But –""I have my pride, Aki. I want

But –"

"I have my pride, Aki. I want you to accept my proposal because it has business value to it." Haruhito smiled.

That, Akihito could understand. If it were him, he wouldn't feel proud if Asami had interfered in his job. A moment of silence had passed before Akihito looked at his brother again. "Haru nii, let's go," he said, pulling his brother up.

Haruhito allowed Akihito to drag him out of the penthouse. "Where are we going?"

Akihito ignored Haruhito's question and flung the door open.

Toru stood at the door. "Takaba sama?"

"Take us to Sion Headquarters, Toru."

"Why are we going there?" Haruhito asked the minute they were seated at the back seat of the BMW.

Akihito smiled. "I might not know about business but Asami does. We're going to get Asami to listen to your proposal and if he decides that it's good, then we'll have a deal."

"Akihito –"

"That is the least I could do, nii-san."

The elder Takaba sibling ruffled the photographer's hair. "Thank you, Aki-chan."

"Don't call me Aki-chan," Akihito scowled. "And Haru nii –," the photographer trailed off before continuing. "Don't tell Asami about our conversation just now." The photographer blushed, remembering the confession.

Haruhito snorted. "And let him be satisfied about it? No, I won't give him that pleasure."

Akihito laughed. "Thanks Haru-nii."

"Akihito, I have been meaning to ask you," Haruhito looked at Akihito's oversized shirt. "The shirt is too large for you. Did you get the wrong size?"

Ah, fuck. Akihito cursed as he stared at Asami's shirt in dismay. He had forgotten to change – and they were heading to Sion.

Xx Business as Usual xX

Asami moved his cursor to the red x button at the far right of his lap top, closing the window to the video he had just watched.

He smirked, satisfied. When Toru texted Kirishima about Akihito bumping into Haruhito at Marukoshi, he didn't expect Akihito would hold their discussion at the penthouse.

It felt like a mouse walking into its trap, Asami mused as he sipped the strong coffee that Kirishima had prepared. Akihito didn't know that he had security cameras in the penthouse and Asami had no intentions telling him that. They were rarely in use but the crime lord supposed there are special occasions that would require the assistance of the gadget.

Like today. Haruhito's confrontation about Akihito's relationship with him was foreseeable but Akihito's reactions weren't. A satisfied smile graced Asami's lips when he watched Akihito's confession.

Like a blushing bride, the boy had his eyes averted to the side as he openly admitted his feelings in front of his brother. Asami would take his lover to bed that instant if he were in the penthouse. He decided that he'd do just that when he returned to the penthouse – such obedience need to be rewarded.

Now, if only he could do something to the chills he had since morning. The yakuza massaged his temples again.

A discreet knock had Asami's attention shifted to the heavy oak door. His secretary walked in, passing a file in the process. "Asami sama, the director of NT Hospital is here to discuss the discrepancies in the medical supply purchases."

"Where is he?" Asami flipped the report open and immediately felt his head began to pound.

"Waiting at the guest room, sir."

Asami dumped the file on the table. "How is he, Kirishima?"

Kirishima pushed his spectacles up, smiling. "Trembling in his seat."

"Good," Asami smirked. "Send him in."

Kirishima bowed. "Right away, Asami sama."

As his secretary closed the door to his office, Asami put the thoughts of rewarding his lover on hold, slipping on his working mask. It's time to chew someone alive.

Xx Business as Usual xX

The BMW that ferried the Takaba siblings entered the basement parking of Sion and headed straight to a designated parking bay located near the entrance.

The guard tasked at basement duty immediately came forward to open the door for Toru. "Toru san," he greeted, bowing.

Nodding his head, the lanky guard buttoned the top button of his coat before moving to the back seat door. "Makoto, Is Asami sama still in the office?"

The young guard bowed again. "Yes, the boss hasn't left the building since this morning."

Toru replied with a discreet nod. He opened the door to the back seat, allowing the brothers to get down.

"Takaba sama, it's a pleasure to meet you," Makoto bowed. It was obvious from his salutation that it was his first time meeting his boss's lover face-to-face.

Never used to such formal greetings, Akihito returned the greeting awkwardly. "Uh – yeah – It's a pleasure."

Makoto looked at Akihito as though as he was star struck. "Thank you, Takaba sama!"

Akihito thought it was weird of the guard to thank him but he didn't elaborate on that part. Beside him, Haruhito looked composed yet Akihito knew that his brother was probably tensed about meeting Asami.

During Haruhito's last visit at Sion, he confronted Asami about their relationship. The photographer didn't know the details of the conversation since Haruhito wouldn't tell no matter how he tried to get him to talk. Asami wasn't exactly a joy to converse with, so Akihito was left in the dark about the details of the conversation. He knew the gist but it wasn't enough to get the whole picture.

As Toru led them into the private elevator that would bring them straight to the top floor where Asami's office was located, Akihito stole a quick glance at his brother. There was a worried look on the elder Takaba and the photographer suspected that the sole contributor to his brother's worried looks had to be Asami.

Whatever Asami had told Haruhito during their last meet, it wasn't pleasant, Akihito was sure of it.

That jerk, Akihito thought. If Asami had somehow threatened his brother, I'll kick that bastard's ass.

Xx Business as Usual xX

"So, Director Nakai, care to explain why the amount given out does not match the pharmaceutical supplies the hospital receives?"

A bead of cold sweat formed on the old man's forehead. Hands shakily flipping the document, he gulped a few times as he stared at the untallied accounts. "A – Asami sama, this has to be some sort of mistake. I assure you that the supplies are in order."

Asami retrieved his cigarette from his pocket and placed it between his lips. His dutiful secretary immediately bent forward and lit the stick.

"Let's just assume that the supplies were indeed in order. Then explain why Yanada Pharmaceutical Supplies still receives a monthly check despite the services have been terminated four months ago?"

Again, Nakai gulped uncomfortably. He raised his eyes to meet Asami's and immediately looked away. "Asami sama, I am confident that it is merely a technical glitch. If you would allow me a few days, I would definitely provide you a satisfactory report."

Asami crushed the half burnt cigarette. He pulled the drawer on his right open and retrieved his gun. "Do you take me for a fool, Nakai?" He snarled, pointing the semi-automatic at the director.

"Yanada Pharmaceutical Supplies is your company. You continue to provide me fake invoices even after I terminated the contract." The crime lord released the safety catch.

The man in his late fifties immediately left his seat and knelt on the carpeted floor. "Asami sama, please forgive me! I swear, I will return your money and tender my resignation. You won't see me ever again," the man sobbed openly.

Asami stood up, walked round his table and leaned against the edge. "Give me a good reason why I should let you live after you cheated from me."

"Asami sama, please forgive me. I am in heavy debts at the moment." Nakai sobbed. "The thugs, they'll take my daughter and kill me if I don't pay!"

Asami bent down, grabbed a fistful of Nakai's grey hair and yanked it up. "And you think I won't?" Slamming Nakai's head on his carpeted floor, the yakuza pressed the gun at the back of Nakai's head. "Let me remind you that whatever the thugs plan to do is nothing compared what I can do to you. Shall I demonstrate to you now?"