Part 1

The chief group editor sighed as he looked at the resignation letter from the editor in charge of Okada Kaya, the ever popular but highly difficult author of the serialized megahit romantic fantasy fiction, 'Tenshi for Akuma.' He didn't open the envelope. He stared at it for a few seconds and then tore it to six pieces and threw the torn pieces into the bin. The 'battered' looking editor's reaction was to take out another one from her handbag.

The novelist was her senpai from her Ouran days. Even back then he had the Akuma streak in him that gained him the title, 'shadow king.' Haruhi Fujioka wondered whether she was already dead and in hell. Because the bad luck cycle had not ceased functioning for her ever since she broke that stupid vase in the music room situated at the third floor. Was the vase cursed? She was convinced that it was for she was still paying for her stupidity of knocking the vase over.

She should've approached Nekozawa-senpai, he'd know what to do. But she was too practical a person to think that it wouldn't affect her future if she'd worked it out to repay her debt. She believed she'd paid her debt in full before graduating from Ouran. How wrong she was! How utterly shocked she was to find out that the ever popular novelist Kaya Okada was in fact the maso-sadistic Kyouya Ootori.

"Yanagi-san," Haruhi said as a matter of fact, "I've had enough of that beast. You'd better find another editor." She put the letter on top of the manuscript folder and placed the manuscript folder on the table.

"Haru-chan," Chief Yanagi Kirishima sighed again, "in whatever industry you're in you're bound to meet many kinds of individuals. That's the only way for you to grow. It's only a mild set back. The more difficult the individuals are the easier it will be for you to deal with less difficult people."

"I know that," Haruhi frowned slightly, "You don't understand this guy." She clenched her teeth in rage, "In fact even I don't understand why he locked me up in a bondage cage in his bedroom till the next morning when I told him that he'd past the deadline for chapters seven to twelve."

"Did he sleep in his bed?" Rika Asagi, the senior editor appeared next to her. Her face was sparkling indicating her deep interest.

"No," Haruhi frowned at the question, and annoyed at Rika's interest. "He sat facing me outside the cage typing away on his laptop in silence."

Rika's eyes radiated interest far beyond that of an editor bordering on the otaku. "You didn't stare at the gorgeous beast that he is while he was in front of you, did you?"

"I didn't have the strength to gawp," She rolled her eyes heavenward. "I had an awful crimp on my neck." She rubbed her nape and head left and right.

"Then you were not mistreated." Yanagi intervened, "You were just detained for a mere eighteen hours for him to finish the required chapters."

"Just, huh?" Haruhi's eyes narrowed at Yanagi. "Chief," Haruhi looked at Yanagi with disdain, "I better get a big fat raise and lucrative bonus this year end. My health is affected, you know."

Yanagi nodded, "Of course. We'll take care of you."

Rika continued excitedly, "How exciting!"

"Only you'd think that," A vein of aggravation popped on Haruhi's temple, "I was too busy thinking of ways of murdering him while I was held in captivity."

Yanagi supplied a reasonable explanation in a fatherly manner. "Perhaps he did that to you for inspiration. You know, unblock writer's block."

Writer's block, her foot! She didn't need to tell them that the akuma wasn't typing the necessary chapters. He was busy trading on online Forex. Instead of typing the wanted chapters, the beast had the gall to show her his incredible earnings he had gained from selling at the right time when the trading wave was high.

"He did hand the completed manuscript to you for your patience." Rika patted her shoulder in consolation.

Haruhi gave her a bland look. "I was in a cage. I had little choice with regards to my patience."

"See," Rika clapped her hands in delight, "He couldn't be all that bad. I wouldn't mind if he was 'bad' to me."

"I bet you would." Haruhi shook her head and sighed, "He'd already completed the manuscript earlier." Then her eyes glitter in irritation, "For putting me through that ordeal, I feel like killing him!"

Rika stroked her back to calm Haruhi down. "Oh, come now, don't be angry."

"He prepared food for you, didn't he?" Yanagi queried gently.

"Cat food in a dog's eating utensil!" She looked disgusted, "It was hardly a treat." She frowned at the horrid recollection. "I plunked it on his head, snatched the folder from his hands and left."

Yanagi's cheeks puffed, then he covered them with his palms to inflate the puffed cheeks. She thought he'd throw up. She was relieved that he was attentive to her sad situation. She handed him the bin but to her vexation, he had a bland expression. Looking closely and more ticked she got that it was his eyes that gave away his otherwise calm composure. They were dancing in mirth. Rika was laughing her head off. They were enjoying her predicament.

"You guys are just as sick as he is." She groaned in exasperation. "I'm going home."

"See you tomorrow." Rika wished her in her sparkly manner many found to be distracting and disturbing.

A tired, "Hmn," from her as she swung the door open and went out of the publication house, walking toward the parking lot.

"Poor thing, doesn't know how lucky she is." Rika lamented, "There's not one editor that wouldn't give his/her eye-teeth to be in charge of Okada Kaya."

"It's different for a newbie especially when standing in for a top-notch senior editor, meaning you while you were on maternity leave and since then he didn't want anyone else but her." Yanagi looked at Rika with smiling eyes.

"When I was his editor nothing remotely exciting ever happened to me. Everything was clinically on time." Then, her eyes lit up, "I didn't even know he had that kind of fetish."

Yanagi gave a knowing smile. "His books are getting fascinating. It could be attributed to her." He glanced at the letter on the manuscript folder. He ripped the letter into six pieces again and threw them into the bin.

"You're getting soft." Rika said nonchalantly as she noted the chief's action.

Yanagi just gave her his usual gratifying smile. "She gets the job done whatever the situation is." Yanagi informed her, "That's just her style of blowing steam. She's a tough chic."

"Oh, please don't use that sexist term, chief." Rika contested, than she sighed, "Poor thing, she doesn't know him."

"That's where you're wrong. She knows him," Yanagi informed her, "from her old school days. That's why she wants out."

"What? They were school mates!" Rika's interest peaked. "Tell me what you mean."

He shook his head, "Never mind the details of their past. It's the now that's important." Yanagi smiled again, "They've a bond. Although, it's intangible," Yanagi explained, "It's there. But neither is aware of it. A bond forged earlier."

"Huh?" Rika's face contorted in confusion, "How do you know?"

"These old eyes have seen many wondrous things." Yanagi smiled wider, "Let me tell you that there're two kinds of bullies. One is set on destroying the victim's self-esteem as a symbol of control and authority. The other is a sign of impassioned fondness born out of years of yearning. The only way to receive attention is to tease the object of affection."

"Ah," It dawned to her, "It could be difficult when an akuma has feelings for a tenshi."

"Yes," Yanagi nodded in agreement, "I wonder how it'll turn out, both in fiction and real life."

TO BE CONTINUED…

A/N: Due to demands from you for a sequel to the fantasy / romance - KARESHI CARESS, I've a story frame for it in mind and will be merging it with romance / humour / fantasy - TENSHI FOR AKUMA as it was meant to be in the first place. KARESHI CARESS was a prelude to TENSHI FOR AKUMA. TFA is set in modern times but there'll be some elements of KC kind of fantasy in it too. I won't say more... I'll let you read it and decide. ;)