22 Chapter 22

"Asami-san, could you say a few words?" a reporter shouted over the noise. Asami was dressed to the nine, ready to kill as always. It was a good idea to host the wedding separately. Even though this was meant as a publicity stunt, the crime lord was still annoyed. Those tabloid writers didn't know two hoots about giving people their privacy.

Kirishima followed behind his boss, dressed in a grey tuxedo. Asami's longtime friends acted as his best men. Kuroda refused to participate in the church wedding ceremony because he had a thing or five against being on the receiving side of media attention.

"Is Akihito ready?" Asami asked in a low voice once they were in the building and away from the reporters. In the building, only invited members of the media were seated at the back row. Ishida's wife was very careful with the planning. The other seats were occupied by Asami's various business contacts. Many elite members of the business world and some diet members gave Asami their congratulations. Akihito didn't bother inviting anyone else to the wedding. His boss fired him first thing in the morning after news of his second gender got around. There was nobody to invite. Kou, Takato, his parents and Fei Long will be attending their private wedding instead.

Kirishima grinned and gave Asami an all-clear nod. The groom was impatient for the ceremony to begin. Although he saw Akihito a few days ago, Asami felt as if it had been years since their separation and missed his kitten very much. He wondered if Akihito will cause a ruckus on their big day. In fact, a part of him wished that Akihito did so. Asami would have an excuse to kidnap his kitten and bail on the priest's boring long speech. Formalities be damned. He'll have Kirishima deal with damage control.

The church bell sounded, indicating the auspicious hour to begin the ceremony. Guests took their seats and settled down quickly. The priest waited at the altar and Asami strode in confidently, assuming his position but glanced over to the door often enough for everyone to notice. The media took pictures but everything else in the room was quiet. They were all waiting to catch a glimpse of the mysterious mate.

The huge doors finally cracked open and Asami smiled. His kitten looked radiant with the white lights behind him, giving the illusion that he had wings. Publicity be damned, Asami just wanted to run over and kiss the man senseless. Being apart for so long had that effect on him. Akihito's blue eyes shone with the same fierceness that Asami fell in love with. This was a battlefield and Akihito looked like the sweet angel of death in his white tuxedo.

Typically, the submissive mate followed the bride's steps when walking down the aisle. Akihito refused to have anyone walk him down the aisle. Instead, the photographer took it upon himself to do the walk in a fashion that made Asami's eyebrow raise.

The bouquet of flowers in his hand was carelessly tossed to the ground at the doorway. Akihito straightened his back and stuck his chin out with unmistakable arrogance. He took huge but unhurried steps towards the crime lord shocking the room into low whispers at the unconventional 'bride' while the media continued snapping photographs. Akihito did not falter. He met Asami's golden eyes steadily. Just as he reached the altar, the young man did something nobody else could imagine. He turned around to the media and gave them the middle finger with his tongue stuck out. Asami looked amused and proud of his mate. Both of them agreed to wear the earring to the ceremony because they were going to throw the rings away after it ended. The rings were just a show of formality for the media.

The priest cleared his throat and Akihito turned back. Asami gave his husband a light smack on his ass for that stunt but there was no malice in that. Akihito gave his alpha a cheeky grin before turning to the priest who started to drone on about the bible and the duties of a couple. Finally, it came down to the questions and the vows. Akihito and Asami had no difficulties answering the questions but when they exchanged vows, one should've been prepared to expected something out of the ordinary.

Asami started with his vow and the media could hardly believe what they were hearing.

"I have no faith in the concept of fated mates. We met by chance and the world decided to prank us with compatible DNA. However, I got to know your selflessness and kindness through the trials we've been through. I grew to love you and want nothing more than to share this life with you. You will be the only one to stand beside me. I promise to chase you down to the abyss and get you back should anyone dare to take you away from me. You're mine, Takaba Akihito."

Akihito rolled his eyes. He should have expected something like this from his mate. That wasn't a vow, it was a threat to all those sitting in the same church hall. Then again, Akihito wasn't one to back down from a challenge. He wrote his vows in an Akihito fashion. Public sentiments be damned about what's right and conventional.

"You're a bastard, a jerk, a beast with unlimited stamina and an old man with the libido of a teen. You're possessive, controlling and boring, no, don't you give me that smirk there mister! You're a terrible gift-giver, a man who asks for the impossible and can never be satisfied. However, you're also incredibly gentle and kind. Despite your lack of common sense, you'll never harm me. It's only with you that I feel safe, wanted and desired. You gave me a home, gave me a mark and now, I am yours. Asami Ryuichi, I promise that as long as we both live, I will continue to be the wind beneath your wings."

If Kou and Takato knew his about vows to Asami, they would probably laugh so hard and piss in their pants. It wasn't normal for Akihito to be so bipolar about things. That message screamed lovesick fool in denial and Asami found it incredibly cute that Akihito made such a bold promise in front of everyone. He didn't expect much from Akihito. For the one who was trying to take him down when they first met, that's quite the change.

The ceremony concluded quickly after the rings were exchanged. The flower bouquet was tossed aside before anything begun so they could skip the drama. The media followed the couple out, snapping pictures constantly and Akihito gave Asami a look that told the alpha he was up to no good once more.

The moment they were out of the church, Akihito took off sprinting to who knows where. Asami smirked but didn't move from his spot.

"Sir, would you like someone to chase him?"

Asami waved Ishida off. "He'll come back when he wants to. No need for that, it is our big day after all."

***

Fei Long, in a beautiful cheongsam, was recording the event. Mikhail invited himself over and Asami couldn't be bothered to kick the Russian away. The Takatos were already helping themselves to alcohol and food. Kou was in charge of telling Akihito's embarrassing stories. Kirishima, Suoh, Yoh and Ishida sat at a table drinking silently while Akihito tried to silence Kou... probably permanently.

It was utter chaos in a nutshell.

The crime lord wondered how everything pertaining to his blond ended up in chaos. He glanced over to the side and grimaced at the mess. The traditional Japanese wedding ceremony was heavily modified. They went to the shrine and followed the ritual like what one would expect but things took a dip immediately after it ended. Minami urged everyone onto a rented bus and Asami wasn't given any time to prepare. The after party was held up in a hot spring mountain inn. Clothes were prepared and the couple was given no choice but to stay there for three days with everyone else. According to Minami, this was family bonding time.

According to Asami, it was hell on Earth. He was looking forward to ravishing his mate once everything was over but that plan poofed into smoke with his mother-in-law's interference. Thankfully, the betrothal gift included air tickets for their honeymoon. Asami sighed and told himself to be patient. He would be able to hold his kitten again very soon.