They are just a few meters outside

They are just a few meters outside the building when a few black sedans enter the abandoned industrial complex. One of the cars, a sleek black BMW, is very familiar to Takumi. He knows the license number by heart and can recite it in his sleep.

Asami Ryuichi.

It doesn't matter how; Asami has found them. Takumi almost cries all over again in his relief. He doesn't think he can drag all of them out of there for long, not with Akihito being upset, Arata being shaken to the core, and two injured unconscious adults. Even now, he practically drags Akihito to move while bringing Kou's full weight on his back.

Asami is out of the car before the vehicle even parks properly. In just a few seconds, the crime lord has his arms around Akihito and the baby. It is only after Asami gets to him that Akihito has his breakdown. Tears stream down his cheeks and he cries his heart out on Asami's chest.

As Takumi observes the reunion in front of him, he notices a mixture of fear, relief, anger and hundreds of other emotions flashing in Asami's usually emotionless face. It is subtle, but it is still there. And for the first time since Takumi met Asami, the powerful man looks…human.

The thought feels weird to Takumi. Before he can contemplate on it, however, giddiness caught him unaware. The last thing he remembers before he falls into unconsciousness is Asami's deep voice, shouting continuous orders to his men as the powerful man catches Takumi before he hits the ground.

Part 2. A Charity

"It is nice of you to visit," Takumi commented as Asami sat in a chair near the hospital bed. "I don't expect it."

Without a word, the crime lord reaches towards his pocket and pulls a cigarette out with his mouth. As usual, Kirishima readily lights the cigarette before putting an ashtray on the side table near them. Where the secretary hides that ashtray up until then, Takumi has no idea. Maybe Kirishima always has one ready in his pocket.

"This is a hospital, you know. You can't smoke in here," Takumi reminded dryly.

The reply was short, "This is my hospital." Which means, the man can do whatever he wants here.

Takumi snorts at the arrogant answer. Such an expected behaviour from Asami Ryuichi. But Takumi doesn't bother to speak up his mind. It doesn't matter. Just like this hospital, he belongs to this man. And just like this hospital's rules don't affect this man, Takumi's thoughts will not affect Asami Ryuichi as well.

Maybe dying in that shitty storage room is better than living a life as a slave like this.

"How's Takaba-san and the baby?" Takumi asked Asami to distract himself from his miserable thoughts.

There was no reply for a while. Then Asami answered calmly, "As good as can be expected."

It is obvious that the man doesn't want to impart any detailed information about his lover. And it is understandable, too. Asami almost lost his young lover and son just a few days a go. The powerful man won't trust other people with anything about his lover and son anytime soon, if not ever, fearing for their safety.

"…umm, Goro…?"

"Dead, obviously. It was a clean shot, right through the forehead," Asami replied.

He doesn't know what to say to that, so he stays quiet, waiting for Asami to start the conversation.

"So…you helped her," Asami said casually while tapping his cigarette onto the ashtray.

Slowly, Takumi closes his eyes. So this is the real reason why Asami comes to visit him. After two peaceful days in the hospital, he almost forgets that he did the unforgivable by helping Emi to kidnap Akihito. And Asami's heir, he added silently. The fact that Takumi didn't know anything about the baby won't matter to Asami. Shit. There is no way Asami will let him live now.

Knowing there is no point in throwing excuses to Asami, Takumi simply replied, "Do you still need me to explain the reason to you? I thought it is obvious."

For a while, no one says anything. Keeping his eyes closed, Takumi can hear other noises more clearly. Outside, children are laughing and screaming in their innocent excitement. The nurses' shoes make constant noise as they walks down the hall. It is so peaceful that for a short moment, he can pretend that everything will be okay.

Then, Asami exhales the toxic smoke and the smell reminded Takumi of the fact that his life may end soon. He wishes he could see his family one last time. But he knows it is a vain hope.

"I hate you," he whispered.

"I know," Asami answered easily.

He opens his eyes to look at the man before him with hatred. "Yet, you don't care, do you?"

A bored sigh. "No, I don't care what you or other people think or feel about me. It is a waste of time. I do what I want to do."

"You didn't have to rape me! Yet, you still did it!" The accusation was out before Takumi could stop it. It made him blushing furiously when he realized that he just shout everything in front of Kirishima. To Kirishima's credit, the secretary remains cool despite the embarrassing topic. Well, after years working for Asami, Kirishima must have been in a much more awkward situation than listening to his boss's whore calling rape in front of him.

Asami, in the other hand, raised an eyebrow in amusement before answering, "Did I? I remember asking whether you wanted an out. You refused my offer."

Takumi opened his mouth to deny that simple statement, but he knows it is true. He did refuse when Asami offered to cancel the whole arrangement.

"I….I didn't…."

"You didn't….what?" Asami asked with a slow smile hanging in his lips, tilting his head lazily as if he knows the answer already.

"I didn't want it!" Takumi finished loudly. But I still did it for my family, he thought grimly. For our company's employees. Speaking of which, what happens to all of them? I am too busy being depressed and hiding myself in my apartment to make any contact to the outside world.

"Well, I didn't tie you to my bed nor did I beat you to make you spreading your legs for me. It is all business, Takumi. You wanted money and I wanted a warm hole to satisfy my…need. If you pushed me away or even asked to cancel our deal, I would have stopped. And for your information, I was gentle with you, which I don't usually do, but the first time always hurts," Asami sneered at him annoyingly.

Angry yet unable to deny that fact, Takumi glares at the crime lord. Ignoring his fury, Asami merely continued, "I told you, there are always choices, Takumi."

"But my family needs the money! If I didn't do what I did, you wouldn't give us the money!"

The crime lord snorted amusedly. "Of course, I wouldn't. I don't do charity."

"Then what did you expect me to do, Asami? Let my father declare bankruptcy and fire hundreds of our employees?! Watch my family being drowned in poverty?"

Without even blinking an eye, Asami asked evenly, "Why not?"

"I couldn't do that! It is selfish! It-"

"Indeed, it is selfish. So, what? Everyone is selfish. Is any of your families or your family's employees here now to help you when you need them?"

Speechless, Takumi opens his mouth just to close it again. He doesn't have an answer to that. Asami doesn't say anything else as the man lets the thoughts sinking into Takumi's now troubled mind.

Finally, after a few minutes of silence, Takumi asked softly, "Why do you tell me all this?"

Asami must have given Kirishima a signal because the secretary readily places a document holder in Takumi's lap. Feeling curious, Takumi looks into the map. It is full of report, photos, and some newspaper articles. He quickly scans one of the papers, wanting to know what this is all about.

The content makes him gasp in shock. Apparently, the map contains full documentation of him and his family: their background and history, financial situation, family tree, everything. Flipping through, he sees his health report, his photos from right before he was sold to Asami, and a copy of a receipt. There is a huge amount of money written in the receipt. Takumi swallows in bitterness when he realizes that it is the price Asami paid to his family for Takumi's body.

And it is a really, really, really huge amount of money. It should pay all his family debt at once.