Chapter 9

"I'm very exhausted." Kahoko stretched her both hands, reliving the stiffness lingered in her muscles. It had been a very tiring day for her. Works and more chores flooded her the whole time; not to mention the trials she ought to face the next day. With that thought, Kahoko sighed.

Donned in her favorite bunny pajamas, she dropped herself on the bed, yawning. "Aren't you going to sleep yet?"

Len glanced at her and back to the book he was reading, a simple nod barely reached her perception. Kahoko pouted, rolling to the other side of the bed. "Fine, good night then…" she yawned. "Len."

He had not seen her expression, nonetheless, he could sense a smile festooned in her lips. Len sighed; he shook his head lightly, before occupying himself in reading once more.

Minutes had passed; silence enveloped the surrounding, wind, whispering through the window, circulated to devour the place. Fingers of frozen zephyr mingled in their senses, caressing their uncovered body. Kahoko sneezed a bit, seeking for the lost warmth of her body.

Len looked back, annoyed registered on his face. He sighed and returned to his reading.

One hand flew towards his waist, earning a soft gasp from the cerulean head lad. He glanced, opening his mouth to talk, however he closed it yet again. The silence deepened, golden eyes travelled on the sleeping maiden's façade. For the umpteenth time, Len sighed, resignation laced.

He shifted lightly, careful not to wake the woman, grabbing the blanket just about their foot, and pulled it towards them. He stared at her once more, somehow, captive and afraid of altering his stare as though she might disappear.

The thought provoked something inside him; hiss drew out of his lips. What was happening to him? He did not know. His hand moved on its own, eyes still engrossed with the woman, before he knew it his hand landed on her cheek. His eyes made an 'o' shape as he could feel the coldness yet softness of her cheek. He sustained his attention, heart pounding in his chest as heat coiled up to his own face. A frown lined on his lips, realizing the weary expression of her face. He sighed; her voice echoed in his psyche, the mere thank you rolled back and forth, giving his heart a flutter in every memory of her voice. With a simple thank you, he felt all giddy.

"You've done a good job. You deserve it."

His gentle touch met her cherry lips.

Len leaned closer.

~NeKo Meow~

In his wonderful dreamland, a rough voice flooded his mind. Len frowned, how much he wanted not to wake up or even not to open his eyes, he could not. The voice was loud enough to haul him out of his fantasies. He opened one eye, discerning who the culprit was.

His frown cluttered on his handsome face, deepening the crumples on his already crumpled forehead out of irritation, mood turned undeniably sulky. "What are you doing here?"

"Good morning Master Len." Takumi smiled, bowing.

"How did you get here?" Len sat up, leaning against the headboard. He grunted, audible enough to state his intent, merely telling the old butler that he had disturbed his sleep.

Takumi, face composed, bowed once again. "The door is open."

"You should have knocked first before barging in. You are well aware of that manner."

"I did, but no one's responding. I thought you got a nightmare and would not wake up. Forgive this one's brusque manner. I am merely worried about your welfare."

"Hn."

"Or rather, a good dream you don't want to let go." Takumi whispered.

"Did you say something?"

"No I did not. You must be on daze."

"Must be." Len shrugged the thought, thinking about the matter at hand. Where was Kahoko? She should at least close the door before leaving him. He mentally sighed, taking notes of giving her a handful of reprimands later.

Noting the search in his master's eyes, a little smile crept out of the butler's face. Almost accurate. "If you're looking for Mistress Kahoko, she went out to buy things for her next trial."

"What do you mean?" Len threw a scowl towards him.

"Her trial is about cooking." His eyes flickered challenge.

In that fact, ire bloomed, however Len remained immobile, calming himself before responding. "Ok then, you may take your leave."

Takumi bowed yet again. "I have prepared your breakfast."

"Hn." How about Kahoko?

Takumi's little smile grew bigger, as though he could read his master's mind, he glanced back. "Mistress already ate her breakfast earlier before she went to the mall. Don't worry about her anymore."

If not because of his proficient mask, he would have been gawking in surprise. "I'm not worrying." Len stood up, easing the tension building around him, making an excuse of preparing himself. "I'll be at the dining soon. You can leave now, Takumi."

"Another one, master Len."

"Hn?"

Takumi dropped his hand inside his vest and brought out a brown envelope. "Here."

Len glanced, questioning, he did not need to utter it as his eyes remained frozen on the said envelope.

"Open it."

Len grabbed the envelope, suddenly, a hasty pace roared inside his chest, sweat formed at the top of his forehead, gliding to his silken cheek. His hand stopped midway, he did not need to open it more as he could distinguish what was inside.

He gulped; mask fell in fragments as his eyes hiked up in size.

~NeKo Meow~

"Home at last!" Kahoko put her things on the counter, turning around to look at her companion. "Manami-chan, thanks for accompanying me."

"It's nothing, Miss—"

"How many times do I have to tell you, Kahoko… you can call me Kahoko instead. I'm tired of Takumi calling me that and even the others. I already told them not to but they don't want to listen. I hope you don't mind Manami-chan, I don't like honorifics on my name."

Manami chuckled. "If that's what you want Ka-Kahoko," she shyly uttered.

"A lot better." Kahoko smiled back.

"Mistress."

Kahoko grunted, hearing another honorific. She spun around to look who was that. She came to meet a boring look of Takumi.

"Takumi-san." She forced a smile.

"Indeed, I am." his voice tinged with sarcasm, Kahoko pouted.

"W-We're not going to start yet, are we?" Kahoko waited for his reply yet he did not speak. "Is it all right? I'm going to change my clothes first. " I need to talk to Len too. Would he say yes?

"We're going to start later this afternoon, it's all right if you have things to do. You have enough time."

"Ok," Kahoko replied, smiling. I hope he does, I'm tired staying in this place… I need to work.

~NeKo Meow~

"You kissed her?" Takumi's voice rolled through his ears.

Color left Len's face, he gulped, keeping himself composed as possible yet, the matter happening tensed him more. How did he know? In addition, where did he get 'that'… the picture? "I haven't continu…" he cleared his throat, looking away.

He could not believe it, he almost slip, nonetheless it was already too obvious to take it back.

"So you're planning to?"

"I don't!"

"My, dear Len, you know you are not good at lying. I've been looking after you since your childhood. You can't lie to me."

Len adjusted his shirt, somehow, he became stressed talking about his mistake last night. Why did he do that in the first place? All things happened so fast, his hand moved on its own, his mind clouded and overwhelmed by the strange sensation thumping within his chest. He leaned closer, feeling the warm respire fondling, caressing his skin. He sought for her touch. "I did not kiss her and that's the truth."

"You did not but you're planning to." A light spark in Takumi's eyes sent shivers through his spine.

"Enough, I wish not to talk about this!" Len tried to close yet it seemed the butler thought otherwise.

"You know that any time I can give this to her."

"You wouldn't."

"But I can, Len."

Scowl crumpled his annoyed face, he clenched his teeth and retaliated. "I repeat, you would not speak any of this."

"Aren't you going to ask how did I get it?"

"A—"

"We, indeed, are in the modern era. I have a secret eye behind this room, better yet, a very diligent item."

"It can't be." Len looked around, stopping midway just in front of a huge painting opposite of their bed. When did he put it? He glanced at Takumi who gracefully shrugged his shoulders. "Get it off." Why he didn't notice the camera.

"I'm sorry to say but I couldn't."

"It is you who put it, and as your master I order you to remove it."

"I am only doing my job, master Len."

"It is part of your job. Do what I say." Len glared at the camera and back at the butler.

"Indeed, yet, not merely you. I am serving the Tsukimori household long before your existence."

"Then, I have to remove it on myself."

"Nearing on it would just endanger your life. It has a build in laser if ever anyone tries to remove it. Only I who know how to disable it, Master."

Len massaged his temples. What did mother instruct to him? Len mentally queried. Takumi already knew about their false marriage however, he was still there, seeking for some facts that Len could not decipher what. "Aren't you going to tell mother about this false marriage?"

"In that part…" Takumi paused, reading his eyes. "I will remain silent for your sake."

Thoughts battled inside Len's mind. What is he up to? He did not want to inform Len's mother yet he was doing another observation. For what?

Seeing the trouble on his façade, Takumi bowed and bade his leave. It was enough for that day. "You should not say anything to Mistress. Do consider it as one of her trial. I need to observe her every move." Your own as well. Kahoko is not alone in this trial. He glanced at the corner of his eyes.

~NeKo Meow~

What is he up to? Len kept on thinking half of the day. He declined to leave the house and stayed in his room as thoughts crept continuously in his head.

The door creaked open, pulling the man out of his world.

"H-Hello?" Kahoko started it as a greet, nonetheless she ended it with a question.

Len looked back, he sighed, stood up to approach her. "Finally you're back." He caught a glimpse of the painting where the camera was and back to Kahoko. We cannot talk here.

"Y-Yes why?" confusion kneaded over her brow.

He remained quiet, erasing their distance in every step.

Len leaned closer to her position. Kahoko gulped, a line of sweat dropped down her neck. "W-what is it?" she asked, lips quivering.

The man remained impassive; deciphering his emotion was far from possible. "Let's take shower together." He bluntly muttered.

As though a bomb exploded between them, Kahoko pushed herself backward, aiming for the door. Blood in her body went crazy, giving flush tints in her skin. "L-Look at the time, I think they are waiting for me...trial remember." She swallowed her words once his hand enclosed hers, his form towering her little frame.

His face inches away from her, Kahoko's heart doubled its beat; her face was a good embodiment of a tomato. "We need to talk," he whispered. If anyone were eavesdropping, she or he would not have a chance to discern it.

"C-c-can we talk la—'eep'." She gasped. My feet… the floor. Kahoko panicked. Why am I floating…? The realization hit her as she glared at him. "Put me down!"

"Didn't I say we're going to take a shower?"

"But I don't want to!"

He could feel her pulse thumping against his hand, entertained with her reaction, in the slightest time, Len forgot about his inner predicament.

He opened the bathroom door and closed it hurriedly before letting go of the girl.

"What do you want?" she asked, rather shouting.

"We need to talk."

"Why here?"

Len sighed, continues shouting sored his ears. "First." He paused and Kahoko gave him a glare. "Be quiet."

She looked away, pout curled on her lips.

"Listen."

She kept her eyes away.

For the second time Len repeated yet the outcome was still the same. She did not bother listening or even looking back. Patience starting to drain out of his body, Len grunted, cupping her chin to force her to look back.

Audible gasp reached Len's ears nonetheless, he cared nothing. "Will you stop being childish and listen to me?"

"As if I have a choice," she threw back, pouting.

Len sighed once more, never freeing his hold on her. "There's a hidden camera in our room." Takumi warned him not to tell her, nevertheless his mind was too clouded, he forgot. He did not realize what consequence it could give him later.

"What—" she was cut off by his hand.

"Didn't I say to you be quiet," Len reprimanded freeing her.

She nodded. "Why don't you remove it?"

"I'd have done it already if I can."

"What do you mean?"

"Would you stop asking? You can leave now."

"Is that it? You dragged me here just to say that and you've not even done anything to remove it. Are you going to ask me to remove it for you?"

"No one can, only Takumi can disable it." He grunted, his head starting to ache. "I only want to inform you."

"It doesn't harm us anyway. Why did he put it?"

"For your trial."

"Eh? Does he need to know everything I do?"

"Obviously."

"Sorry then if your little privacy is being affected…" she paused, eyes shone with the realization that Len did not want to see.

He looked away, swallowing hard.

"Did this camera capture something that disturbed you?"

Embarrassment was an understatement. Len tried to calm his expression as possible as he could. "It didn't." he lied.

"Really? It seems it did. What are you fretting about, you look so disturb when I entered."

"Nothing."

Cupping her chin, Kahoko shifted her stance, thinking. "Your voice sounds strange."

"It does not, would you leave now."

"No we're not finished yet, I have ques—GOODNESS!" she turned around, blushing. "What are you doing! Put your shirt on!"

"Do I need to repeat myself? I'm going to take a shower, so would you mind leaving."

"Sheesh, you're despicable!" stomping her feet first before leaving.

Len grunted, deep. He gathered himself again and took his leave. He did not like to talk about it anymore or be in the hot seat once more, doing such was the only effective thing to shoo her away. He clenched his fist. Takumi you're giving me a headache!

~NeKo Meow~

"That man is annoyingly disturbing!" Kahoko paused. "Crap, I forgot to tell him about the job." She slapped her forehead before walking once more, curses leaving her lips in every stomp of her foot. "Better tell him. Now or never."

Knock behind the door left him hanging on his seat, Len harrumphed, organizing himself before he spoke. "Come in."

"Eh? I thought you were going to take a shower?"

"If you're going to bring that topic again, you may leave. I will not speak to you."

Kahoko pouted, heaved her hand upward in resignation. "Ok, Ok, I'm not here for that. I forgot to tell you earlier but I want to request something."

"I—" knowing he would retort, Kahoko cut his word.

"Listen to me first."

Len closed his lips, nodding. She had listened to him earlier anyway.

"You see, staying here is kind of boring…"

"Are you trying to say that my house is boring."

"Not that." She shook her head. "I'm not fond of doing nothing. I mean, as in not earning something. I want to work. There, I said it. I want to look for a job."

"No."

"What no!"

"Are you that dumb that I need to repeat everything that I already said?"

"But…" she scowled, anger flaring through her golden eyes. "Why can't I? In that case I can pay my debts."

"You're already working here."

"But I want a real job."

Len arched a brow. "What kind of job?"

"Job, like going to office something like that, then being paid every month… that!"

"No. I will not allow you."

"Please!" she pleaded, fluttering her eyes.

"No, and it's final."

"Damn you." She pouted, the angelic look she put earlier had gone in a split second.

~NeKo Meow~

It had been an annoying day for Kahoko, first, tiredness already consumed her body much earlier than she expected, second, she had not clean or even wash her face as she stated she would, and the last was fresh clothes she soon forgot when she fumed in anger while talking to Len.

With fluttering eyes, Kahoko continued her chores.

"Kahoko, are you sure you're ok? I can do this by myself. Take a rest now."

Kahoko looked back, smiling at Manami. "I'm fine. We're almost finished anyway."

The whole afternoon, Takumi instructed Kahoko to bake cupcakes and sweet pastries for the charity work Tsukimori family would always tend to. It was in her unlucky day that most of their house helpers were on a day off.

Kahoko yawned for the umpteenth time.

"Kahoko, for whom is that?" Manami asked, recounting the cupcakes if ever she miscounted it.

"It's for…" she yawned. "Len."

Manami stopped. "Awe." She chuckled.

"Why?"

"I thought we're not yet finish."

"Silly, anyway, let's pack these things up. Takumi is impatiently waiting for this." She chuckled, mimicking Takumi's voice. "You have to finish all the work fast."

They both chuckle afterwards.

"Ahem."

Manami ducked closer to Kahoko, giggling nervously.

"Takumi-san, we're finished." Kahoko stood ahead, smiling.

"Fine. You can take a rest now."

"Yay." Kahoko shouted, but just to cover her mouth with her hand the second Takumi threw a reprimand stare at her.

"Really, mistress, you never learn."

Kahoko bowed her head, apologetic.

"Yet, you're trying your best, impressive."

She lifted her head, beam adorned genuinely in her lips. "Really?"

Takumi nodded and turned to inspect their work.

~NeKo Meow~

Walking turned very light for her, getting a good compliment from Takumi only says she was doing a good job and possibly ending the trials with flying colors. Her heart fluttered with glee thinking about that. She hopped then walked towards her destination.

She exhaled, reluctance suddenly trailed in her expression. She moved ahead, mist formed on her hands as it shook.

"If you're trying to ask the same question, my answer would be the same." He muttered.

"How did you know it's me?"

"The noise of your shoes. You are the only one who does not act on her age."

"Are you really like that? Retort for breakfast, lunch and dinner, in no doubt even dessert."

"Leave if you'll just waste my time."

Kahoko sighed, she was too tired already to argue. "Anyway, I bring you some cup—"

"I don't need one."

"Just a try…." She walked closer.

"Will you leave me…for—"Len grunted, his head still throbbing from his thoughts. Holding the chair to push his body, he turned to face her.

Crash followed.

"Is retorting not enough for you?"

Her voice, filled with contempt, ran through his head like a chant, increasing the painful throb in his temples. He winced; lump blocked his throat, preventing him to speak. He remained rooted, frozen and sight, blurry of an image of a woman on the verge of crying.

"I'm trying to become a better wife for you. To make this plan work. However, it seems you don't care at all."

He refocused his sight, squinting to know what was happening, only that when his vision turned clearer everything flooded continuously.

Broken plate.

Cake on the floor.

Kahoko's eyes started to water.

It was an accident. He wanted to mutter yet he could not speak, he opened his mouth but only air went out. He did not know she was that near.

He stood up

Hitting her hand until what she was holding fell.

"I had had enough of this Mr. Tsukimori. Leave you huh? Better look for another wife. I'm leaving."


A/N: About Mori, sorry about that, I have put a Mori in Chapter 2, but they are not the same. That's all.

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