Chapter 12 is finally here!!!

First of all, I want to thank all of the readers' kind reviews :) It really made my day!

Second, I would like to apologize for the late update… I've been busy with my work that I completely forgot about this until I saw all your reviews! I will try to update others as soon as possible but if I am late, please be patient and wait :)

Well, in the last chapter, Akira finally wore some feminine clothes! (Thanks to her mother and sister-in-law) Takumi was shocked. Then later, a boy that Akira seems to know very well showed up and Takumi was once again shocked. (He gets shocked often, tsk tsk)

What is happening then? Let's find out in this chapter!

Weeeee! Let's go!

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Chapter 12 : Declaration of Love War?

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"Eh? Who are you?" said the surprised boy, trying to get out from the hug.

"Tsk! How can you forget your own childhood friend huh?" Akira pouted slightly.

Hiroshi looked closely. "Akira! Oh my god! You are wearing skirt!" He laughed out loud.

Akira pinked slightly. "It wasn't my idea…" mumbled Akira.

"But, you look good!" Hiroshi winked at her. Akira smiled slightly.

"Thanks."

"Ahem!"

The two childhood friends looked at the forgotten boy behind them which happened to be Takumi. (Poor guy)

"Oh right!" Akira was slightly embarrassed. "Intro.. Hehe… Forgot about that…"

Hiroshi held out his hand. "Yoroshiku. The name's Sanada Hiroshi. Akira's childhood friend."

Takumi shook hands with him. "Yoroshiku. My name is Tokiha Takumi. Akira-kun's dorm mate."

"Dorm mate?" Hiroshi looked at Akira. "You mean your school allows girls and boys to stay in the same dorm?"

Akira shook her head. "No.. I thought I told you before. I am going to that school as a boy. Man, you sure are forgetful."

Hiroshi was slightly offended. "Excuse me! You told me when we were only 10 years old! How could I remember that?"

"Such a GOOD friend… Can't remember what I said…" Akira pretended to be sad.

Hiroshi put an arm around Akira's shoulder. "Alright… Today's lunch is my treat…"

"Woo hoo! Waiting for you to say that!" Akira patted his back.

Takumi, who was standing there from the beginning, began to feel left out. And a little jealous.

He put his arm around MY Akira! What the! But Akira-kun doesn't seem to mind…And I guess I can't claim Akira-kun is mine… said Takumi in his mind, feeling a bit sad.

"Takumi! We are going to leave you behind! Come on quick!" shouted Akira.

Takumi looked up and saw the two of them were already walking away.

"H-hey! Wait for me!"

Takumi ran after them.

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In a restaurant….

They were sitting at a table with Akira sitting opposite of Takumi and beside Hiroshi.

"So, Hiroshi. What did you meant when you said that the shop had shifted?"

Hiroshi stopped sipping his tea. "Well, the old man decided to stay with his son so he moved his shop near his son's place."

"Where is it now?"

"Nagoya."

"…"

Akira and Takumi exchanged glance.

"Takumi… Looks like we came here for nothing… How are we going to get it fixed now?"

Takumi sighed. "I don't know…"

Hiroshi looked thoughtful. "Isn't there a shop like the old man's in Tokyo? I think it is the old man's apprentice."

Akira's face changed to a hopeful face. "Seriously?"

"Yeah… I have the address. The old man gave it to me. Here." He handed the card to her.

"Yes! We still have chance! Hiroshi, you are the best!"

"Haha… I know!" said Hiroshi, jokingly. "Well, here comes our food. Dig in everyone!"

The three of them started to eat their food.

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Takumi was getting annoyed. VERY annoyed.

The whole time they were in the restaurant, Hiroshi and Akira were busy reminiscing their childhood time and somehow left out Takumi.

He got a feeling that Hiroshi was flirting with Akira but Akira was too dense to notice it.

Akira stood up. "I gotta go to the washroom. Be right back." She walked off, looking for the washroom.

Takumi watched her go.

"Tokiha-san."

Takumi turned to look at Hiroshi, who was smiling slightly at him.

"Yes, Sanada-san?" said Takumi grudgingly, still annoyed about just now.

"I noticed that you had been giving me deadly glares since we came in here. Is there a problem?" Hiroshi's smile turning into a smirk.

"No. Not at all…" muttered Takumi. Hiroshi's smirk was irritating him now.

"Heh.. Just so you know, I am not planning to give up on Akira."

Takumi was taken aback. "What?" What is he saying?

"I have a crush on her since we were small. So I won't give her up to you so easily." Hiroshi was getting serious.

"…" Takumi was speechless.

Do what you like… In the future, Akira-kun will still be married to me…Hahaha! thought Takumi, laughing evilly in his mind.

"Heh." Hiroshi simply said.

"What are you two talking about?" said the silent kunoichi that suddenly slid back to her seat.

"Whoa Akira! Silent as always! You surprised me!"

Akira punched Hiroshi lightly on the arm. "You let your guard down, that's all… I banged my knee on a table and cursed so loud but you two don't seem to notice at all."

"Eh? Serious? Let me see… Did it bruise?" Hiroshi checked her knee.

"It's nothing to worry about. Don't make a fuss here! You are like a mother! Haha!" But Akira still let him check her knee.

Takumi, who was observing the whole time, was suppressing himself from doing anything rash.

It's okay Tokiha Takumi, it's okay…Akira-kun is going to be your wife next time… Let Hiroshi do what he wants, he won't get it…

He looked at the 'intimate' position of Akira and Hiroshi.

Future can change… said a voice in his head. Anything can happen…

Takumi shook the negative thoughts out of his head. But that's right…Future can change… ARGH!

He slapped his cheek with both his hands. Two obvious red hand marks were on his face.

"Umm.. Takumi, are you okay?"

Takumi opened his eyes and saw Akira's face right in front of him, looking concerned.

He blushed at the closeness of their face. "I-I-I'm alright. A bit tired, that's all…"

"I see. I guess we should call it a day and go home?"

"Yeah, sure…" agreed Takumi. And away from Hiroshi!

"Hiroshi, why don't you come to my house for dinner tonight? I am sure my mom will be glad to see you." asked Akira.

Hiroshi grinned. "Sure."

Ah well, so much for getting rid of him…

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"Oh my! Is this Hiroshi? You've become more handsome!" Fumiko hugged Hiroshi happily.

"Hello, Auntie Fumiko," muffled Hiroshi, crushed by her hugs.

"Please, have a seat in the living room. Uncle Jiro is inside." gesturing them to the living room. "I'll cook up a feast tonight! Mishou-san! Start cooking right away! We have lots of things to do tonight!" She walked quickly into the kitchen.

They all were sitting in the living room with Jiro. Nobody dared to speak at all as Jiro was actually staring back and forth between Takumi and Hiroshi silently.

Finally, Jiro spoke up. "Sanada."

"Yes, Uncle Jiro?" Hiroshi sat up straight from his position.

"You are aware of what is happening in our family?"

"Yes, Uncle Jiro." Hiroshi bowed slightly.

"Good."

Silence followed after the last word Jiro said.

Takumi was confused. What? What is happening? How come HE knows and I don't?

Takumi continued thinking while Akira, Aki, Michiru and Hiroshi started to make small talk with each other.

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Akira and Aki were sitting at the corner of the living room.

"Akira," said Aki softly.

"Hm?"

"Does your friend there know about IT?" he whispered to Akira.

"… No, he doesn't." Akira stared at her feet.

"Are you going to tell him? Or are you going to keep him in the dark?"

"He doesn't have to know about it… It doesn't concern him…" Akira started playing with a loose thread on her pants.

"Are you sure, Akira? Are you okay with it? Is your friend okay with it?" Aki began to worry about his little sister.

"I don't want to involve him. Anyway, it's not 100 percent he will do it anyway…"

"I am not so sure about that…" Aki raised an eyebrow at Takumi, who was still sitting there thinking.

"…"

"Where is Ryuu and Kumiko anyway?" she looked around.

"Oh, you mean the two kids? They were exhausted from going shopping with Mother, so they were taking a nap in their room now."

"I see…"

"By the way, Akira. I forgot to inform you but Michiru is pregnant."

"Oh my god! Seriously? Congratulations, Aki! How long?" shrieked Akira.

"It has been 5 months. Well anyway, the weird thing is the two kids…"

Akira fidgeted. "What about them?"

Aki looked up at the ceiling thoughtfully. "The thing is… this morning mother was asking us what we are naming our child. The two of them happened to be there. The boy suddenly spoke up and said 'Isn't it Hattori?' to us. And that happened to be the name I was thinking of all long!"

Akira gulped. "So?"

"So, I have to ask something…" Aki leaned in closer so that nobody can hear him.

"Yes?" Akira was getting nervous. Does he know???

Aki looked at her straight at the eyes.

"Is the kid psychic or something?"

Akira fell down anime-style and sweatdropped.

"Is he?" Aki was excited, seeing her reaction and thought that he was right..

Akira laughed. "No, Aki. He's not. I think he said that name because I mentioned to him before that our clan's ancestor is Hanzo Hattori. So, I guess he got the name from there."

"I see…" Aki sighed, disappointed.

Akira sighed in relief. Thank god…For that second, I thought the secret was out!

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Dinner time…

Everyone, except Fumiko and Michiru, were sitting at the kotatsu and waiting for dinner to start.

Hiroshi saw Ryuu and Kumiko, who were sitting beside Takumi, and asked, "Hello? Who are these two charming kids?" He smiled at them.

Akira-kun and my kids Or so that's what Takumi wanted to say but of course he can't say that. "My cousins. Their parents went outstation so I brought them with me."

Ryuu and Kumiko bowed slightly at Hiroshi. "Nice to meet you, Unc- Hiroshi-oniichan." They greeted, fumbled at the last words.

"Same to you too. How do you know my name anyway?"

Oh shit! Takumi and Akira thought.

"Just now Auntie Fumiko told us to greet you as Hiroshi-oniichan. So we know." Ryuu told Hiroshi.

"Oh…" Hiroshi frowned at them, apparently thinking of something.

Nice save…Takumi, who were holding his breath that time, breathed in relief.

"All right everyone! Give way… Loads of food coming!" called Fumiko cheerily, followed by Michiru, Mishou-san and other servants.

They laid out all the food on the table. It was a delicious sight.

"Wow!" exclaimed Takumi. "We can feed an entire army with this big amount of food!"

"Well, too bad there is no army here! Just us! So Takumi-kun, I hope you are very hungry!" Fumiko patted his head gently.

"You bet!"

"Let's eat, everyone!"

The whole starving group began eating.

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"Here, Akira. Your favourite unagi." Hiroshi placed an unagi on her bowl.

"Thanks, Hiroshi." Akira nodded her thanks.

Takumi saw that. There's no way I am losing to you!

"Akira-kun, you like mezashi right? Here, take this." Takumi put it in her bowl too.

"Umm, right. Thanks, Takumi." Akira was puzzled.

Hiroshi began his counter-attack. "Akira, here. Mushrooms."

Takumi was also not giving up. "Here you go, Akira-kun. Chicken."

Soon, variety of food was piling up on Akira's bowl.

The Okuzakis watched the little act in amusement.

Finally, Akira couldn't take it anymore. "Boys! I think I have enough food in my bowl that can last me a week!"

The two 'fighting' boys stopped and looked at her. "Oh right, sorry…" they mumbled and ate their own food.

"Mataku… What's wrong with them?" Akira grumbled and started eating her big pile of food.

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Dinner was finally over. Surprisingly, all the food was finished. Thanks to Aki's bottomless stomach.

Fumiko began to clear up the table. Michiru and Akira joined her to clear up.

"Akira" Jiro looked up from his newspaper.

"Yes, father?" Akira was piling up the dirty plates.

"Meet me in the family room after cleaning up. Alone." said Jiro, emphasizing on the last word.

"Yes, father." Akira bit her lip. "So, it's finally time…"

T B C –

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Phew! That's all for now!

Whoa! What is happening? But I guess a lot of people already expected what is happening but what is stopping anyone else from fantasizing other stuff? Winks

Please look forward to the next chapter!

Author's notes :

Sorry for the English mistakes! I am a dull person that has small vocabulary knowledge. Anyway, please read and review my story! Greatly appreciate it!

Oh and to inform everyone, my next chapter will take a while as I am going on a vacation. I'll try to do a chapter before the vacation but I doubt I could finish it in time. So everyone, please be patient!

Thank you

Saffyopal