A/N: Not mine. Not plagiarized. Don't own anything and all that shit.

#19. He had everything in the tips of his fingers; or so he thought until he get to meet her. Now, more than ever, Usui Takumi wanted nothing more but to possess that amber-eyed woman who, literally speaking, came crashing into his word like a falling star. But can a love so untimely and not destined turn into something... fateful?

-;-

Seven:

Misaki was unusually up earlier than expected and she immediately concluded that it was because of the fact that she had a date scheduled that day.

Alarmed, she got up—noticing it was still dark outside—and swiftly rolled off the bed but she miscalculated her movements which sent her colliding down the floor, her head hitting the edge of her mahogany bedside table. She winced at the harsh contact, feeling something wet and warm roll down her cheek and when she dabbed her finger on it, she realized it was blood. Fuck, she mentally cursed as she got up and reached out for any fabric that would do to temporarily stop the bleeding. She realized she was still wearing Takumi's shirt—a proof that everything that happened last night was not some botched up dream she made up because she was such a miserable creature—and did not have the heart to soil it with her blood.

Blood, ugh. She cringed away from the thought before she end up fainting and tried to balance herself, pushing away the clouds of dizziness off her system and strides out of her bedroom. The lights on the living room were still out, signifying that Takumi hasn't woken up yet since he made it a habit to leave all lights on as soon as he's off to work. But then again, he wouldn't be able to do that anymore today since they'd be going out on a date.

Date… date… we're going out on a date!

Misaki giggled idiotically, humming thoughtlessly and walking as though she was on cloud nine and headed off straight to the bathroom at the far end of the hallway—the same bathroom she shares with her flirt of a husband and pushed it open to check out her wound. She cursed when she notice that her cut was slightly deep and there is no way she'd be able to hide that from Takumi and she feared that it might ruin his mood because of her stupidity. She twisted the faucet on and tried to clean her wounds with water when the curtains to the shower area suddenly got pushed aside and revealed Takumi wearing nothing but… but nothing!

She jumped off her spot, startled by his sudden appearance—along with the fact that he was friggin' wearing nothing!—and stared into his also startled eyes. Her eyes roamed his sexy body, shamelessly assaulting him just by merely gawking at him before she met his stunned eyes again.

Takumi's eyes narrowed. "What the fuck—"

And she was instantly taken aback by the threat on his voice. "S-S-Sorry! I didn't know you were using it! I-I-m getting out!"

"Stay still, you idiot!" Takumi hissed as he swiftly reached out for his towel and wrapped it around his bare torso—since he was oddly embarrassed at the sight of Misaki seeing him buck naked—before rushing into her. He was no longer concerned whether she had seen him naked. What mattered to him is that fucking wound he was seeing on her temple and that disturbing volume of blood that was nearly covering the entire half of her face. He grabbed her face and cursed violently at the sight of such an offensive wound embedded on the side of her forehead. "What the fuck did you do this time?!" he almost yelled at her.

Misaki cringed away from his thunderous voice. "What? What? What did I do?!"

"Where the fuck did you get this?!" he screamed. "WHO THE FUCK TOUCH YOU, DAMN IT!"

Misaki was taken aback by the sincere anger on his voice and when she looked back into the mirror, she realized he was talking about her wound. "O-Oh. This. The wound."

"Yes, the fucking wound, dammit! Where the fuck did you get that?!"

"Relax," she tried to chide him gently but Takumi thought Misaki was a fool to think he'd be calmed after seeing that she was near into losing her blood with the way her wound is bleeding. "It's nothing—"

"It's nothing but I could so much see that you are fucking bleeding to death?!" he hissed before grabbing a wad of napkin and carefully dab it on Misaki's wound. But when Misaki winced over his touch, Takumi was infuriated even more. "Damn it, you better explain now what you've done for you to get such a deep cut like this." His voice was dripping with lethality and Misaki was well aware that if she continued to delay on explaining things to him, her husband might just end up blowing some fucking fuse.

She sighed. "Just… just calm down, okay? I just miscalculated my movements on the bed and I ended up crashing down the floor."

"You crashed down on the fucking carpeted floor and got a cut like this?!"

"No, I… I hit my head against the table." She suddenly felt silly because she felt as though she was a specimen under observation. She looked up at Takumi, remorseful. "Mad?"

"More like infuriated." He muttered darkly. "Fuck, the bleeding won't stop. We should get you to the hospital, come on."

"Wait!"

"What?!"

She fidgeted on her spot, uncertain whether it was the right time to bring up such an event that really matters to her. But Takumi was waiting and she doesn't really want to infuriate him more by delaying a lot of things. "The… the date is still on, right?"

Takumi's eyes narrowed but he immediately softened at the sight of Misaki looking as though she was really looking forward on this day. He sighed before pulling her by the wrist and towards him. "As long as you don't wear something as provocative as that."

Misaki frowned at Takumi, but she was thankful he was no longer mad. "You pervert."

But his eyes narrowed again. "Now, get dressed before I end up getting a heart attack because of that." She was about to run back to her room but then, Takumi suddenly grabbed her by her wrist and glowered at her. "No running. You might end up breaking your neck this time."

Well, so much for an early morning start.

.

"Well, it seems like Mrs. Usui didn't develop any concussion nor head trauma so I would safely assume that she is safe."

Misaki was quiet as she watched the doctor and Takumi spoke and after a series of morphine and stitches, she found herself under some kind of CT scan machine and was already on the move to have her head checked to see if she developed some kind of massive head injury. If she were to be asked, all of these are unnecessary. When she was little, she would always end up banging her head against the wall and she was still fine. Takumi's exaggeration is nothing but a, well, hyperbole since what she needed is just a fresh gauze and some stitches to shut her wound close. She could only roll her eyes as Takumi nearly shove her into the machine and couldn't be calmed lest a doctor finally had her examined.

"But she was pale, Doc. How would you explain that?"

The astounded Doctor stared at Takumi before averting his kind eyes into Misaki in amusement and stares back at her exaggerated husband again. "I don't she's suffering from anemia, either, Mr. Usui. Mrs. Usui is perfectly safe and healthy. Instead of pale, I would say your wife is even lovelier up close and in person. She's perfectly healthy. You need not to worry about her about anything."

Takumi glared at the man whom he thought was hitting with his husband before staring back at Misaki, his green eyes had that hostile look in them again. "Now, you'll know to be careful now, right?"

Misaki wanted to hit him but they weren't really in the right place as of the moment and she was still amused by the anxiety Takumi had shown over her welfare. And somehow, she felt as though he really cared about her. "Yes. I'll be careful next time." She resisted the urge to add Sir on her sentence because she was aware it would further annoy Takumi.

"But to make sure," the doctor started again. "—Mrs. Usui should take the entire day off. She should rest the whole day and watch over her disposition if there would be changes on her temper."

Misaki stilled, and snaps her head to the doctor so fast she nearly had whiplash. "Wait, like I couldn't go out?"

The Doctor nodded, confused. "Yes, Ma'am."

"No. No way. I have something scheduled—" she cursed mentally for her near slip before averting her eyes to Takumi who already had that amused look on his face—as if he was enjoying her misery. Damn! And she was even looking forward to this! She doesn't know when Takumi would be possessed by some good spirit again to ask her out on a day and now, her only chance of spending the entire day with him is now off the drainage. Guess she still wasn't that lucky. She sighed. "Fine. I'll stay in the house the entire day. In my bedroom. All day." Or until I'm old and gray, fuck it all.

Takumi suppressed his smirk and nods at the Doctor again who already allowed them to leave. He supported Misaki up and led her to the lot where his car was parked before getting in, too, and speeding off at normal speed—something he had never done before. With Misaki around, he always felt like he wanted to take his time on almost everything. He continued to smirk until they began to pave that private path leading to their home. "Hm, too bad, huh?"

Misaki snorted, but she was really miserable. "I don't mind. It isn't like I'm looking forward to it." Damn that Doctor! I hope he gets fired! She frowned over the bad thought and immediately took it back, knocking on wood to make sure it wouldn't happen—more like knocking on Takumi's dash.

Takumi continued to grin. "Hm, I see. Well, since you're not looking forward to it, we could do it again some other time… or whenever I'm free. Or maybe, I'd just wait for you to ask me out."

Misaki flushed, and since she was still fuming with unexplained ire, she launched her fist against Takumi's muscled arm to punch him. But the violent movement jarred up her stitch. She winced. "Ow…"

Takumi glared. "Try that stunt again and I might end up throwing you off the damn car." He threatened.

Misaki frowned. "You know that I was looking forward to this. Stop bullying me, you're annoying."

"We already had that established, don't we?" he laughed over the comical expression on her face. "I was just kidding. But I wasn't kidding about the fact that would still pushed through the plan. Why don't we just roll around the house all day?"

Misaki frowned at Takumi. "You pervert."

"I don't mean it like that, you pervert." He shot back easily, still laughing. "We could just stay in the house… or we could drive off towards that beach you ran off to as long as you promised that you wouldn't jump into the water since your forehead is freshly stitched."

She tasted his mood first, wondering if this was really happening before she finally smiled and nodded. "You're on."

"Hah! Deal's on, then."

Sometimes, it was so easy to please her… and Takumi was happy he was doing a good job on making her less sad on his company.

.

Aoi frowned at the sight of Gerard coming on his way. His month long assignment in Budapest is over and he was back in Japan now. He was friggin' damned tired and what he wanted to do is lay back on his bed to snag some rest before he head off at Takumi's place to visit his dear stubborn as a mule brother and his wife who happened to be his best friend as well. He was quite lonely in the house that's why he was more than glad he accepted that assignment in Budapest. It would help him cope with the fact that Misaki wouldn't be waiting for him anymore back in their apartment since she was already living with his brother. He didn't loathed Takumi for that. He was just real sad because he misses his best friend and the last time he talked with his brother, he threatened to kill him since he bothered their night by suddenly calling.

He didn't even want to go with the visuals because already, he was getting awfully sick with his brother's innuendos and it was poor, sweet and innocent Misaki Ayuzawa—no, scratch that, Usui Misaki—on the same scene with his brother. Sometimes, he wanted to murder his brother for ending up with nice women when he was such a jackass.

Aoi didn't bother to hide the displeasure on his face as he widened the door to acknowledge Gerard who nodded at him with such enthusiasm and entered his apartment as though he owned the place. He remembered telling Takumi that once he sees Gerard, he'd immediately scram off but couldn't now since he was dead tired and jetlag is chasing after him. He shut the door louder than accepted and crossed his arms over his chest.

"The fuck do you want now?" he all but snarled. "I don't want you here. And if Takumi-nii knows you're here, he'd blow a fucking fuse."

"Would you tell him, then, knowing that his wife—and your best friend—would get obviously worried?" At his scowl, Gerard laughed. "Don't worry, I came here in peace—"

"Peace rejected."

Gerard laughed again. "Okay, I know you hate me so much because of all the things I've done with you and Takumi but I just came here to tell you I want to start anew. I wanted to have some fresh start with you and Takumi."

"And what if we don't want to? You'd imprison us again in the Walker Estate?"

"Look, Aoi, come on. Don't be like this. I… I know I have a lot of things I've done against you and Takumi but, come on, I repented on that. I just wanted to—"

"What do you really want to say, Gerard?" he cut him off, annoyed now since he was being melodramatic and he doesn't really like the idea of him, standing here in front of his apartment—which he used to share with someone special to him—without his stepbrother Takumi knowing. And if he gets air about this, he was certain he'd receive an earful from him.

Takumi never really wanted him anywhere near Gerard because he had done a lot of awful things before his arrival in this world. And when he did arrived, and then Patricia died, all the more had he been treated like some oily dishrag. He tried to get away from the family, isolated himself from the rest of the world while the world continued to isolate him as though he was the scum underneath their shoes until Takumi found him, all alone on the sand box, playing on his own. Apparently, Takumi had known of his existence even before he realized his own situation, and took him in since even his own family did not want some bastard like him. He was happy he had taken him or he might have given up and lost himself to insanity but then again, Takumi never really let him in.

And now, Gerard wanted him in. And he didn't like it one bit because whereas Gerard and that psycho butler of his are involve, there would always be mess. And whereas there was mess, Takumi is more likely to get hurt. And he wouldn't allow Takumi to get hurt—not when Misaki is already involve with his brother.

Gerard sighed. "Okay. Fine. I give up. I'll tell you my reason for coming here."

He stand firm on his spot, showing him that stance that he was unwelcome no matter how much he prostrates himself on the ground. "I've got only a few seconds spared for you, dear brother of mine. I have a schedule with Takumi and Misaki today."

Gerard nodded, still looking as defeated as ever. "Okay. It's about them."

Aoi's forehead creased. "Them who?"

"Takumi and Misa-chan."

That frown became a permanent expression on his face. "What are you planning to do with them?" Gerard remained silent for a moment and all the more had he dreaded his answer before he started shaking his head. "No. No, you're not touching my brother—" he tried to exhale because he was already stuttering and right now, he need to calm himself. He glared at Gerard heatedly. "You are not touching Takumi and Misaki, Gerard! You could touch me, you understand?! Touch me, hurt me, and imprison me! Do whatever you want with me! You get that?! With me! But not them! Not—not them, fuck it! Not Misaki—or Takumi—because I swear if they get hurt—"

"Aoi, calm down, okay?!" Aoi was startled when Gerard came to him and touch him by his arm as though he was trying to calm him. And Gerard notice as well how Aoi would automatically cringed away from him as though he was scared of him—that he might do something odd or scary at him. Gerard sighed, and released Aoi before he took two steps back and raised both his hands in defeat. "Okay. Okay, I won't touch you. Just listen to me, okay?"

"You're not hurting them, Gerard."

"Yes. I won't hurt them because I have something better planned out there for them." His eyes were still mistrustful and Gerard accepted the fact that Aoi was still hostile at him due to all the things he had done against his youngest brother when he was nowhere near seven. He was mad for their existence and he had regretted all he had done against him and Takumi. He thought it would never leave a mark. But damn, with the way Aoi gazes at him as though he was seeing some monster in human pretension, he was certain he had traumatized Aoi to the point where he could never return again in one healthy and unmarked piece.

Gerard sighed, before he pulled out his calling card and placed it on the center table because he could see that Aoi isn't really willing nor ready to speak with him. "I'd leave this. Here. And I expect—and I'm going to wait—for you to call to me when you're finally ready to, well, speak with me."

"I never really wanted to see you again." Aoi shot back as easily as he could, trying to muster enough strength to go up against Gerard. "Get out. Now. And I mean it."

Defeated, Gerard nodded before he decided to finally step out of his apartment and into his car, regret still evading his system as he nodded at Ceddy before they finally drove off to town proper.

As soon as he was gone, Aoi slumped down on the carpeted floor and tried to rid himself from the fear that engulfed him at the sight of Gerard. He was already twenty three but damn, the fear he felt whenever Gerard is nearby, it never really disappears. And he feels as though it would never disappear even if his time here on Earth is up already. When he was steady enough, he picked up his phone and dialed Misaki's cell.

"Aoi? Oh, my God, are you back in Japan now?!" came Misaki's loud voice. "Takumiiii! Aoi's back now! Hello? Aoi, still there, right? You want to come over for dinner?"

Aoi smiled. Just by hearing her voice, he already feels as though he was back at home. "Sure. Give me the time table, baby."

.

"So much for a date, huh?"

Misaki snapped her head up at Takumi while she was trying to make them dinner since Aoi agreed to come over. She quirked an inquisitive eyebrow at him but the action jarred up the stitch on her right temple, thus, she immediately drop her eyebrow and continued mixing that sauce for the spaghetti she cooked she was well aware Aoi likes most. "Yeah, real too bad, isn't it? But it is Aoi we are talking about and, well, he was already a brother to me. He was still used with me cooking food for him as soon as he arrives from whichever country he ran off to."

Takumi stood by the counter, watching Misaki as she moved around his kitchen and couldn't help but remember an old picture he had painted on his mind during those days he felt so damn alone in this messed up world. And somehow, as she moved around his kitchen like she owned the damned place, he felt a fissure form inside his heart. And it was the kind of fissure that nearly knocked him breathless.

Why does he felt suffocated seeing her this way?

Thoughtlessly, Takumi walked towards Misaki and wordlessly wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her to his hard body in order to engulf her in an embrace. He sighed, breathing in the scent that was coming off her smooth skin. "Why are you warm?" he asked Misaki, trying to open some topic that wouldn't put them into awkward situation.

But his question only made Misaki's skin go a few more degrees warmer. Had he not been on a proper state of mind, he would have thought she was already burning with fever with the way her skin nearly shoot sparks. "I-I… I don't know. Maybe it was because I was too near the stove."

Takumi snickered, lightly kissing the skin that connects her neck and her shoulder which, much to his amusement, made her a few more degrees warmer. "Hm, I don't think the stove is the reason for this warm skin."

"I-I-I don't know what you're talking about, you jerk."

"The jerk is not really necessary." He mumbled, too amazed by her really amusing reactions. "Why do you get embarrassed easily?"

"I don't know, maybe because you were, like, badgering me when I'm trying to focus here on cooking food for supper for you and your pig brother."

Takumi laughed. "Aoi's no pig."

"Sure, he does. Because back then, he used to eat even my portion." He laughed again and skimmed his nose through her heated skin before he forced her to face him, lowering his face so that she stood taller than him. Misaki's forehead creased and despite the embarrassment on her face, she was still able to give out a properly confused expression. "W-What? What's the matter? Is there something on my face?"

"I just think you looked really lovely whenever you're blushing."

Misaki froze, before she frowned at Takumi and lightly punched him on the chest. "Please tell me you're not flirting with me, please."

Takumi started laughing again. "Well, I might just be doing that."

"Oh, God. You are seriously not doing this to me." she muttered and pushes him away to try to focus her entire mind on cooking Aoi's supper.

"What? What did I do?"

"What did you do? What do you think you're doing?" Misaki spat, still flustered because she was not used to Takumi's very… unusual flirting. "Come on, tell me. What do you think you're doing? What are you doing, Takumi? What's all these?"

"What do you think are all these—"

"Oh no, no, no, don't… don't twist my words, okay? Don't do… that."

"Don't do what?" Takumi challenged as he stood right in front of Misaki and crossed his arms over his chest, his usual flirty and enthusiastic mood was now gone. "Why? What do you think am I doing? Come on; tell me since I think you know so well what I'm doing."

"You just told me you're flirting with me."

"Oh, and what's the problem with that?"

Misaki was quiet for a moment as she stared at Takumi in disbelief. She wasn't sure what was going on with the man but hell, she would never allow him play her like this. "Rule number three, isn't it? Rule number three, Takumi. Have you forgotten that already?"

But to her annoyance, Takumi doesn't look the least bit deterred that he already got her fuck annoyed. "I haven't forgotten that. And you know what; it doesn't change anything at all. Rules are rules and you are to follow them."

Her mouth fell open in shock as to how harsh his words came out and sounded to her ears. Misaki smirked before she removed her apron and slammed it on the counter. "You are really an impossible guy." She started walking away only to end up halting when she felt Takumi's hand wrapped around her elbow. Misaki glared at him. "Don't touch me."

"Then, don't order me around—"

"If I said don't touch me, I mean it!" that and she harshly pushed Takumi away, trying to control herself since her anger was trying to get off her hands. Damn, she thought everything about them was okay now—that they no longer had any problems into dealing with each other. But she knows what he was doing to her and she wouldn't allow him to… to make her feel that. She already feels stupid enough to agree to this fraud marriage and she wouldn't allow this kind of fucked up attachment get into her damned system.

She was about to walked off again but Takumi was fast as he grabbed her elbow and yanked her back by to the counter, nearly slamming her against the concrete bar. "Listen here, Misaki because it seems to me like we need to clear up a few things between us." He held her chin up, forcing her to look up at him before he spoke again, although before he spoke, he regarded her wound first handedly as though he was still concerned about her welfare. "I can do whatever I want and you won't have any say about this because I fucking paid you to marry me, you understand that? So, even if I flirt around with you—or with any other women—you don't get to have a say nor complain about it. Even if I break some rules, you don't have a say about this. I paid you, do you get what I mean—"

Slap!

Takumi froze and he took two steps back at the force of Misaki's slap. Damn, he didn't even know someone like her could slap that hard. He touched his cheek, feeling the aftershocks of her hit before he slowly look up at her to glare at her only to end up freezing again. Another fissure formed in his heart when he saw those tears brimming into her amber eyes that would often gazed at him as though she revered him.

He was about to speak again, to gather up his thoughts, but Misaki lifted her hands again and smiled bitterly at him. "You're right. You're right… you paid me. That makes me no different from your usual bitches, huh?"

Takumi was stunned; his astonishment was far too wide for him to recover easily. "I… I didn't mean it that—"

"Come on, you apologizing now?" Misaki laughed, but there was some shaky edge on it. "Don't be, after all, I don't have a say to whatever you do since you paid me, remember?"

"Misaki—"

"Don't touch me, jackass." She pushed him away again and he made no further movements to touch her because he was quite certain he'd only pissed her off and watched her in silence as she wiped tears off her face and walked towards her bedroom.

Takumi couldn't help but cursed himself and thoughtlessly punched the counter for acting such a jackass to that only person who was able to offer him freedom.

Damn. Damn it all. Why can't things stay fine between them?

.

"Hm, what's with your face?"

Aoi stared at Misaki who suddenly looked up at him with that crestfallen look on her face and sighed. She looked down and back to her food, more like picking on it than eating it. Aoi immediately thought she was having some sort of a problem but he didn't push for more. Aoi never pushed. Not Misaki, specifically, especially if he was certain that she wouldn't tell lest she was ready. She would come around, and sometimes, it would be days that would pass once she speaks up or calls him or comes knocking into his room. But things were different now. She's already married and she held that certain responsible over her shoulders Aoi never really wanted her to carry.

She was tough. But aside that tough façade, he knew she was weak.

Misaki smirked at him, and rolled spaghetti on her fork. "Get out of my face, Aoi."

"I'm not inside your face."

She laughed, and he laughed, too, because he knew that laugh was wholehearted. Misaki was never fraud. She was the truest person he ever met his entire life. "Really mature."

Aoi shrugged. "They said the first years of marriage were the hardest part of married life."

"They said right."

"So, what's the gist?" he pressed, trying to sound casual about it while he eats his noodles. "Did he hurt you?"

"No."

"Cheat on you?"

Misaki giggled. "Your brother was flirting with before we had a fight."

"Hm, Takumi is a sadist. So, what? Kissed you hard?"

"No. He kisses better, actually."

"Made you come on the wrong time?" Aoi yelped loudly when he felt Misaki stuck out her foot amidst his thigh. He glowered at her. "That was really a cruel thing to do on your brother-in-law."

"That was disgusting."

"I was just kidding." He retorted. "So, what? Did he… say something hurtful?" Aoi straightened his back when Misaki's expression distorted into something… painful. He dropped his chopsticks and run a hand through his hair. "Takumi could really be… mean at times." He offered. "You know that, right? You married him. You know that."

A sardonic laugh escapes her throat, and all the more Aoi had felt more… irate over his brother. "Hell yeah, I know something like that. I mean, I thought I just got so used to it by now that I thought that, well, it doesn't affect me anymore." She let out another shrug before dropping her fork, looking more… crestfallen than before. "Until he opens his smart mouth, of course, and end up saying something that, well, hurts me… because it was the truth."

"I'm gonna talk to him—"

"No. It's all right—"

"It's all right?" Aoi hissed heatedly at Misaki. "It's all right, you say, when you're looking like that? Damn, I never agreed on this fucked up marriage and allowed you to be sent off and become royalties like us just so Takumi could speak at you like this on the first place."

"Aoi, calm down." Misaki leaned forward and touch Aoi's hand and gently gripped it. "I'm okay, okay? It's just a little fight. Married people… does that. It's… it's unavoidable. People always fight, sisters' fight," she stared pointedly at him before smiling. "—we fight at times, too, remember? What more of Takumi and me? We're just… humans. You're brother is not perfect. He has his own flaws. I just wished that… I just wished that he would open up, you know? He always… keeps to himself. Keeps everything closed off. I just wished he'd speak more. We may be fighting and there might be times that I wanted to kill him for doing stupid things but, well, he's my husband and I… well… I… I would always want what's best for him."

Aoi stared at Misaki, contemplating her reaction, before he slap her hand away and picked up his for fork again and started poking his food. "Wow, when did you have a sense of responsibility?"

Misaki giggled again. "Hm, I don't really know. Maybe when I got kicked off to Marriage Ville."

"Real nice." He muttered sardonically. He tried to resume eating but found that he doesn't have the appetite anymore and picked up his plate again before dumping it all into the sink. "Your spaghetti's still the same. It's delicious."

"But you dump it into the sink."

"I lost my appetite."

"Bet you do." Misaki got up, and dump hers, too, before leaning on the counter to wink at Aoi. "Tell you what, let's play… a game."

"You know, had I not known that you smash your head against some damned table, I would have thought already that Takumi was hitting you."

Misaki giggled again. "Come on, you know your brother would never do that. So, a game? Are you on?"

Aoi frowned at her. "Married women still plays some damn game?"

"Married women who recently had a fight with their husband still play some damned game?"

"What game? Play with yourself?"

She chuckled. "You really are a pervert. Have you ever tried playing with yourself?"

"I was not that desperate, idiot." He chuckled when she started giggling. "And that's disgusting, fool. I would never, ever—as in ever—play with myself… like that. That was really disgusting."

"Says you."

"So, what do you suggest we play?"

"Um, there was a pool up in the rooftop. I really wanted a swim."

"Some swim, huh?"

"You in?"

"Hah, deal's on."

"Good. I'll go get some of your brother's extra clothes." Aoi watched as Misaki run off to his brother's room before he whirled to the sink to get the dishes done. He was halfway washing them when the doorbell chimed. Misaki peek at him through the hallway. "Aoi, honey, can you get the door, please? That could be your brother."

"Oh, okay. I'll be on it." He jumped off the counter, drying his hand in the process before he made a dash to the door and pushed it open, a wide yet forced smile was on his lips. He never really wanted to have a fight with his brother and sure as hell, he never wanted either to stick his ass onto someone else's fight. But it was already Misaki they were talking about. But since she had begged him not to speak with his ass of a brother, he'd follow her even though it was against his will. Aoi cleared his throat and unlocked the deadbolt, pulling off the chain lock off its hinge before pulling it open. "Yo, yo, yo, little shit—" he paused, staring back at the same shade of amber eyes—only lighter—before shutting his lips closed. "Yo, Tora, hello."

Igarashi Tora grinned at Aoi, sensing the look of displeasure and disappointment—and hostility in his deep blue eyes—before looking past his shoulders. "Is Misa inside?"

"Yes, but—"

"Aoi, is that Takumi—oh." Misaki paused either, hesitant at the sight of Tora, before running a hand over her raven hair and forcing out a smile. "Hi. Come in."

"No need, really." He smiled at her, winked at Aoi before grinning at Misaki. "So, I have a proposal for you."

Misaki's forehead creased. "And what might it be?"

"But first… you," he pointed Aoi. "—you'll be coming with us."

.

"Sir, Sir Aoi had come around here around lunch time."

Takumi tried to calm himself even though what he wanted to do is kill Aoi right as of the moment. He trust his brother, trust that he wouldn't do something as stupid as take his wife away to some God forsaken place he didn't even know, but not calling him? That was bullshit! Aoi was never careless, and he wouldn't really put Misaki in trouble but, damn, what was he so agitated about? They had a fucking fight, and the last thing in his mind is to have Aoi helped Misaki run off to some… some… somewhere where he wouldn't see her again. He already had plans to apologize, swallow his damned pride since it was his fault in the first place. He practically called her a bitch, labeled her on the same level as the women he previously dated. He never remembered the names of those women. But Misaki… her name stuck to his mind as though… as though it tells him—reminds him—that she was someone that meant to him more than necessary.

And now she was gone. He entered their pad; all prepared to prostate himself on the ground and begged for forgiveness even if it was definitely not his thing—something he had never done before because he could care less whether other people forgive him or not—and then, all his effort crumbled down in time to see her not there, her room empty, his wardrobe ransacked—as though someone got through his things—the plates on the sink half washed and the entire room looking as dull as ever. And he felt as though when she disappeared—with his stupid little brother—darkness seemed to have engulfed his home, his little sunshine gone.

"We will find her, Sir."

"Forget it, dammit." He pulled out his cell and started calling Aoi who, thankfully, by the third ring, answered. "Where the fuck are you?" he snarled as soon as he picked up. "Misaki? Where—where's Misaki and why didn't you—"

"Relax, little cousin. Your brother and your lovely wife are fine."

Takumi halted, and stared at the caller ID that was registering on his phone to check out if it was really Aoi he had called and when he was finally certain, he pressed it back on his ear again, walking away so the guards and the personnel wouldn't see the fury in his eyes. They were already distracted enough by his calm hostility. They might not be able to take things anymore if he exploded. Now, he was no longer worried with just his wife. He was worried with his brother, too. "What did you do with them?"

"You speak like I kidnapped them."

"If you didn't bring them here within minutes, I fucking swear, Igarashi, that I'm going to fucking kill you—"

"Come on," he laughed again, and all the more had Takumi felt anger emerged into his system at the sound of his mocking laugh. "—your wife seemed really problematic when I get there. And Aoi was comforting her. I couldn't simply walk away when my first love and classmate and friend looks as though she was too emotionally hurt. And her forehead, damn, don't you really know how to take care of a woman?"

"It's none of your business, you asshole. Put her on the line."

"Can't do that."

"Igarashi, I'm going to fucking kill you, I swear—"

"Don't swear. Your grandpa might hear you and that would have been more awful."

Takumi paused, the sound of the word grandpa incapacitating him even more. "You brought her to that old bastard?! With Aoi?! Are you going crazy now, you—"

"Whoa, whoa, calm down, okay?" he laughed again, but Takumi was nowhere near happy as his hands shook. And if he could just chuck his phone at someone right now, he would be glad if Igarashi Tora and that bastard brother of his who was also involved in this conspiracy would suddenly appear out of nowhere so he could throw his phone into their faces. "Calm down. I guess it's high time we settle this like men, don't we? And you know we don't mean anything against your wife when you went all through the trouble just to get her to marry you."

Takumi's face went darker as he remained silent.

Igarashi laughed. "Come on; don't give me the cold shoulder treatment now. It's not like I'd tell Aoi that you only married Misaki so that he'd be free from the binds of the Walkers."

"Where are Misaki and Aoi?"

"Where do you think we are?"

"I'm coming to get her."

"Oh. Okay. Then come here and get them at your dear brother's place."

.

Misaki was quiet as she allowed those women Gerard asked to get her dressed up be dress up. They put light makeup on her, putting the same headdress they had place on her head during the day of her wedding to make her look like some damned fairy before they forced her in some green flowing dress that bounces prettily whenever she walks. It was sweetheart cut which had laces all over—green laces—and they paired it with some ridiculously itchy green lacy gloves and killer heels. But Maria came some time after they were done dressing her up and handed her a pair of green ballet flats that goes well with her long gown too. It was really nice to wear any flat footwear but when Aoi arrived with her customary Chuck Taylor with the green vector swirls—the one she had used to come here when they were dragged away by Igarashi—she was more than glad to wear it since it wouldn't be really seen what with her gown's trail already covering the entire floor.

The lady redoes her makeup, trying to freshen her up, before leaving her in the room to get herself ready. She thought it was really a bad idea, leaving again without telling Takumi but Igarashi had proposed that it would be better if this kept a secret since they have plans to surprise him since it was already the time of the month—his birthday.

And she'd been married to him for nearly a month now since their wedding came around even before the month of March ends.

A month of being married to Usui Takumi and yet… there was still no progress on their relationship.

Damn, this was really bad development.

She gazed at her reflection in the mirror, staring at the woman right before her who was more… beautiful now and well fend-off than before. Back then, she couldn't even buy a decent shirt nor pants. Her footwear were always either, a present from Aoi or something she had pick up from flea market. She would have the money but it would always be for the food or the electric bill or she was too busy buying something for Suzuna or her Dad. She didn't have anything back then. She had no money; luxury… a big house… dresses. She doesn't have heeled shoes, people that would do her hair or her makeup. She doesn't sit all day, with people serving food for her or asking her what she wanted, how she wants her coffee done or if she wanted massage. She doesn't have everything back when her family was still complete. But she was happy. It was an insufferable but she had love. Now, she has all the things she wanted to have for the benefit of her family… but she lost that one essential thing she had grown accustomed to have despite not having everything.

She couldn't have love.

Maybe that fucked up saying was really right: You can't have everything in the world.

"What's with your face?"

Misaki sighed, before she fiddled with her curled hair and tried to look like she was enjoying what she have. "Aoi, get off my face—"

"Sorry to say but I'm no Aoi." Misaki immediately snapped her head up to the mirror in time to see Tora standing by the door and grinning at her. "Wow, you look really beautiful. Can't believe you were hiding some beauty behind your tough exterior."

She smiled a small one. "Don't flatter me, really. Because you know, I still think this was a bad idea. Takumi's no… party guy."

"I know that." Tora laughed. "But really, he just called me awhile ago and said that he was coming here to party with us."

"Bet he was only coming here because he wanted to do more wrecking." She muttered, still annoyed because of her recent discovery. "Or probably, he came here because he was mad Aoi and I didn't get to call him before we run off."

"Hm, now you're talking like a married woman."

"I am a married woman."

"Do you love him?"

At that question, Misaki stilled. She stared up at Tora, startled by the sudden question and when she finally recovered after realization that her situation with Takumi is not under normal circumstances, she nodded. "I wouldn't marry him if I don't feel… um, that way."

Tora shrugged. "You didn't answer the question."

"Why are you asking me this?"

"Why do you think I'm asking you this?"

"Drop it, Tora."

"Your secret can't forever be hidden, Misaki. It'll always remind you that, one way or another; you made such a stupid decision in your life."

Misaki glared at Tora before she stands and whirls around to face him, anger was visible in her orbs. "This is not a stupid decision. He needs me."

"He needs you to free him." Tora corrected as he step into her room and shut the door closed. "Misaki, I never knew you to be a stupid woman. You were… nice and everything. Hardworking. So why? Why did you marry him when you know his reasons—"

"Why do you know this?" she inquired. "Are you spying on me? Again? You know, your hobby of being some psycho stalker is reaching such a substantial and irrepressible altitude. I could sue you for this."

"You won't do that to family."

"What is family, Tora?" she asked. "I've got no family. I've got no more left after that. Suzuna is, of course, but, really, what is family? I lost everything after… after that. I've lost practically everything that sometimes, I was wondering if these are all just some fucked up dream. That maybe, Mom wasn't really dead and Suzuna was really my sister, Dad was alive and I'm back in Saporro working my ass off at some farm… not married to some stranger who I was beginning to… to… who I was beginning to get some fucked up attachment to. Now you ask me if I love him. It was supposed to be an easy question. I could have answered it had you asked me days before all these. But now… fuck, I don't even know what's happening to me."

"Misaki—"

"Just leave me alone. Family does that, right? They leave relatives alone when they needed some space. I need space, Tora—lots of it. One look on all of you and I feel like I get suffocated."

Tora watched in silence as Misaki got her bag from a corner and pushed past him before pushing the door open only to end up gasping at the sight of Takumi standing right before her. She let out a startled breath, backing off a few steps away from him since he looked absolutely dangerous standing right there in front of her looking at her as though she was some kind of cornered prey.

When she was finally calmed, she tried opening her mouth. "I… what are you doing here?"

"I've come for you." His answer made her still again and she watched him watch her, looking like he was waiting for her to do the first move.

Misaki gathered her things on the floor and whirled to face Tora again. "Keep in mind what I've told you, Igarashi. I don't want trouble coming from you."

Igarashi raised his hand and nodded. "Okay."

"In a minute." Misaki watch Takumi as he entered her room and gasped loudly when he throw a punch right straight on Tora's face. She shrieked.

"You stay the hell away from my wife, you understand?!" Takumi snarled at Tora, his fist grabbing his collar before he shove him on the floor and turned to Misaki. She was still alarmed by the anger on his voice that when he whirled around to face her, she almost took five steps away from him to ensure her safety. But she couldn't do it because she was firmly rooted on the ground. Takumi stared at her; his eyes were almost contracted with the way his irises narrowed at the sight of her. But then, she was confused when her eyes suddenly softened when it caught the gauze on her forehead. He sighed, it was a shaky one and his stance went from rigid to awkward as though he was trying to calm himself. Misaki stared at him before her gaze trailed down to his fist which had blood on it.

And then, she saw his entire being. He was all messed up. His hair was disheveled, his eyes were crazed and his lips were firm as though he was trying to suppress his anger. And his hands, they were bloody, like he's been repeatedly punching something.

"What happened to you?" she managed to finally asked before dropping her things to touch his bleeding hand. "Where did you get this?"

"Let's go home."

"We're not leaving lest you had this cured. Come on." Misaki darted a quick, anxious glance at Tora first who nodded at her in encouragement before she dragged Takumi into the room she was requested to use—the one next to Aoi—and led him into the bathroom. She opened the faucet and carefully placed Takumi's hands under the running water before she looked for the first aid box when all of a sudden, she was forced to whirl around and ended up being swept away into a deep and forceful kiss by him.

Misaki didn't pushed Takumi away even if he was already beginning to hurt her because she was quite certain he needed something… an outlet to release all the anxiety he was experiencing. And she wanted this, too, because her stresses are building up and she wanted him too even if she doesn't have any idea why she wanted him this much… and not only because she needed him physically. His kisses were rough, something that was driving her out of her sanity as he carried her up and made her sit into the sink, the running water already drenching the laces of her skirt.

He was going all fast and Misaki wasn't ready for him yet. It was fast and they barely cleared the way since he seemed like he wasn't sure of what to do with his hands. He breathe into her neck, placing kisses all over her skin while she fumbled with his shirt, pulling it off and throwing it off to the floor, touching his warm skin, feeling every part and inch of him, wondering why she wanted her stranger husband so much when she was nothing to him but like all the other girls he had dated. But then again, it was her that he married. Even if she was just flattering herself, she was on a different level than them because it was her she married.

Misaki was dragged off the sink and she didn't know how he'd done it because next thing she knew she was on the bed and her well pressed gown were crumpled and her hair were in extreme mess. She could taste her lipstick inside his mouth as he do her and she's got nothing else to do but completely surrender her entire being to him, giving him whatever he wanted because she was well aware that Takumi needed her in a different level he had needed others in bed.

She shivered when he joined their bodies and immediately opened her eyes and looked deep down into his green orbs that seemed to have gone darker and darker as he hunch and thrust into her. Her nails dug into his skin, sweat trickled down her forehead while she shakily caressed his damp forehead, relishing the feeling of him inside her, making them one complete person. Her breathing became labored, as well as he, and she wanted more to regret in the morning that would come when he reverts back to his old self again and call her whatever. Misaki was certain she was being used, but she set the thoughts aside and pulled his face back to hers, kissing him in a more passionate way she never expected herself to actually do.

She was moaning and he was calling out her name with so much reverence she felt like she could die any minute now. Their kiss was passionate now and when their lips parted, Misaki smiled at Takumi and kisses him on the lips again before saying, "Happy birthday, Takumi."

.

Misaki was still silent as she watched Takumi sleep next to her, his arms was wrapped around her waist in an overly protective and possessive way. And she thought, this would be the second time they had slept together. She never really feared any repercussions, and if ever there would be anything that would happen because of a few hours of carelessness and irresponsibility—and breaking a few rules—she would gladly accept her punishments.

Even if she was certain as day that one day, it might just cost her a huge piece of her being… and heart.

She twirled his golden locks around her fingers, feeling the smooth and silky strand caress the pads of her soft fingers. She didn't really know how she would face him again, how they would interact with each other when everything is all just about… this between them. Takumi needed her to free him, Tora was right but he demanded a deeper need that Misaki wasn't that ready yet to give him. He was asking for the impossible and whenever his… needs would suddenly emerge, she would always be caught off guard and end up surrendering herself in complete and careless abandon to him. He was her undoing, and yet, despite all the barriers between them, all the hostilities they share, the misunderstandings and not fully opening up with one another, she was happy he still needed her. That he would only do this with her and definitely not with some other woman.

And now, she was attached to him on a level she hadn't experienced yet. Oh yes, she was attached with Aoi, but she never felt this way towards her best friend, either. She would be sad if Aoi would suddenly disappear but the sadness that would appear once it would be Takumi who would disappear could be something she might not recover already from.

She run a hand through her already messy hair, wondering what could be this thing she was feeling, why her heart aches and beats for him, why she was happy whenever he'd look her way and why she was not hesitant on surrendering herself to him when he never really view the same things the way she views them. She was wondering why every time he was around, time seems to have ceased and the world slows down to give them a much longer time period since theirs had time limit on it.

And it was unfair that while she was lying on her bed thinking about him, he could be lying on his own thinking about someone else—something else—but not her, that while she thinks that they were making love, it would be just casual sex with him.

And then again, the asymmetry of the world would really annoy her—make her feel as though she was the most incompetent person in the world out there because she couldn't get him to see the world the way she sees them. And already, the despair was taking over her since there were still no progress, no development between them. Would it always be like this? They would… do this every after fight because they couldn't voice out apologies? Always waiting for the other to do the first move? Always waiting? Thinking about the things that were always left unsaid? Thinking how they will make this marriage work for the entire year when they were always at each other's throat?

And in the end, it would always be her suffering the repercussions since she was always the one affected whenever they'd fight.

Again, the asymmetry of the world infuriates her.

Takumi stirred, placing all of his weight on her since he was already and almost on top of her, resting on her as though he was more comfortable being skin-to-skin with her instead of casually sleeping next to her. Misaki shut her eyes close, caressing his messy and chaotic hair, stroking his warm back before humming to make sure he continues his sleep since she wasn't ready to face him yet. The party downstairs already cancelled after Tora's announcement that Takumi suddenly felt sick and couldn't make it—probably because he was certain they would never make it past the door once Takumi corners her in her bedroom.

Misaki eyed Takumi again and without thinking, kissed him on the forehead, a deed more intimate than what they've done just a few hours ago and surrendered herself to stupor, too, wondering when would she ever really sleep in peace and not fear the day that she and Takumi would end up on another fight again.

And inside her colorful dreams, she was quite certain she heard Takumi whispering 'I love you' in her ear—something that would never really happen in reality.

.

ANDY