Chapter 18. Come What MayPart 1. Gr

Chapter 18. Come What May

Part 1. Great Minds Think Alike

Suoh looked incredibly relieved when he saw Asami entering the penthouse. Asami's most reliable head of security was made to handle all kind of terror as long as it didn't involve emotional tears. And right now, Akihito was an emotional time bomb ready to explode at any time. Asami put his shoes aside and let Kirishima taking off his coat.

Loosening his necktie with one hand, the other was busy rolling his sleeves up, Asami asked, "Where is he?"

"Takaba-sama is sleeping in the bedroom with the boys, Asami-sama."

"Did anything happen while I was away?"

Suoh kept his face straight as he answered, but his uneasiness was profound. "Haruka found Takaba-sama cleaning his hand furiously before lunch time, saying he was going to feed the boys and afraid that he would stain them. She stopped him, quite fiercely I might add. It worked, though, and he calmed down a bit. All day long, just like the last few days, he insisted on keeping the boys close to him even if he made sure he didn't make any skin contact. He didn't even let Haruka to help him feeding them. But other than that, Takaba-sama just did the usual things; cleaning, cooking, laundering."

Asami merely nodded at the report. By now, the report didn't surprise him anymore.

"You can go now, Suoh. I believe you need to supervise the men to clean that filthy storage room."

Suoh bowed and left.

The night after Akihito had been rescued, Asami had watched the pain and guilt flashing in Akihito's eyes as the doctor explained the impact of Nao's injury. Emi, and probably also due to the impact from Akihito catching Nao after Goro'd dropped the baby, had damaged a nerve in Nao's right arm. The doctor had told them not to worry too much. They believed that there was high probability that Nao could use his right arm to do normal everyday activities, even to do sports. However, it might affect any activity that required his hand to be completely steady. They had done everything that they could for now, the doctor had said. The doctor had also suggested continuous physical therapy. For how long, the doctor couldn't be sure.

During their way home, Akihito had sternly turned down Kirishima and Asami's offers to help holding Nao. Even after Akihito'd started to fall asleep in the limo, whenever Asami had tried to quietly take Nao away from Akihito, trying to make Akihito to sleep in a more comfortable position, his lover had immediately startled awake and pulled Nao closer. Akihito's body had instantly stiffened in a survival mode as if preparing himself either to fight or flee with the baby.

The instinctive reaction had angered Asami, partly because it had made him feel as if Akihito couldn't trust him enough to protect their little family, which was a sharp reminder of his failure, but mostly because he could do nothing much now other than supporting Akihito. Furious was an understatement of how Asami truly felt. He wanted to hurt someone, killed someone, needed somewhere to channel all his uncontrollable fury. If it were possible, Asami would have brought those responsible from the land of the death so that he could torture and kill them over and over again. But it wouldn't help Akihito. The only thing he could do now was waiting patiently for Akihito to overcome this nightmare. Unfortunately, patience wasn't Asami's strongest forte whenever Akihito was involved.

The worst part was how Akihito felt like tainting their sons by touching them. What a stupid idea! Shit. If hands that had once been covered with blood could contaminate anyone, Akihito didn't need to be so afraid about tainting the boys. Because in that case, their sons had been tainted to the ninth circle of hell every time Asami hold the babies. In fact, blood might be one of the purest thing that had covered Asami's hands.

The first time Asami had accidentally caught Akihito washing his hands with strong bleach until it had bled, Asami had almost hit Akihito in his anger. And since then, they had caught Akihito doing that whenever his lover thought that no one'd watched. It wasn't Akihito's fault, Asami knew that, but despite years of keeping his feelings under tight control, it was getting harder to suppress the storm of emotion in him.

He snapped himself out of his train of thought. Anger would do no good thing right now. Entering the bedroom, he found Akihito sleeping on the bed. The twins snuggled close to Akihito as if to comfort Asami's young and naive lover. Even with each boy tucked at his side, Akihito looked a bit tense in his sleep, a complete contrast to their sons' peaceful expression.

A soft cough caught his attention. Haruka cleared her throat from the corner of Asami's bedroom, sitting with her tablet on her lap, most probably working while keeping a watch on Akihito.

"He doesn't like me following him around," his assistant whispered softly as she stood to leave the room. "He said he doesn't need…well, something along the line of a babysitter. But after this afternoon incident, I was a bit persistent about watching over him. His hands are so red from irritation already and I can't let him hurt himself even further. I am sorry that I didn't ask for your advice beforehand, Asami-sama. If you feel that I have crossed my-"

He quickly cut the apology with a gentle shake of his head, "There is no need to apologise, Haruka. You did the right thing. Thank you."

After a deep and respectful bow, Haruka walked to leave, but before she reached the door, Asami made up his mind and stopped her. "Haruka, wait a minute. Could you please bring the boys back to their room?"

"I beg your pardon, Sir? If we take the twins from Takaba-sama, he-"

"He will be fine," Asami scowled. He had lost his patience. It was time for Akihito to face the truth, no matter he was ready or not. Asami decided that playing along with Akihito's guilty conscience wouldn't help his lover to realise how wrong it was to keep running away from reality. Sometimes, what Akihito needed to be able to accept the reality was a stick instead of a carrot.

Before Haruka could argue any further, Asami strode towards the bed. Silently, he removed Akihito's arm from around Nao and Rikiya, taking the babies from his lover's embrace. He was almost successful when Akihito somehow felt the movement and suddenly startled awake, at first looking at him as if Asami was a starving mad dog trying to drag their sons away to be eaten for dinner later. But when Akihito realised it was Asami, he relaxed a bit although he was still watching Asami cautiously.

Asami quickly yet gently pulled both babies from Akihito before his lover could do anything to prevent it, exploiting Akihito's confusion after being woken so suddenly. The sudden movement stirred the twins from their slumber. They apparently didn't like being woken from their nap. Asami ignored the instant screams that filled the entire room and quickly passed both babies to the equally dumbstruck Haruka.

"Bring them for a long walk. I will tell you what to do with them later," he gave Haruka a quick instruction.

"NO!" Akihito shouted at the top of his lungs from behind Asami. Lunging himself towards Haruka, Akihito tried to get the babies back but Asami quickly blocked his path. The push Akihito gave him was unexpectedly stronger than he thought it would be, but Asami was much bulkier than Akihito and well trained to fight and kill. It didn't take much to drag his struggling lover back to bed. To his credit, Akihito fought hard and dirty. The younger man kicked, punched, and even bit Asami's hand. Ignoring the sharp pain in his lower arm, Asami hauled his wildcat to the middle of the bed, placing Akihito on all fours and pushing Akihito face down into the pillow.

"Go, Haruka," Asami growled. He could sense her hesitation. But Asami knew she would not interfere with his decision. Kirishima had made damn sure to instil that specific rule into her head. Out of the corner of his eyes, he saw Haruka quickly walked out from the room before closing the door behind her.

"LET. ME. GO!" Akihito's threat was half muffled by the soft feather pillow.

Asami ignored it. Instead, he grabbed Akihito's wrists, pulling it up and held it firmly. Using his weight as leverage, Asami kept Akihito down while binding Akihito's wrist into the headboard with his own silk tie. He made sure the binding wasn't too tight but it would be sturdy enough not to give way when Akihito struggled. Observing his handiwork, Asami hummed in satisfaction. Akihito could fight all he wanted but nothing he could do to stop Asami.

He felt Akihito's tense muscles under his palms but his lover stayed still for now, playing along while waiting for a chance to turn the table around. Akihito was smart and despite the young man's naiveness, Asami knew that Akihito can be very shrewd and sharp-witted if needed. His lover had the patience of a saint and would wait until the least expected moment to strike back. Perhaps, it was an expected talent for crime-photographers, considering the amount of time they spent hiding in every imaginable places to catch their preys in action.