Shit, the fever must have started t

Shit, the fever must have started this morning and had worsened after the morning bath, Toru thought as he checked Akihito's head for injuries. No bumps and cuts, he decided after pressing his hand on the photographer's scalp gently.

"Toru san, we have a problem," Ando spoke, breaking Toru's thoughts.

Toru met Ando's eyes at the rear mirror.

"The cab behind has been following us for a while now."

Toru glanced backwards carefully and noticed a green, white cab trailing behind them from a distance. Left without a choice, Toru reached for his phone, speed dialing his boss's number.

Asami answered on the second ring.

"Asami sama, we have a problem; a green cab is tailing us," Toru said without preamble.

"Mah?"

Toru glanced backwards to check again. "I cannot confirm the identity, sir. It's a distance away."

"Where are you?"

"Yaesu 1-chome, on the way to the hospital."

Asami's voice immediately hardened, "What happened to him?"

"Takaba sama is having a medium grade fever and as of the moment, unconscious," Toru replied, finding it pointless to keep the fact hidden from the yakuza.

Asami was quiet for a moment. "Bring Akihito to Sion. Ask Ando to drive to the back of the building and get him inside through the back door. I'll send the men," Asami ordered.

"Understood."

His boss spoke again, "Are you armed?"

"Yes, Asami sama. So is Ando."

"Good, shoot the bastard if he so much so takes a step out of the car, and Toru?"

That tone never failed to shake Toru's nerves. "Yes?"

"I am expecting a detailed report from you later," Asami said and the tone went dead.

"What did the boss say?" Ando asked the minute Toru ended the call; his eyes darted to the rear view mirror every few seconds to check on the cab. It is still following cautiously behind them.

"Change route. Asami sama's orders were to bring Takaba sama to Sion; drive to the back of the building and we are clear to use the gun," Toru said, glancing at the unconscious boy.

"You bet I'm going to enjoy using it on the bastard," the driver grinned, taking a sharp left turn into the next street.

"What's our ETA?" Toru asked.

"About seven minutes."

"Stop right at the back entrance; I'll carry Takaba sama into the building. The guards should be there by now, can you manage?"

Ando reached for his gun in his jacket, smiling confidently, "You bet."

As the car tires screeched to a stop, Toru half dragged, half carried Akihito into the building. Asami's men, led by Suoh poured out from the building, guns out and ready.

Toru didn't have time to think if Ando could make it. With his master as his top priority, he carried Akihito, raced through the corridors to Asami's private elevator. On cue, the door of the elevator opened and the crime lord strode out of the car with Kirishima following silently behind.

"Asami sama," Toru greeted.

"My office, now," Asami stepped back into the elevator, taking Akihito from Toru's arms.

Toru stepped inside, moving to the back with Kirishima before glancing at his boss nervously. He then darted his gaze to Kirishima who shook his head a little, signaling that the yakuza was not in his best moods.

Shit.

As the elevator doors slid open, Kirishima went ahead, pushing Asami's office door wide-open for the crime lord to enter. Toru followed behind, closing the office doors. His eyes widened when Kirishima went to the bookcase behind Asami's desk, pulling out a book in the process to press a few buttons.

Toru watched in awe as Kirishima slide the giant bookcase effortlessly, opening to a small room, equipped with a queen size bed and a table.

Asami laid Akihito on the bed gently. Placing his palms on Akihito's forehead, he nearly winced at the heat. He removed Akihito's shoes, coat and sweater, freeing him from the layers of clothing and pulled the covers to his chest.

"Where's Kanzaki?" The crime lord directed the question at Kirishima as he took the wet cloth from Kirishima's outstretched hands, placing it on Akihito's forehead.

"One of the guards is bringing the sensei up right now," the secretary answered.

Nodding absently at Kirishima's reply, Asami continued to gaze at his young lover's sleeping form. He checked the boy's pulse – still beating regularly. Akihito's face looked flush as though he was blushing and it reminded Asami of the boy writhing beneath him last night, begging to be ravished.

A knock on the door interrupted his thought. His personal physician, a man in his early fifties stood at the door, bowing slightly at Asami. The yakuza nodded in response and stood up, allowing Kanzaki to attend to Akihito.

He strode out of the room and went near the glass window. Pulling out his cigarette pack from his pockets, he retrieved a single stick, placing it between his lips.

Toru immediately moved to Asami's side to light the cigarette. He stood perfectly still next to the boss as he watched his boss took the first drag, unsure if he should move behind or remain at his spot.

"Toru," his boss used the same neutral tone that shook his nerves. "There's a red mark near Akihito's right cheekbone."

Immediately Toru stood straight before relaying the incident in detail. By the time he was done, his boss looked composed but Toru knew that beneath that calm demeanor, there was a raging fire. Too nervous to look at his boss, the guard angled his head to see the tall apartment across the street and waited.

Toru heard Kirishima's phone rang and not a minute later, the secretary walked out of the room. "Asami sama, we have the identity of the person in the cab. The model, Emi had the taxi driver follow Takaba sama's car."

Kirishima continued, "According to Suoh, Emi claimed that she was concerned about Takaba sama but Suoh was positive she was lying and suspected that she has malicious intent towards Takaba sama."

Asami didn't bother to hide his displeasure. He turned to Kirishima, his golden orbs narrowed and ordered, "Tell Suoh to get rid of Emi. We've tolerated her long enough."

Toru wasn't surprise at the orders. Suoh did remind him that their boss is extreme whenever it concerned Akihito and he knew their boss couldn't be bothered even if Emi is a woman. The consequence of invading his territory can only be death.

"Method, Asami sama?" Kirishima had his phone out, ready to call Suoh anytime.

"Stage her death. Make it look like a mugging," Asami ordered and Kirishima immediately pressed the phone to his ear, murmuring instructions to Suoh.

The doctor came out of the room a few minutes later, bowing deeply. "Asami sama, Takaba sama have a bad tonsillitis and a medium grade fever. I have given him a jab of antibiotics. He will need more medication when he wakes up."

"When will he be conscious?" Asami asked.

"Most likely in a few hours," the doctor replied. "His vitals are normal but his body is exhausted; sleeping is the only way to help him recover faster. I will prescribe some medication and care instructions for Takaba sama."

Asami nodded. He dismissed Kirishima and Toru, instructing them to deal with Akihito's medication and Emi. He then went to the bed and sat on the edge, watching Akihito's sleeping form.

The yakuza traced his fingers along Akihito's cheeks, moving down to the jaw line before cupping his chin. Asami had never seen Akihito looked so vulnerable. He missed his fiery temper, his challenging eyes, his sarcastic retorts and cheeky replies.

He brushed his finger on Akihito's lips, remembering its warmth as Akihito took him in his mouth the night before, teasing, pleasuring him as he seductively gaze his hazel eyes at him. The thought itself made him harden. Feeling somehow ungentlemanly for having perverted thoughts about his lover when he is sick, he rose from the bed to his office, sliding the door shut with him.

Asami sat on his desk, tapped a few buttons on his lap top to activate the cameras in the room. He decided that he would take his mind off Akihito at the moment and focused his attention to the escaped prisoner from China. It frustrates Asami that Mori couldn't confirm if Mah had entered Japan since he received the news of his escape nearly a week late.

Asami had to admit that Mah is at least smart; not as good as Fei Long but definitely not stupid. He had to be careful or he would end up dancing to Mah's tune. And then there's Akihito. It was perhaps the biggest challenge of all, keeping his young lover safe from his enemies' clutches.