Title: Taking care of you.

Chapter: #06

Anime/ Manga Kingdom: You're my Love prize in Viewfinder

Characters: Asami x Takaba

Timeframe: Post Naked Truth

A/N: I have been away for quite awhile! I have left a brief A/N at the end of this chapter, do take a look! Again, this is unbeta. So if there is any grammar or spelling mistakes, forgive me for that. Once again, thank you for all your kind reviews. I really appreciate them, so keep them coming!

He shifted around the bed when he felt a slight dip on the bed. Drifting back to sleep after a moment, he was pulled back to reality when the bed shook again. Alarmed, his body jerked and he sat up on the bed almost instantly. Before he could understand what was happening, a tiny body embraced him tightly. Startled, he began fighting back with all his might and pushed the poor boy off the bed, causing Tao to land on the floor with a dull thud. Without even seeing who it was, Takaba scrambled backwards till his back hit the headboard. He then buried himself under the blanket, shivering from fear.

"What happened?" Asami's voice drifted to his ear as he felt the man moved towards him, but Takaba was certain that the person who threw himself at him earlier was not Asami.

A hand tugged at the blanket he held tightly over him. "Akihito, let go. It's fine."

Slowly, his hands released the giant piece of wool blanket as Asami lifted it away from his body. "Look around you, nothing dangerous. Akihito?"

Takaba opened his eyes and glanced downwards at their entwined hands and then at Asami's reassuring face. When he saw a nod from the older man, his eyes observed the rest of the bedroom only to see a young man rubbing his bottom with one of his hands. A smile crept up his face when he recognised the boy as Tao.

"Akihito! Do you know that it hurts to land on the floor?" The boy shouted up at him with a small blush on his face.

Takaba would laugh at that but the way he laughed now, he hated it. His laughter sounded off to him, it was awful. Instead, he smiled widely at the boy. He wanted to say something to him, perhaps he could ask about his presence. Understanding what his young lover needed, Asami let go of his hands and reached for the pad of paper and pen on the bedside table before handing it to Takaba.

Nodding his thanks to the older man, he held the pen in his hand and began scribbling his question on the paper: I'm so sorry about that. Is Fei Long here too?

He then passed the pad of paper to the little boy who mumbled the question out softly, word by word.

"Fei Long sama is here!" Tao replied cheerfully, "He brought me here with him yesterday. I think he will be coming later."

Takaba stared at the little boy thoughtfully. He wondered why Fei Long had come to Japan though. As if Asami could read his mind, Takaba found the pen removed from his fingers by the older man.

"He's here for some business negotiations. It's not about the deed, don't worry," Asami reassured him, his other free hand moved to touch Takaba's hair softly.

Tao stared at the older man curiously. Why wasn't Asami telling Takaba the truth? Just as he was about to voice out his questions, the older man shot him a look that pretty much meant 'Keep your lips zipped'. Tucking his head down, he played with his fingers awkwardly.

"Why don't you clean up first? Tao and I will leave you alone for now," Asami cleared up the awkwardness and beckoned the boy to follow him out of the room.

Takaba glanced at the both of them, deliberating whether it was fine to leave the both of them alone. Then again, what could Asami do to a little boy? Tao had not offended the yazuka anyway. He nodded and waited for the both of them to leave the room. After hearing the door clicked closed behind Asami, he lifted himself off the bed to get ready for the day.

Outside the room, Tao stopped short before Asami. He turned around to look up at the tall man. After making sure that Takaba was out of earshot, Asami gestured for the little boy to start speaking.

"Why didn't you tell Akihito that Fei Long sama is here to catch Yuri?" he asked as one of his tiny hands reached up behind his head to scratch his scalp.

Asami sat down on the sofa and bent forward, edging forward to Tao. "He does not need to know now. Tao, you only have to accompany him. Do not breathe a word about Yuri to him. I'd get you removed from Japan if you disobey my orders. Do you understand me?"

Fear crept into his eyes as Tao nodded furiously. He did not want to be kick out of Japan only moments after meeting with Takaba, his dear friend. After Asami gave him a light pat on his back, the little boy walked off in the direction of the kitchen to help with serving the breakfast on the dining table.

Moments later, Takaba emerged from bedroom dressed in a white long sleeved shirt and a black drawstring pants. With his hands tucked in the pockets, he glanced around the living room uncertainly. Asami placed the last plate on the table and moved to where Takaba was standing. Wrapping his arm around Takaba's shoulders, he led him to his chair and sat him down.

"Let's eat!" Tao exclaimed, holding a pair of chopsticks with his right hand.

Asami nodded and handed his lover a pair of chopsticks before sitting down himself. Then, all of them tucked in silently. As Tao chewed on the rice slowly, his eyes shot from his left to his right, all the while studying Asami and Takaba. To Tao, it was surprising yet comforting to see Asami taking care of the younger boy like he was precious to him. When his curious eyes met with Asami's eyes, he quickly turned his head down to look at his bowl of rice instead.

He looked upward again when he saw a piece of tofu resting on top of his rice, "Thank you."

Asami merely nodded and continued with his meal. The meal continued on silently with the exception of the noises coming from their chopsticks and bowls. Just as Tao was about to finish his last grain of white rice, someone's chopsticks fell to the floor with a loud clank. He glanced at Takaba, who was looking flustered and anxious. He was about to help the boy pick the chopsticks up when he realised Takaba's hand was shaking uncontrollably.

"It's alright. I'll get you a new pair," Asami reassured him as his large hands wrapped around Takaba's tinier one and began massaging it gently.

Tao stared on wordlessly. Feeling awkward, he left his seat and began walking to the kitchen to get a new pair of chopsticks for Takaba.

"Thank you, Tao." Asami stated firmly when he noticed the boy leaving for the kitchen and then he turned his attention back to Takaba, "Do you need anything else?"

With his eyes casted downward, he shook his head and tried to pull his right hand away from Asami's. Thinking about how Tao must have witnessed the whole incident, he had lost his appetite. When he was handed a new pair of chopsticks, he grimaced slightly. Placing the cutleries on the table, he stood up from the chair and left the dining table silently with Asami staring after him.

Tao was about to call out for Takaba but he was stopped by Asami who shot him a warning look. He sat back down on his chair and played with the last grain of rice in his bowl. His eyes trailed after every movements made by the yazuka. After the younger man had returned to the bedroom, Asami picked up their rice bowls and chopsticks from the dining table. He strode over to the sink and stacked them up one by one in the sink. Curious, Tao picked up his own bowl and did the same.

Asami glanced at him when he stacked his bowl on top of the others. "Is Akihito going to be alright?" He asked, worried.

"Does he look alright to you?" Asami asked in return as he pressed some soap.

Shaking his head, he frowned at the older man. "But is he going to be alright?"

Silence met with his question but Tao did not miss the almost inaudible answer that Asami gave, "I hope."

He nodded and stood next to the taller man while he watched him soap the dishes one by one. Just as he was about ask Asami if he need any help with the dishes since his left hand was bandaged, the doorbell rang. Asami simply wiped his hands with the towel hanging by the sink and walked over to the door briskly, with Tao close on his heels.

"It must be Fei Long."

Tao stared at the older man as he opened the door to reveal his beloved master. Overjoyed, he ran past Asami and threw himself into Fei Long's arms. The Chinese man hugged him briefly before placing him down onto the ground again.

Closing the door behind them, Asami placed his hand on Fei Long's shoulder. "I don't think you came at the right time to visit him."

"Is he sleeping again?" He asked with a frown.

He gestured to the sofa for the slender man to take a seat first. "No, but he probably do not want to see anyone now."

Arching his eyebrows at his object of unrequited love, he crossed his arms across his chest. "What happened?"

Before Asami could answer him, Tao interrupted them. "Akihito looks upset."

Fei Long glanced briefly at the boy before studying Asami again.

"Why don't you come back later? We can talk about the matter in my office if that's what you're here for."

Shaking his head, Fei Long stood up from the sofa. "So far, there hasn't been any report. I guess I'll come back here with Tao when he is better. Give me a call then."

Asami nodded and showed them out of his apartment. As he turned away from the door, he watched the door to his bedroom open slowly. Takaba walked out as he glanced around the room. Shoving one hand into his pocket, Asami walked towards him and led him over to the sofa.

"They left," he answered the silent question in Takaba's head, "They would be coming by later."

Takaba nodded, looking apologetic. Before he could ask any more questions, Asami's phone rang. He looked away and picked the photograph magazine lying lifeless on the coffee table with his hands. He pretended to flip through it while his eyes followed the older man to the kitchen. When Asami turned around to lean back on the kitchen counter, he shifted his eyes back onto the magazine quickly. He hated it when he get this feeling that Asami was deliberately hiding something from him, not that he had any idea of his intention. Maybe he should get back to work. Staying at Asami's apartment all day and having nothing to do was definitely boring. He could get cases that required him to take photographs of the sceneries. Usually, places with beautiful nature were not filled by many people, so he would not get those panic attacks that he dreaded so much.

His thoughts were abruptly disrupted when Asami spoke up. "Akihito, I'll be attending to some matters at Club Sion. I'll be back soon, be good."

He merely stared at the older man as he picked up his suit coat and left the apartment after kissing his forehead. Takaba frowned after him. Did something urgent happen? Putting down the magazine on the sofa, he retrieved his phone out.

To: Chief

Message:

Takaba here. Is there any job out there now?

After pressing the button 'send', he laid back down on the sofa and stared up at the ceiling. Just as he was about to drift off, the phone vibrated again. He picked up the phone quickly and read through the reply.

From: Chief

Message:

I may have some urgent cases to take care of. What kind of jobs are you looking for?

Then, he quickly typed a response.

To: Chief

Message:

Taking photographs of the nature, any?

Tapping his fingers impatiently against his lap, he stared at the phone's screen, willing it to vibrate.

From: Chief

Message:

I have one. But are you sure about it? You are best at taking photos of criminals.

At that, he spaced out for a while. It was true that he shone the most when he was taking stealthy shots of criminals and it was his passion. But right now, he definitely could not see himself doing so.

To: Chief

Message:

Yea, I am taking a break now. I will take the nature one, send me the job details. Thanks.

Then, he pocketed the phone and ran to his room for his cameras. Taking one off the shelves, he brushed off the dust gently. It seemed like it had been ages since he last touched the cameras or even taken a photograph, judging by the amount of dust that had accumulated overtime. He adjusted the camera accurately and then he pointed it at Asami's messy bed and pressed his finger down on the button to take a shot. His viewfinder seemed fine enough to him. Now, all he had to do was to wait for the day to set off.

Beep. Feeling for his phone in his pocket, he took it out. Ah, an email.

From: Chief

Subject: Job

Takaba, these are the details.

Duration of Job: 1 week (You can start tomorrow.)

Destinations: XXX…

Remuneration: $2000 (A/N: I'm not sure about Yen, so in US$.)

The magazine asked for clear, closed-up shots of the nature. So make sure that you capture some of those. Well, take as many pictures as you can. We will select the better ones when you return. That's all. Check back with me if you have any questions.

Takaba smiled. He could leave tomorrow. But of course, he probably had to sneak out of the apartment without alerting Shou. That would probably land Shou into trouble again. Sorry, buddy. He thought absently.

While Takaba spent his time packing for his trip, Asami was seated in his office in Club Sion. Takashima placed a file down in front of him and stood back.

Clearing his throat, Takashima began reporting. "Although we've not been able to track down Yuri's current location, we found out some rather important information."

Asami nodded and flipped through the file filled with lots of papers.

"A plastic surgery clinic in the remote area of Japan reportedly filed a case of this disfigured man who visited them to get a makeover," Takashima continued, as he pointed his finger at the photo in front of Asami.

"It's Yuri, isn't it?" Asami asked without any doubt.

"Yes," his right hand man confirmed, "This is his post-surgery photograph we got from the clinic. I've given all our men a photo of him. It should not take long to track him down."

Asami fingered the photograph and stared at Takashima. "Make certain that Akihito stays out of trouble."

Takashima nodded and left the room briskly. Asami placed the photo onto the table and picked up the glass of whisky. He swirled it slowly with his hand and took a long sip from it.

"It has just started," he whispered as he placed the empty glass on the table.

A/N: Special thanks to the reviewers to chapter 5 – Chret, JoEdgardHom, Kadzuki Fuchoin, Blackstar, Shane, KyouyaxCloud, shuki00, whitangel, LanaLegolas, kittyzala, Yuu, androgynous SAPIENS, Trix, jamijami, NekoGurl98, finderlov, Ilovetacos5, , Becca, Neko, karl1n, LunarDragon, LunarDragon1, aikawa, tataniastorm, sg18, psyNEKOpath, BitStrange, Chrystelle1 and guests!

I'm super sorry for this super late update! School has started few months back so I was kept busy by all the work, since the first semester is over now and it is holidays now, I will try to update as much as possible! Lastly, please leave me reviews as usual! I hope you guys love the story!