Chapter Text
Akiyama’s boat cut through the waves, carrying him closer to the secluded island where he knew you were waiting. His heart pounded, not from the adrenaline of battle, but with a mixture of anxiety and anticipation. After everything—the lies, the manipulation, and the danger—he was finally close to seeing you again. But questions raced through his mind: Were you safe? Had he made it in time?
As the boat neared the shore, Akiyama caught sight of you, standing just beyond the rocks, eyes scanning the horizon. You looked tense, like you’d been holding your breath for far too long. The second he spotted you, every ache in his bruised body disappeared, replaced by an overwhelming need to close the distance between you.
The boat bumped onto the shore, and Akiyama barely managed to secure it before he jumped out, running towards you. You broke into a run as well, your face lighting up with an emotion that mirrored his own.
When you collided, it was with a ferocity that neither of you held back. His arms wrapped tightly around you, grounding himself in the warmth, the reality of having you here, alive and safe. For a moment, you both just held each other, feeling the beat of each other’s hearts, each breath steadying the chaos that still lingered from the battles fought and the dangers evaded.
“Akiyama…” Your voice was thick with emotion, your hands clutching his shirt, pulling him closer. “I thought—I thought I’d lost you. I didn’t know if you’d make it back to me.”
He pulled back just enough to look into your eyes, a bittersweet smile touching his lips. “I… I kept wondering if you were safe, if I’d ever get the chance to see you again…to tell you…” His voice trailed off, filled with a vulnerability you rarely saw in him. “You know how much I love you, right?” His gaze held yours, steady and unflinching, as if searching the deepest corners of your soul for the answer.
A soft, relieved smile finally broke through the worry etched across your face. “I guess we learned the hard way to trust each other,” you whispered, voice trembling. “But… no matter how many times you say these words, you still make my heart pound like it’s the first time.” Tears gathered, blurring your vision as your hand rose to his cheek, fingers lingering against his warmth as if to anchor yourself to him.
He tightened his hold on you, his hand sliding to the back of your head, fingers threading gently through your hair. “I’m not going anywhere,” he murmured, his voice low and steady. “As long as you’ll have me, I’m here.”
Tears of joy streamed down your face as you clung to him with desperate strength, burying yourself in his warmth like you were afraid he might vanish. “I love you, Akiyama,” you choked out, every word torn straight from your chest. “Nothing has ever hit me like this—nothing. It’s tearing me apart and putting me back together all at once.”
And then, with a fervor that erased the distance and fear that had kept you apart, he kissed you. The kiss was deep and unreserved, as if he were trying to make up for every moment you had been away from each other. As you melted into him, the world fell away, leaving only the two of you bound in an intense, breath-stealing embrace.
As the kiss slowed, you searched his face, taking in the bruises, the cuts, the exhaustion etched deep in his eyes. “You’re hurt.”
Akiyama shrugged, trying to downplay the severity. “It’s nothing compared to what I would’ve felt if something had happened to you.” He gave a small, reassuring smile. “But it’s over. Eri’s gone, and so is her plan with the Omi Alliance. The Tojo Clan is safe, and so are we.”
You reached up, brushing a thumb over a fresh cut on his cheek. The relief was palpable, but so was the worry. “Come inside,” you said, nodding towards the hut nestled beneath the trees. “Let me take care of you.”
Once inside, you gently guided Akiyama to a low wooden bench. He sat, his hand still intertwined with yours, as you gathered a bowl of water, a cloth, and a small dusted medkit. Sitting beside him, you began to dab at his cuts with a careful touch.
“So,” you murmured, breaking the silence, “it really is over?”
Akiyama nodded, wincing slightly as the cloth brushed a sensitive spot. “Kiryu and Saejima—the Dragon of Dojima himself, and the man who once broke out of prison with his bare hands—gave the Omi a beating they won’t forget anytime soon. And Majima—” He paused, a flash of something close to admiration crossing his face. “He saved my life back there. Most importantly, he saved your life. Guess I owe him one.”
You looked up, catching the faint warmth softening his tone, a rare crack in the armor he wore so easily. “Maybe you two weren’t so different after all,” you said gently, testing the thought out loud. Your lips curved in a small, almost teasing smile. “I guess you’re finally letting that grudge go, huh?”
He let out a low chuckle. “Don’t let him hear you say that. But…yeah, maybe.” He met your gaze, a new intensity in his eyes. “It’s strange, how things have a way of working out. I didn’t see it back then, but maybe everything I went through was leading me here. To appreciate every second, to be grateful to have you in my life.”
Your fingers stilled, and for a moment, neither of you spoke. Then, with a voice softened by all the emotions he’d held back, Akiyama said, “I’m so sorry for dragging you into this. I know things were rough, that I hurt you along the way, but… I can’t imagine a life without you in it. I really can’t.”
Tears stung your eyes as you leaned in, pressing a tender kiss to his forehead. “I love you. No matter what comes next, we’ll face it together. We’re done letting anyone get between us.”
A smile broke across his face—a real, genuine one. “Good. Because I couldn’t let my best consultant go anywhere.” He squeezed your hand, grounding himself in the reality of having you here.
His hand lingered on yours, his thumb tracing gentle, familiar patterns on your skin. The silence between you was heavy, but it wasn’t from words unsaid. It was a profound understanding, a shared heartbeat after everything you’d endured to get to this moment. Slowly, he raised his other hand to your face, brushing a thumb across your cheek, wiping away the remnants of your tears.
“You have no idea what it means to me,” he murmured, voice low and warm, “to finally hold you, to have you right here, safe and in my arms.” He leaned forward, resting his forehead against yours, his heartbeat steady and resolute beneath your hands. His eyes softened, tracing every detail of your face as though he were committing it to memory.
His hand drifted from your cheek, fingertips trailing down your jawline before settling at your neck, drawing you closer. When his lips met yours, it was unhurried—a lingering kiss that carried every unspoken promise. He tasted of warmth and familiarity, of home you hadn’t realized you’d been searching for, and as you melted into him, the rest of the world dissolved.
Your fingers hooked at his collar, tugging him closer as the kiss deepened. His hand slid to your waist, guiding you toward him as he shifted, making space for you beside him. Every motion was deliberate, reverent, as if neither of you dared disturb the fragile magic building between you.
When his fingers glided down your arm, the trail they left behind sparked through you, igniting something more. His hand found your back and pulled you into him, your bodies meeting in a seamless press. He searched your face for hesitation and, finding none, tightened his hold—a silent acknowledgment of the pull neither of you could resist.
“I never want to be apart from you again,” you whispered, your voice trembling as his lips brushed your neck in a series of soft, breath-stealing kisses.
“Then we won’t,” he answered, rough with emotion. His palm slid over the small of your back, grounding you in the certainty of his words.
The bench beneath you creaked as you leaned into him, the rough wood biting faintly at your thighs. Outside, wind rattled loose planks of the hut, but inside there was only the warmth of his breath and the steady weight of his hand. You bent to kiss him again, slower now, deeper, until he eased back against the wall and drew you into his lap. Straddling him, your knees pressed into the worn wood, you felt the tremor of strain in his body and the undeniable heat rising between you. His hands settled on your hips, holding you there—not urging, just grounding—as if to be certain this was real.
The air smelled of dust and damp timber. Every scrape of fabric, every shallow breath seemed louder in the hush. You helped him free of his shirt, sliding it over bruised shoulders with care, then splaying your hands across the warmth of his bare chest. He shuddered under your touch, the sound that escaped him neither pain nor relief but need. His forehead tipped to yours, lips brushing, until he claimed your mouth again—slower, hungrier, his tongue teasing until you gasped against him.
You rocked into him, your body speaking where words failed. He felt it, answered it, his hand sliding along your thigh until your legs trembled from the closeness. His hands slipped lower, tugging at your clothes with unhurried care, each layer shed and cast aside to the rough planks at your feet. You helped him in turn, easing him free of what remained between you until the press of skin on skin sent a tremor racing through you both.
He shifted beneath you, pressing harder, steady and insistent, until you guided him into you with a breathless cry. The world fell away as he filled you, his body sinking against yours in a rhythm unhurried but deep.
When the narrow seat could no longer hold the weight of your bodies, he guided you down with him, easing onto the floorboards. They were uneven and cool against your back, the wood groaning softly under your descent. He braced above you, shadows of the fading sun slipping through the roof to paint his skin in streaks of gold.
Your legs curled around his hips, drawing him closer. He pressed into you, slow and certain, until you gasped in a sharp, helpless sound. His forehead rested against yours as he began to move, unhurried but deep, every motion carrying the weight of something long held back.
Every movement was measured, drawn out, as if he were inscribing the truth of his feelings into your skin. Your fingers threaded through his hair, your lips finding his again and again, chasing the reassurance of him with every kiss. The floor groaned faintly beneath your rhythm, dust rising in the beams of fading light that filtered through cracks in the roof. Shadows stretched long and gold across his skin, marking him in the colors of evening as he moved with you.
The air between you grew hot, breaths tangled, your body attuned to his as though the two of you had always belonged here. The slow drag of him inside you, the press of his mouth at your throat, the way he held you with equal parts hunger and reverence. It was more than desire.
And in that secluded, broken hut, with its smell of earth and wood and its silence broken only by the sounds of your bodies, you gave yourselves over—not in haste, but in something deeper.
The night lingered in that embrace, the hut around you fading into nothing but creaking wood and your mingled breaths. For the first time, the chaos outside felt distant, unreal. All that mattered was the quiet truth: you were finally together.
The neon lights of Kamurocho glow brightly as you and Akiyama step out of the cab, the familiar chaos of the city surrounding you. Yet tonight, the streets feel different—no longer filled with shadows and uncertainty, but a renewed sense of belonging. You squeeze Akiyama’s hand, and he glances over with a warm smile.
As you both reach the doors of Sky Finance, the familiar glass entrance brings back countless memories. Akiyama pushes open the door, and before you can even take a step inside, Hana comes rushing toward you both, her face lighting up with relief and pure joy.
“You’re in one piece!” Hana exclaims, throwing her arms around you and Akiyama in a tight hug. “I was so worried about you two! Do you have any idea how much I’ve been pacing around here?”
You laugh, hugging her back. “We’re here now, Hana. And we’re not going anywhere.”
Akiyama chuckles, ruffling her hair affectionately. “Didn’t mean to give you any gray hairs, Hana.”
“Oh, don’t even start!” she huffs, though her grin is impossible to hide. “You two had me worried sick!”
Just then, a familiar voice booms from behind. “Well, look who finally decided to show up!”
You turn, and there stands Ichiban, arms open wide, grinning as if he’s just won the lottery. He strides forward, pulling you and Akiyama into a bear hug that nearly lifts you off your feet.
“Good to see you, Ichiban!” Akiyama chuckles. “Figures you’d turn up when things finally calm down.”
Ichiban releases you both, his grin widening. “Well, I wouldn’t miss a moment like this, would I? And actually…” He exchanges a glance with Hana, who blushes and clasps her hands together.
“Hana?” you ask, tilting your head as she bites her lip, practically glowing. You’d never seen her smile this wide, her whole face alight with something unmistakable.
She takes a step forward, holding out her left hand, and you notice a delicate ring shining on her finger. “Ichiban and I… we’re engaged!” she announces, her voice a mix of excitement and shyness.
“Hana! That’s amazing!” you exclaim, hugging her again, your heart swelling with happiness for her. Akiyama claps Ichiban on the back, grinning from ear to ear.
“Congratulations, you two! Finally making it official, huh?” Akiyama says, smirking.
Ichiban chuckles, scratching the back of his head. “Yeah, you know, figured it was time to settle down, make Hana an honest woman and all that.”
Hana rolls her eyes playfully, nudging him. “As if you had a choice.”
Everyone laughs, the warmth of the moment filling the room. The four of you settle onto the couches in Sky Finance, sharing stories, laughter, and fond memories. Hana leans against Ichiban, beaming as he wraps an arm around her shoulders. Akiyama’s hand rests in yours, his thumb tracing gentle circles across your knuckles.
“So,” Ichiban says, raising an eyebrow, “are you two finally, you know, official?”
Akiyama glances at you, a mischievous smile playing on his lips. “What do you think?”
You can’t help but smile, glancing back at him. “Guess that makes it official.”
Hana lets out a happy sigh, clapping her hands together. “This calls for a celebration! Drinks on the house—well, technically, drinks on Akiyama, since he’s the boss.”
Akiyama laughs. “Fine by me. Let’s celebrate—friends, love, survival, forgiveness… everything.”
The night unfolds with laughter, drinks, and stories shared among friends. The four of you, united by everything you’ve been through, toast to new beginnings, with Kamurocho’s lights gleaming brightly just beyond the windows.