out my stories right now so I apologise for any delay but here is my chapter 2 of 'Sleepless Nights', I hope you guys like what I have in store for you all!

Chapter 2

Challenge

"Are you ready, Nii-san? Ready to lose again?" Kei smiled cockily.

"Don't call me number two!" Hikari exploded, turning to face Kei with her boundless enthusiasm. He restrained his laughter and turned back to face the track they were to run. Simple, the first person to cross the line at 1,500 metres would win this challenge.

"Ready, set, go!" Akira shouted, taking a momentary respite from murdering Tadashi to begin the competition. Though it was considered more of an endurance race, Kei sprinted the entire length. He could feel the dust rising from his heels behind him and automatically he knew that he had won, Hikari would never be able to keep up with him. Again. As predictably as ever. It was over before it had begun and Kei had won.

He was right and Kei had to wait until Hikari finally managed to cross the line and collapse to her knees in exhaustion.

"Well done, nii-san, you finally passed the finish line then."

"Don't call me that!" Kei smirked and waited for her to catch her breath. "What is your command?" She stood upright and faced him defiantly and determinedly.

"I'm not going to use it yet." He turned and started to walk away, well aware that she would be infuriated by this and shout after him.

"Takishima!" Hikari's mentality was so predictable. "Use it already!"

"No. See you in class, nii-san." Had Kei been a stereotypical jock, this would have been the moment where he was elbowing and winking at his friends but he wasn't and therefore satisfied himself by smiling smugly.

Everything so far was going to plan; now all he needed was the right opportunity to let things unfold. Patience, Kei, patience. His sweet Hikari would soon be his in all of the ways he wanted to possess her. He just had to wait.

-x

HIKARI'S P.O.V.

Damn Takishima. Damn baka. He knew he was pissing her off by remaining silent about his choice of command. Why, oh why did she always manage to land herself in this situation with him? It was as if she was cursed – damned to oblivion for daring to try to beat Takishima.

"Hikari Hanazono." A voice sounded from behind her, she had been furiously talking to herself and walking in any random direction, not caring about her destination or who she bumped into. Aware that she hadn't addressed the stranger yet, Hikari turned, her mouth open and ready to greet whoever was talking to her with the boundless enthusiasm only she truly possessed. However, her happy smile threatened to slide off her face at the sight of Hajime Kakei, the class president and top of the A class.

"H-Hajime-kun. What are you doing here?"

"That is what I should be asking you. You've managed to walk to the main field. Shouldn't you be in that glorious greenhouse of yours?"

"Eh, yeah. I just… wanted to walk something off." He raised an eyebrow quizzically – an unspoken request to continue. "Takishima beat me… again." She hung her head in the shame of the admission.

"Don't be disheartened, Hanazono-chan. You will beat him."

"I know I will. I am only depressed because he refuses to use his command."

"Command?"
"His reward for winning. He gets to make a command and I must obey."

"That sounds… weird. Don't you think that could be dangerous?"

"No, I trust Takishima completely." His gaze was sceptical; clearly he didn't understand why she would allow herself into such a position. She didn't know the reason for it herself.

"Why don't you trick him into using it?" Hikari's eyebrow raised – concerned by his wish for her to use deceptive devices to win what she wanted – Hikari always fought fairly, she didn't resort to cheating. Nevertheless, she was curious what he intended for her to do.

"Trick him? How?"

"Find something that you think he wants and make him command you to give it to him." Her eyes widened in surprise at his tactics.

"Um… I don't know. That seems wrong to me. I'd rather accept what he chooses."

"Fair enough, Hanazono-chan, just remember that you can trick him if you are concerned that he will ask for something you're not willing to give." He smiled cheekily and turned away, leaving Hikari red-faced due to confusion and embarrassment.

-x

KEI'S P.O.V.

Kei was sat happily in his normal seat, typing away on his laptop with no one else around; everyone was either in class or their various clubs. It was silent until a single should interrupted the solitude.

"Takishima!" The dark-haired girl was walking contently towards him, her colour high and her eyes dark and challenging.

"Yes, Hikari?" He didn't look up, aware that if he kept his head down, that it was highly likely that she was just looking for another challenge… that he would win.

"What is your command?" He resisted the urge to pinch the bridge of his nose in annoyance.

"I have told you, Hikari, I'm not going to use it yet."

"I don't like being kept in suspense, Takishima." He knew that she'd be angry and refrained from looking up, purely because he knew it would annoy her more and that her expression would be far too adorable for him to bear.

"I know, Hikari."

"So?" He couldn't resist any longer, he looked up and saw her staring at him with one of her hands sassily on her hip. It was taking all of Kei's self control to remain in his seat. "I want you to use it! If you don't then I'll just challenge you again!"

"Oh, another challenge that you'll lose?" Her eyes heated with the same passion that set Kei's blood running far too fast.

"No! I will win this time, Takishima." He stood up, very careful to keep control over himself. He moved slowly and precisely towards her, as much to build suspense as to retain his self-control well enough to be so close to her.

"Where are we going tomorrow, Hikari?" His moving towards her and the calm shift of topic had obviously left her very bothered and flustered.

"Eh?"

"Tomorrow we're meant to go out, as you said 'because Takishima needs to have some more fun' that's tomorrow. Where?" Her eyes widened, setting his heart beating faster again.

"Ummm…" She placed a finger on her chin, clearly thinking very hard. "There is a funfair in town! Let's go to that!" She bounced, once again surprising him.

"Okay, Hikari." Her eyes lit mysteriously, something was going on in the wheels of her mind and Kei couldn't help but wonder what it could be.

"Do you need anything, Takishima?" His eyes almost widened in surprise. Where was she going with this? "Is there anything that I can get… or do for you?" She looked determined and Kei's suspicion rose. This wasn't like Hikari. She wouldn't normally act like this.

"No, thank you, Hikari." She stepped closer, closer than she had ever willingly before. Kei felt his breath catch in his throat.

"Anything. Anything." Feeling his own face heating slightly, Kei backed away a few steps. She… she was trying to get him to use his command over her, wasn't she? Someone had put Hikari up to this, she always fought fairly, she never manipulated or cheated. Was she worried what he would do with his command? Should she be? No.

"No, Hikari. Thank you but I know what my command will be." Moving quickly, Kei shut the lid of his laptop and scooped it up in his arms before beginning to leave. "I'll pick you up from your house tomorrow at 10. See you then, Hikari-chan." He left quickly, more than slightly worried by the change in Hikari's temperament. As he walked back to the front fate to be picked up by his driver, Kei smiled as he once again greeted the weekend and therefore, a day alone with Hikari. Finally.