Contract
Chapter Four
-Country Club-
It was late Saturday morning, the sun was high in the sky and it was the perfect temperature. The only clouds in the sky were large white fluffy cumuli. Akito walked onto the terrace of the prestigious country club that his and Toshiro's family belonged to. Well, at least Toshiro and his parents came. For the occasion he was wearing a pair of khaki colored slacks, a white polo shirt, and some white golf shoes, that were surprisingly clean to everyone else, though in all truth Akito never golfed, so they had no chance of getting grass stains on them. He of course had a set of clubs, but he preferred tennis.
"Akito!" a loud voice boomed as a man with soft brown hair and a freckled face walked up, a beautiful blonde on his arm. "Long time no see buddy." He was dressed similarly to Akito, as were all the other males.
"Stephan. I am not your buddy. I don't even like you, you jeopardized our cases when we worked together." The Uchiha sighed, crossing his arms.
Stephan just laughed and pulled the blonde forward. She was dressed in a white sundress, her golden locks cascading around her face. "This is my wife, Fiona. The most perfect specimen of a woman." He introduced. The woman giggled, flattered by her husband's compliment.
"Hello Akito, I've read a lot about you in the papers." She said, offering her hand out to him.
He shook it, but didn't agree with the brunette. Natsumi was the perfect specimen of a woman, not this bimbo. Stephan and Fiona were what everyone called the golden couple. They acted like their home life was perfect and that they never fought, always doing everything together. Nobody really liked them, but they didn't seem to care, instead they continued to act as if they were better than everyone around them. "Well I have been pretty busy this year, what with taking over my father's company and all." He said.
"That's right. I forgot you were hanging up the law for business. Didn't you become a lawyer because you didn't want to be like your daddy?" Stephan snickered, wrapping his arms around his wife's waist.
Akito's gaze hardened. "Hn. Actually, unlike some people, I did it because I wanted to help people." He sneered. Then he took a glance around the room, looking for Natsumi. She had told him she would meet him here, since she had a previous engagement, but had yet to show up. He would never admit it aloud, but he was slightly worried that she wouldn't come.
A dark haired man, a bit younger than the present group ran up, looking breathless. "Oh. My God." He gasped, looking wide eyed. "Stephan. Akito! This woman…she drove up and got out…" he blushed a bit. "She is smoking hot." He turned around and went wide eyed. "That's her." He pointed. They all glanced over and Akito couldn't help but smirk.
Natsumi was walking towards them, attracting every eye in the vicinity. She had on strappy white heels and a short, extremely short, white tennis skirt with a short top that had the look of a jumpsuit jacket since it zipped up the front and was long sleeved. It stopped, tightening below her breasts and revealing her flat stomach. She had the sleeves pushed up and a matching white purse on her arm. She had on some over sized, white rimmed Prada sunglasses, making her look just like a diva. Stephan's jaw dropped as the younger man tried to hide his excitement in a nonchalant way.
She stopped beside Akito, pushing her glasses up onto her head. "Sorry I'm late. After visiting my parents I had to go shopping for something to wear, and I didn't have a white purse, so that was also an issue."
Triumphant smirk still in place, Akito wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her against his side, startling her. "Stephan, Fiona, this is Natsumi, my fiancé." He said. "She has a Ph.D. and is a surgeon, though at the moment she is taking a break from her career." He said. Unable to help himself, since his hand was on her hip, he made a circle on her skin with his thumb in an affectionate gesture.
She blinked, glancing up at him. This was an odd predicament. But both men stared in complete awe of the flawless being in front of them. "Th…that's your fiancé?" Stephan asked, practically undressing what little clothing she had on with his eyes. His wife elbowed him in the stomach, making him keel over slightly.
"Well," she began, getting Natsumi's attention from her fiancé, since his actions seemed to have her on edge. "I suppose you are lovely, a bit slutty if you ask me."
Natsumi's gaze turned into a hardened glare, but she reeled in her anger, Akito's actions now making sense. This couple must be those annoying twats her brother had told her about. Well, she was never one to be insulted without retaliation, and if they irritated Akito as much as they irritated her, well, they finally had something in common. So, she leaned into his embrace, letting her hand rest on his front feeling his hard abs, which actually took her by surprise. Before she could allow her mind to go and the blush to arise on her face, she spoke, "It's not slutty if I'm simply showing off Uchiha Akito's prized possession."
"I wouldn't say possession." Akito said, not really liking the way she had described herself. "But I do value her very highly." He said, and it was true. Sure, they argued a lot and didn't know each other very well, but she was slowly becoming a part of his everyday life, and once they were married, she would be his partner in everything.
"Aw, you're so sweet," Natsumi said, feigning utter adoration for him. She touched his face in a caressing manner, leaning closer as if they had a secret. "My little Akito is the best." She smirked, making a little pout and squishing his face. If she was going to play along with his little vendetta, she was going to have fun with it.
"So are you pooky." He said, grabbing her cheek and wriggling it a bit, the way a grandmother would do to a child.
She pinched a bit harder on his cheeks, almost painfully. "But not as sweet as you pumpkin pie." She almost seethed.
He reached down with his hand that was on her waist and placed it on her rear, bringing her closer to him. "I like it when you get forceful." He said, his eyes glinting with mischief as she felt his smile against her hand. "My little lemon drop." He rubbed the cheek under his hand and pat it lightly.
She turned a dark red, almost melting from embarrassment. "Aw yeah…that's right give her a little spank." Stephan said lowly, making his wife smack him over the head as Akito and Natsumi stared at him, both extremely alarmed.
"What the hell Stephan?" Fiona asked, scowling at her husband.
"What? Not even you can deny that isn't hot." He pointed.
Natsumi just arched a delicate brow, looking up at Akito. "Can I just…take a picture of you?" the younger man asked, starry eyed and completely fixated on Natsumi.
Akito glared at him. "No. Now go away you creep. All you'd do his jack off to it anyways."
He said harshly. Then he spotted Toshiro and Minako on the other side of the room, and felt a wave of relief wash through him. He looked down at the woman plastered to his side. "Would you like to go and talk to Toshiro?" he asked, signaling with his eyes that he wanted to get away from these people.
"My brother's here?" She smiled, detaching herself from Akito, looking around for the spot of red hair. "Toshiro!" She called, leaving them and meeting with her brother.
"Whoa…" Stephan began. "That's Toshiro's sister? I've never actually seen the Sabaku flower in public."
Akito shrugged. "What can I say? She likes to spend time with me." He said, following her over to his friends. When he reached her he wrapped his arm around her waist, knowing that everyone was still looking. "Hey Toshiro, Minako." He nodded to them. "How are you?"
Natsumi just blinked, still not used to this odd affection he was showing her. Toshiro and Minako just stared in a bit of awe. "Well I guess you two are finally getting along." The redhead smirked.
"Nah. Akito's just lusting after my hot bod." She snickered, deciding she would allow him the pleasure no other man had yet to achieve.
Akito rolled his eyes. "The wonder couple is here." He said, and instantly the other couple understood what was going on.
"Well, I'm sure you two had fun insulting them, since you're both good at it." Minako said, smiling at them, since she meant it as a compliment.
Natsumi shrugged, "Well I've never met them before, and they are quite irritating. But that icky blonde said I dressed like a slut." She frowned, pouting a bit.
"Well you do dress kinda slutty." Toshiro pointed out, his light expression falling when he saw not only his sister's icy glare but Akito's. "Not that that's bad or anything, you can really work it…" he tried to redeem himself.
"I like the way she dresses." Akito said. "At least she doesn't wear those god-awful floral patterns that most women in high society do." His nose scrunched in distaste.
Toshiro rolled his eyes. "Well she doesn't dress like her class should. My mother is always tasteful and beautiful, as is Minako. So, I'm just saying." Natsumi rolled her eyes and broke from Akito's grip, walking off. She thought being near her brother would have been nice, but he was just as judgmental as ever.
Akito let out a small sigh and followed after her. "Natsumi." He said, placing his hand on her shoulder in order to halt her. "Don't listen to him. You know how Toshiro is. He worships the ground your mother walks on and dotes on Minako incessantly." He told her, trying to comfort her. She shrugged his hand off and glared back at him.
"You think I don't know that already? Don't pretend you know what it's like. You're an only child. Toshiro this. Toshiro that. Toshiro is so amazing. He's a genius, a wonderful doctor. He's so kind. Even you have been best friends with him your whole life, and what do you know about me? Nothing!" she shouted the last part, daring him to try and touch her again.
He frowned slightly at her words. "That may be true, but you know nothing about me either. At least your parents had an interest in your life. I was sent away to a boarding school, and was only ever home for the holidays. And when I was, my father was off working. The few times I did see him all he could ever talk to me about was what I was doing poorly in, according to him, and that he was disappointed in me." He said, somewhat resentfully, though it was not aimed at her. "So don't act like I know nothing about feeling like I don't measure up."
She moved back a bit, looking him over. She actually had nothing to say, which was new for her. Sure, her mother held Toshiro up on a pedestal, but her father had always loved her and cared for her. She glanced off then, she really didn't want a start a 'which rich kid had a more tragic life' game with him. It just wasn't worth it. Akito sighed and wiped his hand down his face, feeling slightly old all of a sudden.
"Look," he said, glancing at her. "I don't feel like arguing with you. Despite how it may seem, it is not something I enjoy doing. So…I am sorry. For what, I'm not entirely sure, but I apologize anyways." He said, dropping his hand.
She stared up at him, almost looking surprised. "Thanks," After all, an Uchiha apologizing was a rare sight. "But I still don't like you." She pointed, sticking her tongue out at him.
He smirked. "I don't like you either, so I think we're good. Although, at times I find you tolerable." He walked up to her until they were closer. "Like when you're curled up against me at night." He said in a low tone so that only she could hear his words.
Her eyes widened to the size of saucers. "You know about that?" she shivered, paling a bit. She thought she was the only one who knew that for some reason she snuggled into his warmth. She wasn't aware of it until she woke up and found herself face to face with his sleeping form.
"Oh yes." He said, leaning closer to her face, his smirk widening slightly. "It's hard not to realize that an extremely attractive woman such as yourself is plastered to my side when I wake up in the early morning hours."
She blushed a dark red, and tried to think of a retort, but nothing came to mind. "Well…uh…" she replied, looking like a nervous school girl. "It's not like I mean to, it just happens." She mumbled, only getting darker the more she spoke.
"Don't worry, I like it." He said, gently grasping her by the chin and kissing her forehead, enjoying this new side of her. It was just so adorable. "It comforts me." He let go of her and looked around. "I'm going to go get something to drink, would you like anything?" he asked her, trying to move past the semi-awkwardness he felt.
"Um no…I'm fine." She said softly, poking her fingers together. "I'll probably just look around the garden or something."
"Okay. Don't wander far, I think his royal asshole-ness is going to give a speech in a while, and I don't want to have to suffer through it alone." He grimaced slightly.
Natsumi nodded and walked off, looking around and heading towards the wonderful maze of a garden. She went in, examining the flowers and just walking around until she turned one of the corners and ran into someone. "I'm so sorry…oh it's you." She frowned, seeing the brunette from before.
"My, my. What a coincidence running into you here, lovely." Stephan smirked.
She just arched her brow and gave him a curious look. "I guess so…" she stepped back, attempting to move around him. "Well sorry I ran into you." She said, only having him move in front of her once more. He stepped forward, trapping her between himself and a large hedge.
"I'd heard a lot about you, Sabaku no Natsumi. But you are far more beautiful than I could have possibly imagined." He said, leaning down.
"Okay!" she went wide eyed, raising her hand and holding his face back from hers. "Yeah, I don't think so. Aren't you married? And I'm engaged, even if neither of those were applicable, I still wouldn't. You're irritating." She snapped, but yelped when he grasped her wrists and pulled her against him, keeping her hands down and pressing them against his hard erection.
"No one has to know." He promised.
"Let go." She glared.
Akito, having noticed that Stephan wasn't anywhere in the room or near his wife, went outside to find Natsumi, not liking the suspicion that rose in him. He looked around the garden, and then on impulse entered the maze of bushes. As he rounded the corner and took in the sight of Stephan touching what was his, red clouded his vision.
He marched up to the man, and before the brunette knew what was happening, yanked him back by the collar and punched him square in the jaw. "What the hell do you think you are doing?" Akito seethed, glaring at the other man as he recovered.
Natsumi was just wide eyed, looking between the two. She could honestly admit that she hadn't expected Akito to come find her, nor get so angry as to slug the other man in the face. But Stephan was up and glaring at Akito, holding his throbbing jaw. "What any sane man would try and do. No one that gorgeous should belong to one man, especially not you, you self-righteous hypocrite."
"You have a wife, remember? The woman you say is the most perfect specimen of a woman." He said, his voice flat in his anger. "So why don't you go return to your Ice Queen and stay the hell away from my fiancé. Because if you ever touch her again, you will regret it. Don't forget, I made your career," he pointed to himself. "And I can destroy it just as easily."
"Will I Akito? See, you little rich kids don't understand, you're all dealt a really nice hand in the beginning, but every once in a while someone else gets the winning hand, and you just wait, because-" he was cut off when Natsumi stomped up and slapped him right across the face, a huge red spot slowly appearing.
"Will you just shut up already you disgusting lecher." She glared, walking away from him and taking Akito's hand and pulling him off with her before he could do anything else to the man. She didn't like him, but it wouldn't do well for his reputation if he beat the crap out of some guy.
Akito allowed her to drag him away, feeling his anger slowly begin to leave him. Once they were back in the garden, he stopped and tugged on her hand, halting her movement and causing her to look back at him. "Are you…are you okay?" he asked softly, genuine concern for her on his face.
She smiled at him tenderly and nodded. "I'm fine. It's not the first time that's happened, so it's no big deal." She laughed, waving the matter off.
His look turned slightly sad. "I'm sorry." He said, though really he had nothing to apologize for, but he felt it was necessary. He sighed and brought up a hand, stroking her cheek with the backs of his fingers. "I don't want to be here any longer." He stated.
"Ok," she frowned, not liking this unusual depressing demeanor. "Do you wanna go home?"
"Only if you feel like coming with me. I don't want to leave you here alone." He said.
She gave him a doubtful look and almost laughed. "Yeah cause' I want to stay here, by myself, with my arrogant brother, some twitchy bitch, and a guy who I'm pretty sure is a closet rapist."
He chuckled at that, his dark mood beginning to lift. "Well, what did you drive here? Your bike?" he asked.
"Naw. I took the Porsche." She snickered. "Have you ever tried to ride a motorcycle in a skirt, especially one this short?" she pinched at the fabric and pulled it up a bit, revealing even more of her legs to him. "Not easy, I can tell you that."
He smiled. "Excellent, because I brought the Coup." He leaned towards her slightly and wagged his eyebrows. "Wanna race?" he asked mischievously.
"My, my." Natsumi smirked, placing her hands on her hips. "Are you insinuating that we break the law and street race all the way back home? Seems a little illegal for you Uchiha Akito, that's more up my alley."
"Oh, I'm full of surprises baby." He smirked, crossing his arms. "Unless you're afraid you'll lose."
She gave him a once over and started for the club. "Yes well, we'll see." She blew him a kiss, sauntering off with a sway of her hips. "And if you win I might even give you a little congratulations present."
He followed after her. "Oh joy." He said, unable to wipe the uncharacteristic happiness from his face. "So, what would you like if you win? Hm?" he asked curiously as they both entered the building.
"I dunno." She shrugged, glancing back at him. "Make something up." She teased, stopping and pulling off her heels before she started to run for the front to inform the valet to get her car.
Smiling at her antics, he took his keys from his pocket and walked to one of the VIP parking spaces, getting in his car and starting the engine. He pulled out of the space and drove up to Natsumi, who was staring at him in shock with her mouth hanging open. "You know, the valets here are pretty slow. Guess I'll see you later." He said, revving his engine before speeding out of the parking lot and turning the corner.
She growled and glared at the man, "If you don't get my car here right now, I'm suing you all!"
Natsumi slammed on the breaks, screeching to a halt in front of the house. She growled, seeing that Akito had already gotten here. She got out of the car and threw her keys at the poor servant who was lounging against the wall. She pushed open the front doors before the butler could open them and stomped into the living room. "Cheater." She huffed, glaring at the man reclining on the couch.
He gave her a lazy smile, feeling more carefree than he had in a long time. "It's not cheating. You ran off, remember? And I can't help it that you chose to use the valet." He said, rising from his seat. "I even drove the speed limit. Just for you."
She rolled her eyes, crossing her arms stubbornly, refusing to look at him. "Yes well, I didn't realize I would be in need of a quick getaway."
Akito slowly walked towards her, his steps measured. "So, dear, what do I get for winning?" he asked, raising a brow down at her.
She pouted, staying in her puffed up state. "Cheaters shouldn't get prizes."
"It's not cheating if there weren't any rules." He stated, matter-of-factly.
"Fine." She huffed, looking up at him. She took his face in her hands and pulled him down, pressing her lips against his in a deep, passionate kiss.
His eyes widened slightly at her sudden gesture, but he recovered quickly. His fingers threaded through her hair so that he could tilt her head back and deepen the kiss. This had to be the best prize he'd ever gotten in his entire life, sad as it sounded. The chance to kiss his fiancé the way a lover would. The way he and Natsumi should kiss, if their relationship was actually a normal one.
She leaned into him but quickly pulled away, trying to catch her breath. She stared at him for a bit before avoiding his confused deep green gaze. "Um…" she began, raking her fingers through her hair. "I, um, there you go. I'm going to take a shower now…so…" she blushed a dark red and hurried from the room, pressing her hand over her racing heart.
Akito watched her run up the stairs, his face a mask of bewilderment. He had thought things were going pretty well, and when she had suddenly pulled away, he couldn't help but feel confused. He smirked, remembering how flustered she had looked. Perhaps if he tried to woo her, romance her and get to know her, kisses such as that would become common. Smiling at the thought, he decided to head up to his study to do a bit of work before dinner. Compared to a week ago, things seemed to be progressing quite nicely where their relationship was concerned.
