Warning: Then again, this is more the "author's amusement". If you managed to read, please review (I'll take all kinds of review, may be it good or bad, don't worry, I won't eat or curse you. I don't do such things.) This is the last of the "Of Contracts and Revenge" though I don't know if there are such things here (Do wishes count?) and like I said before, this may be repetitive and have the tendency of boring you to death, I'm sorry for that, and sorry in advance for mistakes and everything. But I do hope that you'll read it, at least and like it somehow...

Disclaimer: Then again, I don't own Kaichou wa Maid-sama! and xxxHOLIC. All rights reserved for the authors.

Notes: For those who does not know xxxHOLIC (it is pronounced as holic, and the triple x before has no really connection with some things porn or something, in case you do not know, and I said it just in case um... my parents or someone older or someone who does not know it read it... just being defensive) the anime is all about a shop run by Yuuko Ichihara who grants wishes, and Kimihiro Watanuki works part time there. For those who knew, I'm sorry if Yuuko is somewhat OOC, and that I change some parts of the original story line (if I have) and as well as Misaki. Especially the way I "narrated" about her mother, Minako. Very Much sorry for that. For further inquiries, just PM me, or better consult some resources. I'm too lazy to summarize everything. Sorry...

Lastly:

"Conversation"

'Thoughts'

(My thoughts, if there's any or explanation)

"Quote by other person through memory, something like that"

-0- change scene

Okay! Shall we begin?

-0-

"Pendant"

Of Contracts and Revenge 3 (xxxHOLIC)

"Geez, I never thought it's this far" Misaki said to herself.

It was one afternoon that she was asked by her sister, Suzuna, to claim the price in winning a lottery card. She never thought it was miles away from her house and her workplace, Maid Latté. She needed to hurry, for it was getting late and it was about an hour away from her shift.

She walked briskly while passing some tall buildings in which she perceived as apartments, until she saw in the middle of such, white fences (tall ones, by the way, a few feet beyond normal height) and a peculiar-looking house.

As if a force controlled her, she went inside the house and looked in all directions, out of curiosity, until she heard a female voice "Welcome to my shop."

Misaki turned towards the direction of the voice and saw a beautiful lady with a fair complexion and a dark flowing hair with a pair of red eyes. She was wearing a red kimono decorated with butterflies of different colors, and a large yellow obi which complement her outfit. In her hair clipped with a butterfly hairpin.

"I'm so sorry to intrude, but I coincidentally saw your shop on my way and curiosity brought me here..." Misaki said.

"No, that's not it" she replied "In this world, there is no such thing as coincidence. All there is, is inevitability. You've come to my shop because you have something you desire."

Stunned with her answer, Misaki only widened her eyes, wondering what she meant.

-0-

In a few minutes, they are now seated across each other by the table, in some sort of drawing room. After some introductions made...

"I'm sorry that I can't offer you some tea, Misaki-chan. My employee is still out in some errands." Yuuko said.

"Oh, no. I'm a bit in hurry, but thanks for the offer, Yuuko-san." Misaki replied. "So, this shop grants wishes?" (Of course she was reffering to Yuuko)

"Yes. Well then, what is your wish, Misaki-chan?" Yuuko asked.

Misaki paused for awhile, then narrated "Ever since my father left us with a huge debt, my family is, and never will be as like before. Mother almost worked beyond her limits, and I worked part-time to help with the expenses, then again, I grew up hating men, especially my father, because of it, and also Suzuna winning lottery post cards as her help. But then again, even though my mother is always showing her smiling face as if everything's fine, I sometimes felt that she was lonely, and I cannot bring myself to deny my sister's rights to grow up with our father, to feel his paternal love..."

"So?"

"Deep down inside, I always wish that our family to be whole again, so that we won't suffer anymore and be like as it was, and erase my hatred towards men...Yes, I wish that my father will come back to us." Misaki said.

After a brief pause...

"So, is this what you really wanted?" asked Yuuko.

"I guess so."

Yuuko said, "Well then, before granting any wishes, I also require compensation which is of equal value."

"Compensation? But all the money I have now is only good for..."

Yuuko interrupted her "I do not require money, Misaki-chan. I, on the other hand, will only take what is equal in granting your wish, even if it means to take one's soul."

'Not this again' Misaki thought.

Yuuko broke her thoughts "No, Misaki-chan, do not be mistaken. I am not like those people who have also asked your soul for compensation."

'She meant the Hell Girl and that demon!' Misaki thought "Then...ho...how did you know about..."

Yuuko continued, "A soul can also mean something important to you" she said "Leaving that aside, if you really want me to grant your wish, shall I take the pendant you're wearing?"

Misaki was shocked to Yuuko's knowledge of her pendant. She held her pendant (while still wearing it) revealing it to be a heart-shaped ornament with a small jewel, and is now having second thoughts.

At first she thought of her family and her desire to make it whole again; at the depths of her heart, though she kept reminding herself of her father's deed and that she hated him, she just wanted to end their sufferings for the sake of her mother and sister.

On the other hand, she thought also of her current, complicated life. In her mind flashed the memories of people she now has been acquainted with; the student council officers, her best friends, Sakura and Shizuko, Kanou, the idiot trio, Shintani, her manager, Satsuki, Aoi, and the staff of Maid Latté, Honoka, Subaru, Erika, and everybody else.

But more importantly, she thought, most of all, the person who gave her pendant who goes by the name Takumi Usui, the perverted outer-space alien and at the same time, the one who "messed up" her life(though in a positive way), the person who would risk his own life for her. Takumi Usui...

She thought of these things, barely with a reason at all, until Yuuko broke again her thoughts "Shall I grant you your wish, Misaki-chan?

"What? Oh...uh..."

"Hmm?"

Misaki, with her straight, serious face, said politely "I'm sorry, but I have to refuse."

"Why the change of mind?" Yuuko asked.

"I'm...just a bit...confused, somehow" replied Misaki

Silence enveloped them until, again, Yuuko broke it.

"Ne, Misaki-chan, shall I offer you an advice?"

Attentive, Misaki replied "Yes. What is it?"

"If you take one step towards something you want, you may be taking one step away from something you already have." Yuuko said.

"Eh?"

But Yuuko, after looking in the sky, said "Ne, Misaki-chan, you'll gonna be late for your appointment."

Misaki, now realizing the time, said, "Ah, that's right! My part-time job! Thanks for everything and sorry for my intrusion, Yuuko-san. By the way, how will I ever thank you?"

Yuuko, who was now smoking with her pipe, said "It's up to you if you'll follow my advice or not, Misaki-chan. I hope for the best for you."

Misaki thanked her again and bowed, and turned toward the door. As she opened the door, she happen to see a guy with a black hair and wearing glasses. Beyond those glasses was a pair of blue eyes. She bowed to him, and hurried towards the train station.

-0-

"Ne, Yuuko-san, who was that girl?" Watanuki, the boy from before, asked.

"Do you really want to know, Watanuki?" asked Yuuko.

"Ah, no. You'll ask me to do more chores for compensation."

"Never mind, never mind. Himawari-chan's very cute today, ne?"

Overreacting (as always) Watanuki, with his blushing face and hands waving in the air, said "AHH! Himawari-chan's very cute today!"

Yuuko said to herself "It must be nice to treasure someone, ne, Watanuki?"

"Yes, yes! So very nice! Himawari-chan..." but then he clenched his fist and added "But, that Doumeki, that idiot. Always interrupting my moments with Himawari-chan..."

"I always say that I think that Himawari-chan may not be your lady love..."

"But, Himawari-chan's very cute..."

"What's the connection?"

With this, Watanuki, now discouraged, turned back until Yuuko called him back.

"Watanuki, I have something tha I forgot to say..."

Watanuki responded "What is it, Yuuko-san?"

Yuuko smiled "Sake, please!"

Then, out of the blue, Mokona, who was sleeping in the corner, joined them. "Sake! Sake!"

"Eh?"

Yuuko added "Oh, and make sashimi and sushi, please!"

"Sashimi and sushi! Good luck, Watanuki!" Mokona repeated.

Then, grumpily, Watanuki proceeded to the kitchen to work.

Yuuko, now alone, smoked and said to herself 'Humans are the strangest creatures' she smoke again and thought 'Just treasure the people around you, Misaki-chan.'

-0-

Misaki is now on her way to her work.

She was still riding in the train and thought about what Yuuko advised her.

"If you take one step towards something you want, you may be taking one step away from something you already have."

She touched (a little above) the middle of her chest where the pendant was. She smiled, now that she understood what she said. Had she insisted upon granting her wish, she would lose all the people she now treasures; it was like they never met her as she to them. She was satisfied with her choice.

She now arrived in her destination. As the doors of the train open, she continued to walk, until she stopped and her eyes widened with surprise, for she saw someone familiar.

Leaning by the post, that someone turned and walked towards her direction and said, "Finally, you're here. You're late, kaichou" the person spoke with gentleness.

She blushed, for the person was now standing in front of her, looking at her with full concern and also of gentleness, yet very comforting, and smiled. She smiled back and uttered his name.

"...Usui..."

_END_

And that's it! At last I finished typing, and now working on another one despite the classes going on... yet I can still manage them. So Thanks for those who commented and added my stories as their favourites and adding me as one of their favourite author (very touched and happy to the highest level) especially to Shark's Fin and Ofe and my friends in MF, and to my friend Ate Mai2x for the quote (and the quotes back at 'I Found Myself') and for everyone who read this work of mine, to God for the ideas, my parents for everything, etc.

Lovelots!