[Fic] Revelation Chapter 1
As if taking care of a baby, a five year old, 8 dogs, 6 cats and working full time 7 days a week isn't enough, I have the nerve to dedicate myself to writing another long fic that I don't know how often I can update. Well, here it is, a gift for the Mik x Fei fans of the world, a sequel to C.I.
C.I. - Revelation Chapter 1
Pairings: Mik x Fei (FOREVER! Seriously, have I ever written anything else?)
Rating: PG-13(?)
Disclaimer: Mikhail, Fei Long, Yoh, Asami, Aki belongs to YA *pouts pouts*
The wind blew softly through the opened windows of the elegantly decorated study, filling the room with the sweet fragrance of gardenia and jasmine from the small garden outside. A tall, slender figure swayed slightly as the scent reached his nose. He closed his eyes as his mind unlocked the memories equally sweet, memories of breakfasts in the garden, the smell of Italian coffee freshly brewed to perfection, the way he sipped it with his eyes closed, and the satisfying look on his face as he looked up and smiled from across the table. Those were memories he had once tried to forget. But then, all he wanted to do was to relive those moments, unforgettable moments, that may never come again.
Fei Long opened his eyes to the Monet masterpiece that had been hung once more above his desk. Everything in the room, every gift that was given had been restored back in their places. Yet nothing was the same as before, at least not for him.
A few knocks on the door announced the arrival of his most trusted bodyguard, the man who once shared his time in jail, the one man who knew more about his past than any other in Baishe.
Yoh entered the room in silence as usual, knowing how his master did not like his peace disturbed.
"You called for me, Fei Long sama?"
"Yes," The master replied with his eyes still set on the painting. "How is my travel arrangement?"
Unable to hide his concern, Yoh cleared his throat quietly as he thought of what to say. "It's a little complicated for you to leave Hong Kong so suddenly. There are important meetings you need to attend this week."
"Rearrange them." His command was short and firm, signifying the expectation for it to be followed.
"A couple of them involved the head of the other families. I would suggest you reconsider."
The slender figure turned toward him slowly. Fierce, amethyst eyes narrowed in irritation at the answer he did not wish to hear. Everyone at Baishe knew his words were to be followed and obeyed. Liu Fei Long of Baishe does not request, he commands. And even though Yoh enjoyed the privilege of being the one subordinate in Baishe who could pose objections to his will and live through it, he found himself holding his breath at his master's deadly glare that seemed to see right through him.
"Yoh," the usually smooth, silky voice turned cold and commanding.
"Yes, Fei Long sama?"
"Why are we having this conversation?"
He couldn't understand the reasons behind Yoh's reluctance to arrange his trip to Tokyo. Meetings, however important, had always been rearranged if and when he said so and Yoh who had been by his side for over seven years should know better. No, there was something else on Yoh's mind. Something he had yet to find out.
At that point Yoh knew it was pointless to try to convince Fei Long to delay his trip to Japan, especially when he couldn't give the real reasons behind his objections. With a slight sigh, he gave up. "How long do you plan to stay in Tokyo?"
"As long as I need."
Another short, definite answer made his hair stand on end. Fei Long had always seemed cold and commanding before but there was always a touch of tenderness in his presence. For some reasons, the news of Mikhail Arbatov's engagement had turned him more self-assured and intimidating than ever. Fei Long was no longer a man who could be pushed around, which made Yoh even more worried about his trip to Japan. Whatever he planned to do in Tokyo was unchangeable. Fei Long was deadly determined, and there was nothing anyone could do to change it.
"Give me one week to rearrange your schedule?" Yoh asked worriedly. In truth it wasn't the schedule that worried him. He just needed time to make up his mind.
"You have three days." Fei Long demanded. "You may leave."
Yoh nodded and left the room with a heavy heart. It was a bad idea, Fei Long going to Tokyo all of a sudden. Last time it was business and yet it didn't end that way. This time he knew it was personal. Fei Long was going to settle some debts and who knew how much of a mess things would turn out to be.
He only wished he had more time, more time to decide where he stands in all this. It was a decision he wished to God he didn't have to make, at least not this soon. Seven years and still there wasn't enough time. If anything, it only made the situation more complicated.
****
The next afternoon Fei Long attended an important meeting that had been rescheduled per his request. If there was one man who could make the top triad leaders in Hong Kong rearrange their schedules to meet his needs, it was Liu Fei Long of Baishe. That was how powerful he was in his territory. Yet the young leader yielded his power with respect and consideration and it had earned him his subordinate's loyalty unlike any other. He was their pride, not just their master. That was where the strength of Baishe lied, not in its wealth or manpower, but in its highly esteemed leader. And so it was natural that the other leaders, being young or old, comply to his wishes when they can.
As he was greeted upon his entry to the meeting room, Fei Long suddenly paused at the sight of a man across the table. Familiar blue eyes caught his with the usual tenderness, but then there was a mixture of affection and longing. Mikhail should have been in Russia, but there he was, in his usual place as it used to be, only for them nothing was the same as before. Mikhail had become a married man, unavailable, unattainable, and unreachable.
And so as awkward as it seemed, they sat on opposite sides without speaking one word to each other, not even a simple hello. Their eyes alone told stories only they understood. Reduced to nothing more than friends, if not strangers, what remained between them was the unbearable yearning for each other and the unquenchable desire that threatened the very core of their conscience.
Mikhail held his breath as his heart accelerated by the sight of that beautiful face he had been longing for. Fei Long was stunning as usual in his tailored suit and his hair tied back loosely. But there was something different about him, a certain aura that wasn't there before. Dark, amethyst eyes sparkled with self-assurance and determination. He took one look at that face and he knew, this was no longer a man troubled and confused by this past. Fei Long had taken a firm step forward with absolute certainty. This new Fei Long made is heart beat so violently he could hardly sit still. Yet all he could do was to contain it and pretend that everything was normal.
Normal? Would he ever feel normal again in this lifetime? Mikhail wondered.
"Mr. Arbatov, " the young leader across the table interrupted his thoughts.
Philip Toh, successor of the Toh family, was a man in his thirties. After Toh's death, Philip, being Toh's only legitimate son, took over the family and all its businesses, making him one of the youngest triad leader in Hong Kong next to Fei Long. Anyone would have been contented with this position, only for him it wasn't enough. The man wanted it all, and Baishe, or Fei Long in particular, was in his way. It wouldn't have been a problem for Mikhail had he not shown hostility towards Fei and Baishe in the past for many years. As far as he was concerned, an enemy of Fei was his enemy.
"Perhaps now we can discuss the problem in Macau?"
"Problem?" Mikhail asked unenthusiastically, raising his brow slightly in pretense that he was at all interested.
"I believe we can use more protection from your family. We have discussed it with your brother and still nothing has been done."
"All that costs money, my friend." Mikhail sneered. "We don't usually sweat unless it's worth the effort."
"Well, your cut in it is more than adequate in our opinion." Philip insisted with a rather harsh tone. His wolf-like eyes didn't care to hide their hostility.
"Apparently not enough in mine."
The man paused for a brief moment before a sarcastic smile appeared on his face as if he had just remembered something. "Perhaps it requires more than money to please the Arbatovs." Philip said amusingly. "In which case I'm sure Baishe has something to offer."
Fei Long lifted his eyes to meet the man who was supposed to be his half brother. Only he would rather die than count himself as a Toh. Very few people knew the disgusting truth about him being Toh's illegitimate son but Philip must have known. For as much as he despised his own blood, Philip hated him enough to attempt his murder several times. After all, the old man once picked him to be his successor instead of his legitimate son.
"Be careful what you say." Fei Long warned with the tone that silenced the whole room.
"What I say?" Toh grinned deviously, "Everyone knows you two have been fucking."
Faster than Mikhail could reach for his gun and shoot the man in the head for such remark, Fei Long had nailed the bastard's hand to the table with the switchblade he always carried.
"Mr. Arbatov is a married man and a good friend. I will not stand to see him disgraced by an arrogant prick less than half the man he is." Twisting the blade a little with his firm grip, Fei Long gave him a reason to start crying for his mother. "And who I fuck is my business. Am I understood?"
At that point the bodyguards who were waiting outside stormed into the room. He wasn't sure how many guns were pointing at him for attacking Philip Toh, but he kept his hand around his blade, and kept the blade in Toh's hand as Yoh and the rest of his own bodyguards were ready to shoot if the enemies dared open fire.
"Drop 'em." Mikhail demanded with a gun to Toh's head, causing him to signal his bodyguards to lower their guns.
Fei Long pulled out the blade and wiped the blood off it with Toh's collar with his usual expressionless face. The leader of Baishe may look like a woman, but underestimate him and he'd prove to be your worst nightmare before you know it.
"Gentlemen, I am no longer in the mood to continue. Please excuse me."
With Yoh and his bodyguards escorting him, Fei Long left the room with his usual pace as if nothing had happened. In truth he was rather satisfied. He had been aching to do that for a while and Toh's scream back there was really music to his ears.
"Fei Long." A deep, low voice called him from behind.
He didn't need to turn around to identify the owner of that voice. Fei Long paused for a moment before asking his bodyguards to leave. He needed space, and he didn't want his subordinates to see his vulnerability. For in front of this man, he was, no doubt, vulnerable.
"Thank you." Mikhail said softly. He wasn't sure what to say. For once in his life, Fei Long accepted and defended him in public. Under normal circumstances he would have pulled Fei into his arms and kissed him until he was satisfied. But what right did he have? Fei Long was right in front of him, and all he could do was look.
"Actually, that felt good." Fei Long finally turned around after a brief moment of silence. He needed time to gather his strength or there would be nothing to keep him from running back into those arms.
"You know you made me hot as hell, acting all seme like that." Mikhail chuckled.
"Why don't you give me a chance, I'll show you just how seme I am." Fei Long smiled to himself, satisfied that Mikhail hadn't changed one bit. His playfulness was still there, and his baby blue eyes still looked at him the same way. But this time he could only enjoy it from a distance.
"You realize I might just take that offer?" Mikhail replied with a cunning smile.
"Right," Fei Long looked into those longing blue eyes as he tried to control his own desires. "Who are we kidding?"
Mikhail smiled gently as usual to hear his response, but there were obvious pain in those eyes. It must have been as hard for Mikhail as it was for him.
The bigger man took one step closer, and Fei Long felt like running away. What if his heart betrayed him? What if he lost control?
"I can make everything go back to where it was before." He said softly with uncertainty in his voice, knowing what would most likely be Fei's response to what he was proposing.
For a few seconds Fei Long considered the proposal in silence. He would be lying if he said he didn't want that to happen. But the look on Mikhail's face prompted him to ask a crucial question.
"At what cost?"
If there was a way to turn back everything, then there must be a good reason why Mikhail hadn't done it.
"Baishe."
A short answer but it couldn't be any clearer. He paused for a while before asking the question that had been bothering him for weeks. "Is that why?"
Mikhail's silence was enough to confirm it. Finally he understood the reason behind it all. It must have been hard for him to make the decision. The worst thing about it was, that in the end, Mikhail had chosen what he thought was best for him regardless of how much it must have hurt.
"Then you already know my answer." Fei Long said with a heavy heart. Mikhail knew exactly what kind of man he was. Not only had he accepted it, he was also willing to make the sacrifice. How could he ever blame Mikhail for what he did? He would never let go of Baishe for anyone, and for that he must take the consequences.
Mikhail just smiled. He did know the answer. He knew he wasn't Fei's priority. But as much as he wanted to leave it all behind, he found it equally hard to let go. Beatings after beatings from Fei and still all he wanted to do was to stay right here.
Fei Long stepped closer to the man in front of him, the one man who never hesitated to be there for him, someone he had come to trust after seven years of living with lies and deceit.
"I want you to know," He reached out his hand and wrapped the soft, golden curls around his fingers, "today I walk away from the one thing I hold dearest to my heart."
It wasn't a lie. If he could still love and trust someone, Mikhail would be the closest thing to that man. But that didn't change the fact that he was selfish enough to ruin whatever chance they had of being together. He did this, and it was time to let go of what he didn't deserve.
"Goodbye, Misha." Fei Long said with a gentle smile before turning around to walk away.
Mikhail's eyes saddened a little when he heard those words. He knew it was inevitable the moment he decided to get married, but still nothing prepared him for it.
"You're not even going to give me one last kiss?" Mikhail asked playfully.
"I can," he answered with sincerity in his voice, "but will you stop there?"
"No." Mikhail looked straight into his eyes and replied with certainty. For how could he? Fei Long was the only thing he ever wanted in his life.
A sad smile appeared on the beautiful face as he spoke in almost a whisper,
"What makes you think I will?"
***
Fei Long stood in front of the floor-to-ceiling windows of the penthouse, looking out into the night sky of Hong Kong that he had seen for countless of times. Only back then the place wasn't so quiet and empty. Ever since Mikhail took over the family Russia, Alexei had moved out of the place and claimed the Arbatov villa as his own, leaving the penthouse vacant. Knowing how he liked to come back to the place every once in a while, Alexei had never changed the security code.
That night in particular he had to come back to that place. It was the night before he left for Tokyo and he needed it, he needed the strength, the courage, and the energy that lingered in that room. He was ready to take a step forward. But for one last night, he just had to come back.
The sound of the private elevator opening from behind interrupted his thoughts. He turned around and tried to make out the intruder in the dark.
Intruder? Fei Long thought. He must be out of his mind. There were only two more people who knew the security code to that room and they had every right to be there. It was really him who was the intruder.
Fei Long could feel his heart accelerated as the man approached. He knew those footsteps. He remembered that shadow. And the face that appeared out of the darkness was the one he was far from ready to confront. Not here. He thought. Not now.
Mikhail seemed just as surprised to see him there. But all he did was standing still, looking straight at him as if that was something he had been wanting to do all his life. Those blue eyes stared at him with desire so intense he could feel it under every inch of his skin.
"Sorry for intruding." Fei Long said as he hurried past the man before him. "I was just about to leave."
Mikhail grabbed his arm with the usual tenderness. Strong fingers stroke the fabric of his sleeve as if he could feel the skin underneath. It was a subtle touch, but any more than that and his conscience would shatter.
"Stay for a drink at least."
*****
Notes: I haven't written for so long and even though my muse has come back I feel my skills have gone down the drain (T__T) so I'm really sorry if it turns out crappy. As always, please comment, just don't beat me up too hard. Think of my children *big shoujo eyes*. Sorry that wasn't able to reply to every comment last time. I had (and still have) problems getting online. This time I'll try my best, I love talking to you guys. *Hugs*
C.I. - Revelation Chapter 1
Pairings: Mik x Fei (FOREVER! Seriously, have I ever written anything else?)
Rating: PG-13(?)
Disclaimer: Mikhail, Fei Long, Yoh, Asami, Aki belongs to YA *pouts pouts*
The wind blew softly through the opened windows of the elegantly decorated study, filling the room with the sweet fragrance of gardenia and jasmine from the small garden outside. A tall, slender figure swayed slightly as the scent reached his nose. He closed his eyes as his mind unlocked the memories equally sweet, memories of breakfasts in the garden, the smell of Italian coffee freshly brewed to perfection, the way he sipped it with his eyes closed, and the satisfying look on his face as he looked up and smiled from across the table. Those were memories he had once tried to forget. But then, all he wanted to do was to relive those moments, unforgettable moments, that may never come again.
Fei Long opened his eyes to the Monet masterpiece that had been hung once more above his desk. Everything in the room, every gift that was given had been restored back in their places. Yet nothing was the same as before, at least not for him.
A few knocks on the door announced the arrival of his most trusted bodyguard, the man who once shared his time in jail, the one man who knew more about his past than any other in Baishe.
Yoh entered the room in silence as usual, knowing how his master did not like his peace disturbed.
"You called for me, Fei Long sama?"
"Yes," The master replied with his eyes still set on the painting. "How is my travel arrangement?"
Unable to hide his concern, Yoh cleared his throat quietly as he thought of what to say. "It's a little complicated for you to leave Hong Kong so suddenly. There are important meetings you need to attend this week."
"Rearrange them." His command was short and firm, signifying the expectation for it to be followed.
"A couple of them involved the head of the other families. I would suggest you reconsider."
The slender figure turned toward him slowly. Fierce, amethyst eyes narrowed in irritation at the answer he did not wish to hear. Everyone at Baishe knew his words were to be followed and obeyed. Liu Fei Long of Baishe does not request, he commands. And even though Yoh enjoyed the privilege of being the one subordinate in Baishe who could pose objections to his will and live through it, he found himself holding his breath at his master's deadly glare that seemed to see right through him.
"Yoh," the usually smooth, silky voice turned cold and commanding.
"Yes, Fei Long sama?"
"Why are we having this conversation?"
He couldn't understand the reasons behind Yoh's reluctance to arrange his trip to Tokyo. Meetings, however important, had always been rearranged if and when he said so and Yoh who had been by his side for over seven years should know better. No, there was something else on Yoh's mind. Something he had yet to find out.
At that point Yoh knew it was pointless to try to convince Fei Long to delay his trip to Japan, especially when he couldn't give the real reasons behind his objections. With a slight sigh, he gave up. "How long do you plan to stay in Tokyo?"
"As long as I need."
Another short, definite answer made his hair stand on end. Fei Long had always seemed cold and commanding before but there was always a touch of tenderness in his presence. For some reasons, the news of Mikhail Arbatov's engagement had turned him more self-assured and intimidating than ever. Fei Long was no longer a man who could be pushed around, which made Yoh even more worried about his trip to Japan. Whatever he planned to do in Tokyo was unchangeable. Fei Long was deadly determined, and there was nothing anyone could do to change it.
"Give me one week to rearrange your schedule?" Yoh asked worriedly. In truth it wasn't the schedule that worried him. He just needed time to make up his mind.
"You have three days." Fei Long demanded. "You may leave."
Yoh nodded and left the room with a heavy heart. It was a bad idea, Fei Long going to Tokyo all of a sudden. Last time it was business and yet it didn't end that way. This time he knew it was personal. Fei Long was going to settle some debts and who knew how much of a mess things would turn out to be.
He only wished he had more time, more time to decide where he stands in all this. It was a decision he wished to God he didn't have to make, at least not this soon. Seven years and still there wasn't enough time. If anything, it only made the situation more complicated.
****
The next afternoon Fei Long attended an important meeting that had been rescheduled per his request. If there was one man who could make the top triad leaders in Hong Kong rearrange their schedules to meet his needs, it was Liu Fei Long of Baishe. That was how powerful he was in his territory. Yet the young leader yielded his power with respect and consideration and it had earned him his subordinate's loyalty unlike any other. He was their pride, not just their master. That was where the strength of Baishe lied, not in its wealth or manpower, but in its highly esteemed leader. And so it was natural that the other leaders, being young or old, comply to his wishes when they can.
As he was greeted upon his entry to the meeting room, Fei Long suddenly paused at the sight of a man across the table. Familiar blue eyes caught his with the usual tenderness, but then there was a mixture of affection and longing. Mikhail should have been in Russia, but there he was, in his usual place as it used to be, only for them nothing was the same as before. Mikhail had become a married man, unavailable, unattainable, and unreachable.
And so as awkward as it seemed, they sat on opposite sides without speaking one word to each other, not even a simple hello. Their eyes alone told stories only they understood. Reduced to nothing more than friends, if not strangers, what remained between them was the unbearable yearning for each other and the unquenchable desire that threatened the very core of their conscience.
Mikhail held his breath as his heart accelerated by the sight of that beautiful face he had been longing for. Fei Long was stunning as usual in his tailored suit and his hair tied back loosely. But there was something different about him, a certain aura that wasn't there before. Dark, amethyst eyes sparkled with self-assurance and determination. He took one look at that face and he knew, this was no longer a man troubled and confused by this past. Fei Long had taken a firm step forward with absolute certainty. This new Fei Long made is heart beat so violently he could hardly sit still. Yet all he could do was to contain it and pretend that everything was normal.
Normal? Would he ever feel normal again in this lifetime? Mikhail wondered.
"Mr. Arbatov, " the young leader across the table interrupted his thoughts.
Philip Toh, successor of the Toh family, was a man in his thirties. After Toh's death, Philip, being Toh's only legitimate son, took over the family and all its businesses, making him one of the youngest triad leader in Hong Kong next to Fei Long. Anyone would have been contented with this position, only for him it wasn't enough. The man wanted it all, and Baishe, or Fei Long in particular, was in his way. It wouldn't have been a problem for Mikhail had he not shown hostility towards Fei and Baishe in the past for many years. As far as he was concerned, an enemy of Fei was his enemy.
"Perhaps now we can discuss the problem in Macau?"
"Problem?" Mikhail asked unenthusiastically, raising his brow slightly in pretense that he was at all interested.
"I believe we can use more protection from your family. We have discussed it with your brother and still nothing has been done."
"All that costs money, my friend." Mikhail sneered. "We don't usually sweat unless it's worth the effort."
"Well, your cut in it is more than adequate in our opinion." Philip insisted with a rather harsh tone. His wolf-like eyes didn't care to hide their hostility.
"Apparently not enough in mine."
The man paused for a brief moment before a sarcastic smile appeared on his face as if he had just remembered something. "Perhaps it requires more than money to please the Arbatovs." Philip said amusingly. "In which case I'm sure Baishe has something to offer."
Fei Long lifted his eyes to meet the man who was supposed to be his half brother. Only he would rather die than count himself as a Toh. Very few people knew the disgusting truth about him being Toh's illegitimate son but Philip must have known. For as much as he despised his own blood, Philip hated him enough to attempt his murder several times. After all, the old man once picked him to be his successor instead of his legitimate son.
"Be careful what you say." Fei Long warned with the tone that silenced the whole room.
"What I say?" Toh grinned deviously, "Everyone knows you two have been fucking."
Faster than Mikhail could reach for his gun and shoot the man in the head for such remark, Fei Long had nailed the bastard's hand to the table with the switchblade he always carried.
"Mr. Arbatov is a married man and a good friend. I will not stand to see him disgraced by an arrogant prick less than half the man he is." Twisting the blade a little with his firm grip, Fei Long gave him a reason to start crying for his mother. "And who I fuck is my business. Am I understood?"
At that point the bodyguards who were waiting outside stormed into the room. He wasn't sure how many guns were pointing at him for attacking Philip Toh, but he kept his hand around his blade, and kept the blade in Toh's hand as Yoh and the rest of his own bodyguards were ready to shoot if the enemies dared open fire.
"Drop 'em." Mikhail demanded with a gun to Toh's head, causing him to signal his bodyguards to lower their guns.
Fei Long pulled out the blade and wiped the blood off it with Toh's collar with his usual expressionless face. The leader of Baishe may look like a woman, but underestimate him and he'd prove to be your worst nightmare before you know it.
"Gentlemen, I am no longer in the mood to continue. Please excuse me."
With Yoh and his bodyguards escorting him, Fei Long left the room with his usual pace as if nothing had happened. In truth he was rather satisfied. He had been aching to do that for a while and Toh's scream back there was really music to his ears.
"Fei Long." A deep, low voice called him from behind.
He didn't need to turn around to identify the owner of that voice. Fei Long paused for a moment before asking his bodyguards to leave. He needed space, and he didn't want his subordinates to see his vulnerability. For in front of this man, he was, no doubt, vulnerable.
"Thank you." Mikhail said softly. He wasn't sure what to say. For once in his life, Fei Long accepted and defended him in public. Under normal circumstances he would have pulled Fei into his arms and kissed him until he was satisfied. But what right did he have? Fei Long was right in front of him, and all he could do was look.
"Actually, that felt good." Fei Long finally turned around after a brief moment of silence. He needed time to gather his strength or there would be nothing to keep him from running back into those arms.
"You know you made me hot as hell, acting all seme like that." Mikhail chuckled.
"Why don't you give me a chance, I'll show you just how seme I am." Fei Long smiled to himself, satisfied that Mikhail hadn't changed one bit. His playfulness was still there, and his baby blue eyes still looked at him the same way. But this time he could only enjoy it from a distance.
"You realize I might just take that offer?" Mikhail replied with a cunning smile.
"Right," Fei Long looked into those longing blue eyes as he tried to control his own desires. "Who are we kidding?"
Mikhail smiled gently as usual to hear his response, but there were obvious pain in those eyes. It must have been as hard for Mikhail as it was for him.
The bigger man took one step closer, and Fei Long felt like running away. What if his heart betrayed him? What if he lost control?
"I can make everything go back to where it was before." He said softly with uncertainty in his voice, knowing what would most likely be Fei's response to what he was proposing.
For a few seconds Fei Long considered the proposal in silence. He would be lying if he said he didn't want that to happen. But the look on Mikhail's face prompted him to ask a crucial question.
"At what cost?"
If there was a way to turn back everything, then there must be a good reason why Mikhail hadn't done it.
"Baishe."
A short answer but it couldn't be any clearer. He paused for a while before asking the question that had been bothering him for weeks. "Is that why?"
Mikhail's silence was enough to confirm it. Finally he understood the reason behind it all. It must have been hard for him to make the decision. The worst thing about it was, that in the end, Mikhail had chosen what he thought was best for him regardless of how much it must have hurt.
"Then you already know my answer." Fei Long said with a heavy heart. Mikhail knew exactly what kind of man he was. Not only had he accepted it, he was also willing to make the sacrifice. How could he ever blame Mikhail for what he did? He would never let go of Baishe for anyone, and for that he must take the consequences.
Mikhail just smiled. He did know the answer. He knew he wasn't Fei's priority. But as much as he wanted to leave it all behind, he found it equally hard to let go. Beatings after beatings from Fei and still all he wanted to do was to stay right here.
Fei Long stepped closer to the man in front of him, the one man who never hesitated to be there for him, someone he had come to trust after seven years of living with lies and deceit.
"I want you to know," He reached out his hand and wrapped the soft, golden curls around his fingers, "today I walk away from the one thing I hold dearest to my heart."
It wasn't a lie. If he could still love and trust someone, Mikhail would be the closest thing to that man. But that didn't change the fact that he was selfish enough to ruin whatever chance they had of being together. He did this, and it was time to let go of what he didn't deserve.
"Goodbye, Misha." Fei Long said with a gentle smile before turning around to walk away.
Mikhail's eyes saddened a little when he heard those words. He knew it was inevitable the moment he decided to get married, but still nothing prepared him for it.
"You're not even going to give me one last kiss?" Mikhail asked playfully.
"I can," he answered with sincerity in his voice, "but will you stop there?"
"No." Mikhail looked straight into his eyes and replied with certainty. For how could he? Fei Long was the only thing he ever wanted in his life.
A sad smile appeared on the beautiful face as he spoke in almost a whisper,
"What makes you think I will?"
***
Fei Long stood in front of the floor-to-ceiling windows of the penthouse, looking out into the night sky of Hong Kong that he had seen for countless of times. Only back then the place wasn't so quiet and empty. Ever since Mikhail took over the family Russia, Alexei had moved out of the place and claimed the Arbatov villa as his own, leaving the penthouse vacant. Knowing how he liked to come back to the place every once in a while, Alexei had never changed the security code.
That night in particular he had to come back to that place. It was the night before he left for Tokyo and he needed it, he needed the strength, the courage, and the energy that lingered in that room. He was ready to take a step forward. But for one last night, he just had to come back.
The sound of the private elevator opening from behind interrupted his thoughts. He turned around and tried to make out the intruder in the dark.
Intruder? Fei Long thought. He must be out of his mind. There were only two more people who knew the security code to that room and they had every right to be there. It was really him who was the intruder.
Fei Long could feel his heart accelerated as the man approached. He knew those footsteps. He remembered that shadow. And the face that appeared out of the darkness was the one he was far from ready to confront. Not here. He thought. Not now.
Mikhail seemed just as surprised to see him there. But all he did was standing still, looking straight at him as if that was something he had been wanting to do all his life. Those blue eyes stared at him with desire so intense he could feel it under every inch of his skin.
"Sorry for intruding." Fei Long said as he hurried past the man before him. "I was just about to leave."
Mikhail grabbed his arm with the usual tenderness. Strong fingers stroke the fabric of his sleeve as if he could feel the skin underneath. It was a subtle touch, but any more than that and his conscience would shatter.
"Stay for a drink at least."
*****
Notes: I haven't written for so long and even though my muse has come back I feel my skills have gone down the drain (T__T) so I'm really sorry if it turns out crappy. As always, please comment, just don't beat me up too hard. Think of my children *big shoujo eyes*. Sorry that wasn't able to reply to every comment last time. I had (and still have) problems getting online. This time I'll try my best, I love talking to you guys. *Hugs*