into account the consequences which will arise if someday their attempts succeed."

"And what are the consequences?" Akihito frowned. "The offender is detained, leading to a decrease in crime. People are happy."

"Ah! Whole point in human nature." Isamu smiled knowingly. "The greed. It is human nature to crave for more. People will always want more. Where is the line between good and bad? Moral principles are transformed over time or with the redevelopment of society or on many external factors. With the change of these principles good people quite easily can become a bad ones. Look now at all countries rewriting their own history, and their people are starting to believe blindly in the new story. In a couple of generations there won't be any people who know the truth, and the truth will be new. The heroes who were known before as those who liberated the city are becoming invaders of that city in new stories and so on. As a result, everyone has their own truth. The notion of the happiness and the truth isn't a permanent one; they are different for each person, they are transforming over time. At the end, our clan became a deterrent and a buffer or filter which smoothes roughness and controls Yakuza clans and other criminal businesses."

"And yet you act like Yakuza." Akihito muttered. "You just give your actions a different name."

"In fact, most of our businesses are absolutely legal. The remainder of our business doesn't affect ordinary people directly. We don't do drugs trafficking, trafficking in human commodity, and so on. Rather, we provide a functioning of the black market according to certain rules." Asami Isamu emphasized the last word. "To understand what makes us distinct from common Yakuza you will need time to observe and you will need to be inside this circle. I would recommend you consider the Asami clan as the lesser of evils. An absolute freedom leads to utter chaos - we are trying to prevent it."

"On one hand, I understand what you're trying to say, but on the other hand... on the other... I find it difficult to accept this." Akihito looked into the eyes of the clan head. The boy was confused, Asami Isamu understood this and it wasn't surprising because his intention was to turn upside down all the vital concepts Akihito had.

"You're only used to seeing everything in black and white. Nonetheless, even black and white photos have shades of gray. Make a panorama instead of a macro shot. Expanded your eyesight, add colors. Don't forget that the red color; it's not just the color of love, warmth and holidays, but also the color of aggression, war, and blood." The clan head moved closer to the table. "Ryuichi may not want you to be a part of it. It speaks of his sense of protection over you. If you don't want to be a part of it, you can always stay under my son's protection, blind to what is happening. This will be your choice, but will be this the choice which suits you?"

"I... I don't know." Akihito's eyes were still wide. "It's as if to betray myself. What will be left of me?"

"Betray yourself?" Isamu raised an eyebrow. "Why do you have to lose yourself? If you are a strong person it won't happen. Yes, changes will be made. You will have to reconsider some of your judgements. You will have to learn to live as we are and survive. All people change throughout life - take it as a natural flow of life. Nobody will force you to change radically, it is important to understand what is really important, keep in inside you and discard the husks that people often cover with morality. "

"But I do not know anything about the business." Akihito laughed nervously. "I'm just a photographer who had to work in four jobs to buy food and pay rent. What can I do?"

"Akihito, you can do very much, you just need to believe in yourself. Actually, you can still work in photography and study something new." The elderly man relaxed on the chair. "The photo shoots, the photo-shop, charity, publications... we will support your every endeavor - all what you want to do, except for any activity endangering your life or Asami family and clan." The young man wanted to protest, but the man stopped him with a gesture. "An intelligent and thoughtful man grabs his chance and doesn't allow his pride and stubbornness to get in the way. Taking advantage of the help doesn't mean to show a person's weakness - it is a way to show foresight. The weakness is when help is necessary at every step."

"But what about the business?" Takaba asked uncertainly.

"Ryuichi is quite competent to cope with all sorts of family business. None of us is going to die early, leaving the majority of control on you, so you can easily look for your self-realization. I only considered the worst-case scenario for you to understand how far the bonds will go." Isamu shook the ashes into the filling ashtray. "From my position, I would like to ask you to gradually began to participate in our legitimate business. At first, only as the official function as the youngest son and Ryuichi's partner, and then how life will go. The Asami's family's owned businesses are in all directions. You will have the opportunity to find good use somewhere for yourself."

"..." Akihito looked thoughtfully. "You know, all the previous conversation is like a dish of gold from a fairy tale. Here it lies ahead of you. Just reach out." The photographer paused, then looked up at the man in front of him. "I'm not inclined to believe that everything is so simple. Not everything that glitters is gold. I don't need anything like this... I... I just wanna be with Ryuichi, and the money - it's just the husk you spoke before."

"I'm glad you think so." Asami Isamu said with a small warm smile then his face became abruptly serious. "However all we spoke of before is the pleasant part attached to my son to brighten up the nasty part." Akihito frowned and the clan's head face took a serious expression. "As you have already experienced, to be near my son carries some risks. The deeper ties go the greater the danger becomes."

"I have been kidnapped before!" Akihito interrupted indignantly. "I understand what it means to be with him."

"Hmm. So what you have encountered is just the tip of the iceberg. Let me tell you a story, Akihito-kun." The expression of Asami Isamu's eyes changed, but the photographer couldn't say how exactly. "I don't think that Ryuichi told you about this before. He is reluctant to talk about it. None of us like to talk about it."

The photographer frowned and tried to sit more comfortably. In turn, Isamu lit another cigarette.

"You see, Ryuichi isn't my youngest child..." The clan leader sat back, but his whole body was tense.