Revelation Chapter 4
Title: Revelation Chapter 4
Rating: PG-13
Fandom: Viewfinder
Characters: Mikhail x Fei Long, Asami VS Mikhail, Kirishima
Disclaimer: Characters belong to Ayano Yamane
Warning: angst, as usual.
Note: This chapter is dedicated to dear Franka trimethoprim, a huge Asami fan who waited patiently for 24 chapters for me to write Asami the way he deserves to be written - the way she loves him. And I'm really not sure if I have done a good job so I apologize in advance if he comes out poorly. ^^! So here it is, darling, even though the universe does not revolve around him (so long as this is my fic, it ain't gonna happen XDDD), I think I gave him a substantial galaxy. I hope you like it, otherwise.... *goes into hibernation*
It was Monday night. Club Sion was a little quiet. Asami walked passed the familiar crowd without paying attention to anyone in particular. While all members knew who he was, they also knew he wasn't the kind of man who felt greeting guests was an obligation, not that obligation ever existed in his dictionary.
He headed straight to his office. It had been a long day and he was a little tired. Perhaps he should find out where Takaba was. The boy was his personal energy drink. And lately he had found himself craving for it more often than he had anticipated - which wasn't a good idea. He had no room for relationships, emotional attachment, or even a simple craving that might affect his judgments and decisions. It was crucial for him to remain in control at all times. For in his world, the failure to do so was fatal.
He pushed the door open as he reached for another cigarette in his jacket and paused in front of the door when he looked up. There was a man behind his desk, sitting in his chair. And not just any man, it was Mikhail Arbatov.
Asami continued lighting his cigarette and approached the desk calmly without reaching for his gun. It was his territory. The Russian would have to be mad to try anything stupid. But then again, considering Arbatov's unpredictable reputation, he could very well be dealing with a mad man. That fact alone made him a dangerous opponent - one he should always be cautious of.
"How did you get in here?" The bastard had some nerve coming into his office alone.
"That is for you to ask your men, isn't it?" The Russian replied with a smirk. "Or kill them for it." He admitted it wasn't easy, but not quite impossible.
"Get off my seat." Asami commanded, his eyes flashed an intimidating gold - a look that usually sent people running for the door. But this was Mikhail Arbatov, the kind of man who probably found it amusing even if he was sent to hell, and consequently, and naturally, feared no one.
Mikhail snickered in his throat and brought his feet up on the desk. What did the man expect? He hadn't listened to anybody since he was three years old.
"I suppose you're going to tell me what made you suicidal?" Asami asked, seating himself on the opposite side of the desk. How this kid managed to survive this long with that kind of attitude was beyond him. Or perhaps there was more to it behind that rebellious teenage behavior that both Arbatov's sons seemed to suffer from. In which case, he was rather curious to see it.
"I need information." Mikhail replied, drumming his fingers leisurely on the table.
Asami raised his brow in curiosity. The last time they met the Russian was determined to kill him. Now he just wanted information? Unpredictable was an understatement.
"And what makes you think I would fulfill your needs?" Asami leaned back and crossed his legs as he waited for the proposition. It seemed the kid wanted to do business, in which case it might not be a complete waste of time to listen.
"You tell me." Mikhail reached into his pocket and pulled out what looked like a photograph and slid it across the table. "How much does he worth? I mean he's kind of cute, isn't he?"
For a moment, there was obvious hostility in those golden eyes. It lingered only for a split second before it disappeared into the cold, expressionless mask he wore. He would have missed it had he not paid such a close attention. This man was either brilliant at bluffing, or the boy really did mean nothing to him.
"You should think twice before trying to steal my possessions, Arbatov."
"Oh, I think I can do a little more than stealing." The Russian grinned devilishly. "Besides, what would I do with him? I don't have a thing for ordinary boys. You do."
He was surprised when he saw the photograph. Compared to Fei Long, the boy was more than ordinary - he was common enough to be found on every corner of the earth. To be honest he wasn't even sure he had something good enough to negotiate with a man like Asami Ryuichi. But it was worth a try. And it seemed his sources might be right after all.
"Perhaps I do." The Japanese man raised his chin slightly as he exhaled the smoke from his lungs. "And perhaps he's just a toy."
"But, of course," Mikhail winked. "You're also the kind of man who doesn't like losing his toys."
"That depends on your proposition. If it's too much of an effort I can easily afford new ones."
Mikhail paused for a few seconds to read the older man's expression. This egotistic prick certainly wasn't easy to chew. With his issues aside, he had to admit, Asami Ryuichi was somewhat extraordinary. The man wasn't just good looking, he had a presence that commanded attention similar to that of Fei Long's, but a colder and a more intimidating one. Not that he had expected anything less from a man who managed to capture Fei Long's attention to this extent.
"I want the location of Liu Yan Tsui." Mikhail said plainly. The man seemed like a straightforward kind of guy. He might was well get to the point.
Asami thought for a second and laughed quietly in his throat when he realized what Mikhail's plan must be. Fei Long really had a way with men to be able to drive Arbatov's crown jewel desperate enough to come to him over this. But while it was rather amusing to see the man foolishly jumping into trouble over personal issues, it was no laughing matter. With his power, Arbatov could turn everything into a big mess.
"I hope you know what you're getting into." Asami warned. It was a stupid move to interfere with Fei Long's past. A man in Mikhail's position should know it.
"That's my problem. The question is, what's yours?" Mikhail replied, his blue eyes narrowed as he anticipated the response to his question. He didn't just come here for Yan Tsui. He also came for the answer Fei Long never had. He had come to understand his enemy.
Asami's eyes flashed a vicious gold when he heard the question. He was being studied. Those blue eyes scrutinized his every expression like a wolf studying its prey before an attack. The Russian was no fool. He knew exactly what he needed to do before making a move.
"It's not your war, Arbatov." Asami replied with an expressionless face. If the kid thought he was easy, he had better think again.
"Then whose is it?" Mikhail stared right into those eyes, convinced they would eventually reveal the truth. "Yours?"
"I'm no longer interested." Asami replied without a pause. In truth, whether or not he considered Fei Long's past as his problems, it must not be revealed, especially not to someone who considered him an enemy.
"Then it should be relatively painless to give me his location, isn't it?"
"I don't enjoy losing my pawn." The older man replied casually.
"It's your pawn or your toy." Mikhail cocked his head in a playful manner, reaching into his pocket for a business card and placed it in front of the older man. "Here's my number. Why don't you let me know? You have until midnight or you will have to start looking for a new toy."
Asami took a quick glance at the card and brushed it aside disinterestedly. "I can also kill you right here and rid myself of the nuisance."
"And risk a war with the Russian mafia? That's something I'd do. Not you." Mikhail laughed amusingly at the remark. Asami Ryuichi was the kind of man who does not make unprofitable moves or act on impulse. Wise. But that also made him predictable.
"I wouldn't be so sure." Asami said with his usual smirk. Although he had to admit, the Russian bastard did his homework flawlessly.
"If you feel you haven't done enough damage seven years ago, then by all means, shoot me." Mikhail replied. With that spy planted so close to his subject, surely the man knew of his relationship with Fei Long. It was what he wanted to know - whether or not the man could and would strike.
At that point Asami smiled to himself. He had just lost the battle. It was inevitable. He couldn't possibly win against someone who had just put his life on the line for love, considering the fact that he had never been foolish enough to love anyone or even come close to it.
"And your solution to undo that damage is to kill his brother?"
Mikhail smiled as the change of subject confirmed his thoughts and rose to his feet. Pausing a little before he proceeded to the door, he turned back to the older man.
"Why don't you worry about your own life? As soon as he gives me permission, you're the first one I'm coming after." The Russian declared with a slight smile on his face, but the hostility in those eyes told a different story.
"You always follow his order?" The older man asked mockingly. He just couldn't let the bastard leave without insulting him a little.
Mikhail turned around and grinned widely without a trace of anger or shame in his expression. "I always follow my heart." The man replied proudly. "I'll be waiting for your call."
Asami made no move as the Russian left the room without another word. That declaration had just made him one of his most dangerous opponents. For as absurd as it may seem, there was nothing in the world more destructive and unpredictable than a man driven by his heart. Worse, when he never considered himself having one, and therefore could never predict the man's action with certainty.
"That wasn't like you." A voice sounded from the dark corner of the room as its owner stepped out into the light with a gun in his hand.
"What is like me, Kirishima?"
"Find his weakness. Strike back?" Kirishima asked suggestively. No one had ever succeeded in threatening his boss and he wanted to see to it that no one does.
Asami smiled sarcastically to himself. Perhaps under normal circumstances he would have. But this time it was different.
"Mikhail Arbatov has one weakness, and it happens to be one I can't strike." He couldn't do it seven years ago. He still couldn't do it then. That bastard knew this and came all the way to Tokyo just to prove it.
"Would you like me to check on the boy?"
"There's no need." Asami replied, lighting himself another cigarette. Whether or not Takaba had been captured made no difference. If Arbatov wanted him dead he would likely be. Even with his protection Takaba's life was still at risk.
"Do we know where Yan Tsui is?"
"The last time we checked he was in Shanghai."
"Bring him in and make sure he doesn't get himself killed." Yan Tsui still had his uses. And like he said, he didn't like losing his pawn.
"What of Mikhail Arbatov?"
"Give him a name." Asami commanded. "Yan Tsui's new identity should be enough to save Takaba's life if the Russian played by the rules. It should take them some time to figure out where he is. Just make sure we get to him before they do."
***
One of the greatest things about the Tokyo Suite at Park Hyatt was its location. Being on the 50th floor and equipped with floor-to-ceiling windows offered a breathtaking view of Tokyo unparalleled to any other suites. Mikhail Arbatov stood next to the suite's baby grand piano, quietly watching the night sky of Tokyo with a glass of red wine in his hand. If only Fei Long were here that view would have been much more breathtaking. The wine in his glass would have tasted more exquisite. And he wouldn't have to wait for the goddamn phone call so agonizingly. It was 11pm and he was getting anxious. Either the boy really had no meaning to him or that arrogant prick just wanted to irritate him until the last minute. The problem was that he was so sure it was the latter, which infuriated him three times over.
Suddenly he heard a commotion from outside. Mikhail quickly drew his gun as he heard the door slammed open. Great timing, he thought. At least he'd get to shoot at something for a quick relief. But what were his bodyguards doing? Why was there no shots fired?
"Mikhail!" A familiar voice sounded from the corridor.
Mikhail blinked a few times when he saw the unexpected guest. No wonder his bodyguards fired no shots. If they had he would have killed their whole family.
"Fei?" That had to be the first time Fei Long had visited him without notice. He would have been glad if only the person who walked in was his beautiful lover and not the furious Baishe leader who seemed like he was on a mission to whack somebody, and from the sound of it, most likely him.
"Yes, it's me, you bastard!" Fei Long cursed angrily. "You want to tell me what the fuck you're doing in Tokyo?"
When the usually polite and elegant Fei Long started swearing, that meant something went seriously wrong.
"I'm here for business?" Mikhail replied with a curious look on his face. He was still trying to figure out why Fei Long had come to him with that kind of temper. "What's going on?"
"Since when did you do business with Asami Ryuichi?"
The Russian had better give him a good explanation or the man was going to lose more than his teeth that night. He knew Mikhail didn't like the idea of him coming to Tokyo. But to go so far as to interfere and talk to Asami behind his back was beyond unacceptable.
Mikhail paused for a second to put the pieces together in his head. Fei Long must have found out about his meeting with Asami, which explained why he was mad enough to kill.
"Who told you?" At first he really wondered, but then it suddenly came to him, "Yoh?" Who else could have known so fast?
"Yes, Yoh. Do you have a problem with that?" It didn't matter who told him. But at that moment he also found it appropriate to get on Mikhail's nerve with that name.
"But of course, your very own loyal bodyguard." Mikhail said sarcastically with an increasingly irritated look on his face. He wondered if it was the work of the master or the underling to give Fei Long this information, knowing he'd come right over and gave him hell.
"What did you tell him?" Fei Long asked. His eyes grew fierce and intense, demanding that only the truth be told.
Realizing what Fei Long wanted to say, or rather, what he was trying to accuse him of, Mikhail found himself trembling uncontrollably with rage. Fei Long might as well stab him in the heart and get it over with for even thinking about it.
"You think I've ratted you out?" Mikhail said with a tone that sounded more like a confirmation rather than a question. His eyes grew sharp and intimidating like those of a wolf whose territory had just been invaded. To think that this was a part of Asami's revenge on him and that Fei Long had allowed himself to believe it made his blood boiled in his veins.
Taken aback by the unusual anger in those usually affectionate blue eyes, Fei Long found himself a little lost. He had come to Mikhail's suite the moment he had received the information. The first thing that came to his mind was that Mikhail had betrayed him, just like everyone else.
But what if he didn't?
"Why would you go to him?" Fei Long asked, his tone softened a little as guilt started to fill his heart.
Under normal circumstances he would have already backed down after seeing a trace of regret on that beautiful face. No matter how many times this man had hurt and wronged him, he'd never had the heart to strike back. For someone who had been through such a tragic past and betrayal, trust must have been something fragile and foolish. And while others may have chosen to run, to him, Fei Long was worth every wound.
But it had come to the point where he needed to move on or he would lose everything including Baishe. And if he had to force him to realize this then so be it. He was willing to take the consequences.
"Why don't you start by telling me what you're doing here?" Mikhail said firmly. It was about time Fei Long start trusting him a little, if not wholeheartedly.
"I don't have to tell you anything." He was the leader of Baishe, since when did he need to tell anybody about what he was going to do?
"Neither do I." Mikhail responded coldly. He had anticipated that kind of answer from the beginning. But it was worth a try.
For a moment there he felt a lump in his throat. Mikhail had never confronted him so bluntly nor had he ever been so cold. No matter how many walls he had put up around him, the man had always tried to break in. That day he just stood there as the distance between them grew, and watching it with a blank expression on his face.
"So that's how it's going to be?" Fei Long asked quietly. Perhaps finally, Mikhail had given up on them. "We go our separate ways?"
"I'm not the one who's running, Fei. You are." Mikhail replied. There was a future for them waiting just a step away. He had done all he could to make sure it would be there. But that step was for Fei Long to take, not his.
A sarcastic smile appeared on the beautiful face as he nodded slightly, acknowledging the situation that was being presented before him. He had pushed Mikhail away for many times, but when he'd finally succeeded, it actually hurt more than he thought. Much more. Even then when he knew he was about to lose the one thing that was good in his life, he still couldn't find the strength or courage to reach for it.
"I guess that's fair." Fei Long said quietly as he turned around and headed for the door. "Sorry for the intrusion."
He did mean it. After all, it was fair. But even so, with every step that was taking him further away from that room, he wished Mikhail would stop him.
"I don't know what you're trying to do with Asami." Fei Long said quietly as he opened the door to leave. That silky smooth voice sounded just like when they first met ñ when they were nothing but strangers, when Fei Long didn't care to even look at him from the corners of his eyes.
"It's my life, Mikhail. Don't interfere."
Mikhail stood in silence by the baby grand piano, watching the door closed after the elegant figure disappeared from his sight. His eyes lingered on the empty space before him where an image of his lover still remained, etched ever so clearly in his mind. For it might very well be the last time they spent together as lovers, if they ever were.
"It's my life, Mikhail. Don't interfere."
He closed his eyes and smiled a pitiful smile.
Why can't you see it?
You are my life.
Rating: PG-13
Fandom: Viewfinder
Characters: Mikhail x Fei Long, Asami VS Mikhail, Kirishima
Disclaimer: Characters belong to Ayano Yamane
Warning: angst, as usual.
Note: This chapter is dedicated to dear Franka trimethoprim, a huge Asami fan who waited patiently for 24 chapters for me to write Asami the way he deserves to be written - the way she loves him. And I'm really not sure if I have done a good job so I apologize in advance if he comes out poorly. ^^! So here it is, darling, even though the universe does not revolve around him (so long as this is my fic, it ain't gonna happen XDDD), I think I gave him a substantial galaxy. I hope you like it, otherwise.... *goes into hibernation*
It was Monday night. Club Sion was a little quiet. Asami walked passed the familiar crowd without paying attention to anyone in particular. While all members knew who he was, they also knew he wasn't the kind of man who felt greeting guests was an obligation, not that obligation ever existed in his dictionary.
He headed straight to his office. It had been a long day and he was a little tired. Perhaps he should find out where Takaba was. The boy was his personal energy drink. And lately he had found himself craving for it more often than he had anticipated - which wasn't a good idea. He had no room for relationships, emotional attachment, or even a simple craving that might affect his judgments and decisions. It was crucial for him to remain in control at all times. For in his world, the failure to do so was fatal.
He pushed the door open as he reached for another cigarette in his jacket and paused in front of the door when he looked up. There was a man behind his desk, sitting in his chair. And not just any man, it was Mikhail Arbatov.
Asami continued lighting his cigarette and approached the desk calmly without reaching for his gun. It was his territory. The Russian would have to be mad to try anything stupid. But then again, considering Arbatov's unpredictable reputation, he could very well be dealing with a mad man. That fact alone made him a dangerous opponent - one he should always be cautious of.
"How did you get in here?" The bastard had some nerve coming into his office alone.
"That is for you to ask your men, isn't it?" The Russian replied with a smirk. "Or kill them for it." He admitted it wasn't easy, but not quite impossible.
"Get off my seat." Asami commanded, his eyes flashed an intimidating gold - a look that usually sent people running for the door. But this was Mikhail Arbatov, the kind of man who probably found it amusing even if he was sent to hell, and consequently, and naturally, feared no one.
Mikhail snickered in his throat and brought his feet up on the desk. What did the man expect? He hadn't listened to anybody since he was three years old.
"I suppose you're going to tell me what made you suicidal?" Asami asked, seating himself on the opposite side of the desk. How this kid managed to survive this long with that kind of attitude was beyond him. Or perhaps there was more to it behind that rebellious teenage behavior that both Arbatov's sons seemed to suffer from. In which case, he was rather curious to see it.
"I need information." Mikhail replied, drumming his fingers leisurely on the table.
Asami raised his brow in curiosity. The last time they met the Russian was determined to kill him. Now he just wanted information? Unpredictable was an understatement.
"And what makes you think I would fulfill your needs?" Asami leaned back and crossed his legs as he waited for the proposition. It seemed the kid wanted to do business, in which case it might not be a complete waste of time to listen.
"You tell me." Mikhail reached into his pocket and pulled out what looked like a photograph and slid it across the table. "How much does he worth? I mean he's kind of cute, isn't he?"
For a moment, there was obvious hostility in those golden eyes. It lingered only for a split second before it disappeared into the cold, expressionless mask he wore. He would have missed it had he not paid such a close attention. This man was either brilliant at bluffing, or the boy really did mean nothing to him.
"You should think twice before trying to steal my possessions, Arbatov."
"Oh, I think I can do a little more than stealing." The Russian grinned devilishly. "Besides, what would I do with him? I don't have a thing for ordinary boys. You do."
He was surprised when he saw the photograph. Compared to Fei Long, the boy was more than ordinary - he was common enough to be found on every corner of the earth. To be honest he wasn't even sure he had something good enough to negotiate with a man like Asami Ryuichi. But it was worth a try. And it seemed his sources might be right after all.
"Perhaps I do." The Japanese man raised his chin slightly as he exhaled the smoke from his lungs. "And perhaps he's just a toy."
"But, of course," Mikhail winked. "You're also the kind of man who doesn't like losing his toys."
"That depends on your proposition. If it's too much of an effort I can easily afford new ones."
Mikhail paused for a few seconds to read the older man's expression. This egotistic prick certainly wasn't easy to chew. With his issues aside, he had to admit, Asami Ryuichi was somewhat extraordinary. The man wasn't just good looking, he had a presence that commanded attention similar to that of Fei Long's, but a colder and a more intimidating one. Not that he had expected anything less from a man who managed to capture Fei Long's attention to this extent.
"I want the location of Liu Yan Tsui." Mikhail said plainly. The man seemed like a straightforward kind of guy. He might was well get to the point.
Asami thought for a second and laughed quietly in his throat when he realized what Mikhail's plan must be. Fei Long really had a way with men to be able to drive Arbatov's crown jewel desperate enough to come to him over this. But while it was rather amusing to see the man foolishly jumping into trouble over personal issues, it was no laughing matter. With his power, Arbatov could turn everything into a big mess.
"I hope you know what you're getting into." Asami warned. It was a stupid move to interfere with Fei Long's past. A man in Mikhail's position should know it.
"That's my problem. The question is, what's yours?" Mikhail replied, his blue eyes narrowed as he anticipated the response to his question. He didn't just come here for Yan Tsui. He also came for the answer Fei Long never had. He had come to understand his enemy.
Asami's eyes flashed a vicious gold when he heard the question. He was being studied. Those blue eyes scrutinized his every expression like a wolf studying its prey before an attack. The Russian was no fool. He knew exactly what he needed to do before making a move.
"It's not your war, Arbatov." Asami replied with an expressionless face. If the kid thought he was easy, he had better think again.
"Then whose is it?" Mikhail stared right into those eyes, convinced they would eventually reveal the truth. "Yours?"
"I'm no longer interested." Asami replied without a pause. In truth, whether or not he considered Fei Long's past as his problems, it must not be revealed, especially not to someone who considered him an enemy.
"Then it should be relatively painless to give me his location, isn't it?"
"I don't enjoy losing my pawn." The older man replied casually.
"It's your pawn or your toy." Mikhail cocked his head in a playful manner, reaching into his pocket for a business card and placed it in front of the older man. "Here's my number. Why don't you let me know? You have until midnight or you will have to start looking for a new toy."
Asami took a quick glance at the card and brushed it aside disinterestedly. "I can also kill you right here and rid myself of the nuisance."
"And risk a war with the Russian mafia? That's something I'd do. Not you." Mikhail laughed amusingly at the remark. Asami Ryuichi was the kind of man who does not make unprofitable moves or act on impulse. Wise. But that also made him predictable.
"I wouldn't be so sure." Asami said with his usual smirk. Although he had to admit, the Russian bastard did his homework flawlessly.
"If you feel you haven't done enough damage seven years ago, then by all means, shoot me." Mikhail replied. With that spy planted so close to his subject, surely the man knew of his relationship with Fei Long. It was what he wanted to know - whether or not the man could and would strike.
At that point Asami smiled to himself. He had just lost the battle. It was inevitable. He couldn't possibly win against someone who had just put his life on the line for love, considering the fact that he had never been foolish enough to love anyone or even come close to it.
"And your solution to undo that damage is to kill his brother?"
Mikhail smiled as the change of subject confirmed his thoughts and rose to his feet. Pausing a little before he proceeded to the door, he turned back to the older man.
"Why don't you worry about your own life? As soon as he gives me permission, you're the first one I'm coming after." The Russian declared with a slight smile on his face, but the hostility in those eyes told a different story.
"You always follow his order?" The older man asked mockingly. He just couldn't let the bastard leave without insulting him a little.
Mikhail turned around and grinned widely without a trace of anger or shame in his expression. "I always follow my heart." The man replied proudly. "I'll be waiting for your call."
Asami made no move as the Russian left the room without another word. That declaration had just made him one of his most dangerous opponents. For as absurd as it may seem, there was nothing in the world more destructive and unpredictable than a man driven by his heart. Worse, when he never considered himself having one, and therefore could never predict the man's action with certainty.
"That wasn't like you." A voice sounded from the dark corner of the room as its owner stepped out into the light with a gun in his hand.
"What is like me, Kirishima?"
"Find his weakness. Strike back?" Kirishima asked suggestively. No one had ever succeeded in threatening his boss and he wanted to see to it that no one does.
Asami smiled sarcastically to himself. Perhaps under normal circumstances he would have. But this time it was different.
"Mikhail Arbatov has one weakness, and it happens to be one I can't strike." He couldn't do it seven years ago. He still couldn't do it then. That bastard knew this and came all the way to Tokyo just to prove it.
"Would you like me to check on the boy?"
"There's no need." Asami replied, lighting himself another cigarette. Whether or not Takaba had been captured made no difference. If Arbatov wanted him dead he would likely be. Even with his protection Takaba's life was still at risk.
"Do we know where Yan Tsui is?"
"The last time we checked he was in Shanghai."
"Bring him in and make sure he doesn't get himself killed." Yan Tsui still had his uses. And like he said, he didn't like losing his pawn.
"What of Mikhail Arbatov?"
"Give him a name." Asami commanded. "Yan Tsui's new identity should be enough to save Takaba's life if the Russian played by the rules. It should take them some time to figure out where he is. Just make sure we get to him before they do."
***
One of the greatest things about the Tokyo Suite at Park Hyatt was its location. Being on the 50th floor and equipped with floor-to-ceiling windows offered a breathtaking view of Tokyo unparalleled to any other suites. Mikhail Arbatov stood next to the suite's baby grand piano, quietly watching the night sky of Tokyo with a glass of red wine in his hand. If only Fei Long were here that view would have been much more breathtaking. The wine in his glass would have tasted more exquisite. And he wouldn't have to wait for the goddamn phone call so agonizingly. It was 11pm and he was getting anxious. Either the boy really had no meaning to him or that arrogant prick just wanted to irritate him until the last minute. The problem was that he was so sure it was the latter, which infuriated him three times over.
Suddenly he heard a commotion from outside. Mikhail quickly drew his gun as he heard the door slammed open. Great timing, he thought. At least he'd get to shoot at something for a quick relief. But what were his bodyguards doing? Why was there no shots fired?
"Mikhail!" A familiar voice sounded from the corridor.
Mikhail blinked a few times when he saw the unexpected guest. No wonder his bodyguards fired no shots. If they had he would have killed their whole family.
"Fei?" That had to be the first time Fei Long had visited him without notice. He would have been glad if only the person who walked in was his beautiful lover and not the furious Baishe leader who seemed like he was on a mission to whack somebody, and from the sound of it, most likely him.
"Yes, it's me, you bastard!" Fei Long cursed angrily. "You want to tell me what the fuck you're doing in Tokyo?"
When the usually polite and elegant Fei Long started swearing, that meant something went seriously wrong.
"I'm here for business?" Mikhail replied with a curious look on his face. He was still trying to figure out why Fei Long had come to him with that kind of temper. "What's going on?"
"Since when did you do business with Asami Ryuichi?"
The Russian had better give him a good explanation or the man was going to lose more than his teeth that night. He knew Mikhail didn't like the idea of him coming to Tokyo. But to go so far as to interfere and talk to Asami behind his back was beyond unacceptable.
Mikhail paused for a second to put the pieces together in his head. Fei Long must have found out about his meeting with Asami, which explained why he was mad enough to kill.
"Who told you?" At first he really wondered, but then it suddenly came to him, "Yoh?" Who else could have known so fast?
"Yes, Yoh. Do you have a problem with that?" It didn't matter who told him. But at that moment he also found it appropriate to get on Mikhail's nerve with that name.
"But of course, your very own loyal bodyguard." Mikhail said sarcastically with an increasingly irritated look on his face. He wondered if it was the work of the master or the underling to give Fei Long this information, knowing he'd come right over and gave him hell.
"What did you tell him?" Fei Long asked. His eyes grew fierce and intense, demanding that only the truth be told.
Realizing what Fei Long wanted to say, or rather, what he was trying to accuse him of, Mikhail found himself trembling uncontrollably with rage. Fei Long might as well stab him in the heart and get it over with for even thinking about it.
"You think I've ratted you out?" Mikhail said with a tone that sounded more like a confirmation rather than a question. His eyes grew sharp and intimidating like those of a wolf whose territory had just been invaded. To think that this was a part of Asami's revenge on him and that Fei Long had allowed himself to believe it made his blood boiled in his veins.
Taken aback by the unusual anger in those usually affectionate blue eyes, Fei Long found himself a little lost. He had come to Mikhail's suite the moment he had received the information. The first thing that came to his mind was that Mikhail had betrayed him, just like everyone else.
But what if he didn't?
"Why would you go to him?" Fei Long asked, his tone softened a little as guilt started to fill his heart.
Under normal circumstances he would have already backed down after seeing a trace of regret on that beautiful face. No matter how many times this man had hurt and wronged him, he'd never had the heart to strike back. For someone who had been through such a tragic past and betrayal, trust must have been something fragile and foolish. And while others may have chosen to run, to him, Fei Long was worth every wound.
But it had come to the point where he needed to move on or he would lose everything including Baishe. And if he had to force him to realize this then so be it. He was willing to take the consequences.
"Why don't you start by telling me what you're doing here?" Mikhail said firmly. It was about time Fei Long start trusting him a little, if not wholeheartedly.
"I don't have to tell you anything." He was the leader of Baishe, since when did he need to tell anybody about what he was going to do?
"Neither do I." Mikhail responded coldly. He had anticipated that kind of answer from the beginning. But it was worth a try.
For a moment there he felt a lump in his throat. Mikhail had never confronted him so bluntly nor had he ever been so cold. No matter how many walls he had put up around him, the man had always tried to break in. That day he just stood there as the distance between them grew, and watching it with a blank expression on his face.
"So that's how it's going to be?" Fei Long asked quietly. Perhaps finally, Mikhail had given up on them. "We go our separate ways?"
"I'm not the one who's running, Fei. You are." Mikhail replied. There was a future for them waiting just a step away. He had done all he could to make sure it would be there. But that step was for Fei Long to take, not his.
A sarcastic smile appeared on the beautiful face as he nodded slightly, acknowledging the situation that was being presented before him. He had pushed Mikhail away for many times, but when he'd finally succeeded, it actually hurt more than he thought. Much more. Even then when he knew he was about to lose the one thing that was good in his life, he still couldn't find the strength or courage to reach for it.
"I guess that's fair." Fei Long said quietly as he turned around and headed for the door. "Sorry for the intrusion."
He did mean it. After all, it was fair. But even so, with every step that was taking him further away from that room, he wished Mikhail would stop him.
"I don't know what you're trying to do with Asami." Fei Long said quietly as he opened the door to leave. That silky smooth voice sounded just like when they first met ñ when they were nothing but strangers, when Fei Long didn't care to even look at him from the corners of his eyes.
"It's my life, Mikhail. Don't interfere."
Mikhail stood in silence by the baby grand piano, watching the door closed after the elegant figure disappeared from his sight. His eyes lingered on the empty space before him where an image of his lover still remained, etched ever so clearly in his mind. For it might very well be the last time they spent together as lovers, if they ever were.
"It's my life, Mikhail. Don't interfere."
He closed his eyes and smiled a pitiful smile.
Why can't you see it?
You are my life.