Kou, Takato!" Akihito waved his han

Kou, Takato!" Akihito waved his hand at them, trying to get their attention.

"Akihito, this is where you live?" Kou asked when he could finally answer.

The photographer blushed, walking to the sitting area. "It's just an apartment – "

"This is NOT just an apartment," Kou differed, still dumbfounded.

Akihito led his friends to the sitting area. Kou and Takato lowered their bodies on the imported couch gently, as if they were sitting on glass.

"Ah, here are your chocolates," Takato said innocently, passing a paper bag to Akihito.

"Takato!" Akihito scolded, his eyes quickly darted at Toru whose expression didn't even flicker.

"What?"

Kou laughed. "You're supposed to be discreet, Takato! That's Asami san's chocolates."

"Kou!" Akihito hissed.

The dark haired boy raised his hand. "Oops, sorry, Akihito! Oh, and you don't have to pay us back."

The photographer raised his eyebrow in surprised. "Why not?"

"Because we went to Marukoshi and the manager, Suzuki san recognized us and told us that we didn't have to pay."

Slapping a hand on his forehead, Akihito groaned. "Why did you have to buy at Marukoshi?"

"We tried looking for wine-filled chocolates everywhere but couldn't!"

"I should have known. Did you tell him for whom you were buying it for?"

Kou scratched his face, looking guilty. "Well, we sort of told him because he was helping us write the Valentines' Day card."

"It wasn't our fault!" Takato protested when Akihito narrowed his eyes into slits. "Suzuki san was surprised when we told him it was for Asami san so we had to tell him that you sent us to buy the chocolates."

Now everyone knows that he got chocolates for Asami, Akihito sulked.

"Sorry, Akihito," Kou and Takato clapped their hands together.

The sight of his friends doing that had Akihito laughing. "It's fine, thanks for helping guys."

Takato cheered up. "Hey, so what are we supposed to do here?"

"Video games?" Kou suggested.

Akihito snorted. "Come on guys, we're not kids anymore. Adults have their own entertainment," he smiled, spreading both hands on the coffee table, rubbing it circular motion.

Kou and Takato's grinned. "Mahjong!"

"That's right!" Akihito snapped his fingers, smiling.

"But we're a player short," Kou sighed. "We can't play with only three of us."

Takato shifted nearer to Akihito. "What about Toru san, can he play?"

Akihito glanced at Toru who returned his master's gaze. He walked to the trio and knelt down. "I know how to play mahjong, Takaba sama. Would you like me to get it from your workroom?"

"Yes!" Akihito said happily before sitting on the carpet. Kou took his seat next to Akihito while Takato sat next to Kou.

When Toru returned with the box of mahjong tiles, he spread the mahjong papers on the table before pouring the tiles onto it. Then, he took his seat next to Akihito.

"What's the penalty?" Akihito asked.

"We're broke, so let's not gamble," Kou said.

The photographer couldn't agree more. He looked at the grocery bag Kou had brought along. "What about the person who scored the lowest point in every round drinks a glass of beer?"

Everyone smile spread, except Toru's.

Xx Business as Usual xX

The door to Asami's private office in Club Sion knocked just before six in the evening. Asami passed the documents he was reading to Kirishima and leaned back against the couch. Suoh and Kirishima automatically took their position behind Asami, both hands behind their backs before nodding at Kanda to open the door.

Kanda opened the door carefully and the leader of Baishe strode in confidently in his formal business suit, accompanied by Yoh and a Chinese guard.

"Asami," drawled Feilong as he removed his sun glasses.

"Fei Long," Asami greeted.

The Chinese sat on the visitor chair uninvited, crossing his legs. "It's been a while."

Yoh stood behind Fei Long, bowing slightly at Asami. The other Chinese man simply glared at the yakuza.

Asami took a cigar from his coat and allowed Kirishima to light it, "It is. What business do you have here in Japan?"

The Chinese laughed, flipping his tied hair behind him before resting his hands on the arm rests. "Don't be so tensed. I came to offer you a business opportunity."

The yakuza raised an eyebrow. "Is that why you came purposely to Japan, to discuss business?"

"How is Akihito by the way?" Fei Long interrupted smoothly. "I haven't seen him since our memorable day at the onsen."

Fei Long was taunting him, gauging his reaction about Akihito. Allowing Akihito to service Fei Long was one of the biggest mistakes he had ever committed and he vowed that he would never allow the Chinese to touch his property again.

"He's alive, if that is what you want to know," Asami smirked.

Fei Long smiled. "Of course he is; he's your precious pet after all. I don't think you'll get rid of him so easily."

Asami took a drag of his cigar. "Are you here to discuss about Takaba?" he asked, careful not to use Akihito's given name as he didn't want Fei Long to know that they were on first name basis.