"Don't consider yourself oh so smart , boy"
The ex boyfriend grabbed Takumi by his collar making him let go of Misaki temporarily. The blonde haired gentleman gave him a look that screamed that he didn't give two flying craps about the way the former felt.
"Misaki" The scarlet head looked past Takumi "Won't you tell your boyfriend what I do to bad kids?"
"T-Takumi. P-Please a-apologize to him n-now" Misaki's eyes had a look of utter despair which only made Takumi's anger grow.
"Oh Misaki" His voice had a dangerous edge to it now as he grabbed the scarlet head's hand and shrugged it off effortlessly "Tell him what I do when someone tries to hurt my girl"
Stepping up to him , the latter seethed "Who do you think you are?"
"Takumi Walker"
The name as if had a devastating effect in itself made the guy stagger backwards , almost falling over in the process "T-The Walker?"
"That'd be me" Takumi replied hating how he had to use the power he didn't want control over. Grabbing Misaki's ex and pulling him closer so that only he could hear him , he whispered "Come near my girlfriend one more time and I will destroy you. Completely"
With that he let go of the ex completely and pushed him further back and reached for Misaki's hand. Entwining his fingers through hers , he walked past the ex , dragging a terrified Misaki behind him.
"A toast to your success in climbing the social ladder , Misaki" The ex seethed as Misaki passed him and she stiffened immediately.
Rolling his eyes , Takumi stopped , pushed Misaki behind him and yet again took a step closer to her ex "Say that loud and clear so that I can hear it too"
"You did the biggest mistake by letting her into your life" Scarlet head started speaking "A gold digger who's only fit to be a trophy wife. A whore who-"
Thud.
Amber eyes widened in surprise mixed with shock as she blinked twice to check if her ex was really on the ground or not. They had been attracting enough attention already and now as her ex lay on the floor with a huge bruise forming on his face from where Takumi had just punched him , they had the undivided attention of almost everyone present in the lounge.
"Say that one more time and you'd be in no condition to speak for the rest of your life" If looks could kill Takumi would have stabbed the man at least a thousand times "Let's go Misaki" Taking the ravenette's hand in his , he led her outside and to his car , opening the door for her.
Misaki didn't need anyone to tell her that getting in the car was the best option and staying next to Takumi , probably the safest.
"You can come in , you know"
"I am sorry for intruding"
"Don't be. It's always good to have company"
For the half an hour ride that they took in silence all the way back home , Takumi didn't bother making any conversation for which Misaki was grateful. She didn't pick any of Ryusuke's calls but messaged him telling that she had gotten sick and had gone home. She could sense his disappointment through the screen and so she promised to treat him to lunch soon.
Meanwhile , Takumi had called Ryusuke's parents up and explained the situation to them and apologized profusely for causing a scene to which the couple had laughingly told him they'd love to hear the whole story someday , meet the special girl and were up for drama any day.
"You up for hot chocolate?" The emerald eyed model questioned , tossing his tuxedo jacket on one of the dining chairs and walking behind the island counter.
"N-No..I am okay"
The blonde haired gentleman rolled his eyes as he took two cups out from the cabinet "You don't have to be so modest. Everybody loves hot chocolate. No shame in it"
That made the corner of the amber eyed beauty's lips lift as she took a seat on one of the highchairs in front of the counter , abandoning her stole on the dining table "Then I'd prefer hot chocolate in a mug bigger than that"
Takumi looked up before pouring milk and laughed , turning to take out a larger cup and holding it toward Misaki for confirmation and placing it down on the counter next to his cup after she nodded.
He was glad she was feeling at least a little better than before. Her waterworks had started ten minutes into driving back and he knew she didn't and was neither seeking any form of comfort from anyone at the moment. And so he had just loosened her seat belt and rubbed her back as she coughed occasionally. As much as he knew she didn't want anyone giving her empty words of comfort , he also knew she shouldn't be left alone until she was completely normal.
"So..." She started , pulling him out of his thoughts "His name is Asahi Takamiya"
Takumi's hand stopped midway from putting cocoa into the mug before he resumed his work "You don't have to tell me this if you don't want to"
"I think after all that happened , I owe you an explanation"
"No. You don't"
"I need to explain myself and you know..why I am so ...affected by him"
"Not really"
"Totally"
"You are not obliged to"
"But-"
"Misaki" Oh she could swoon when he said her name "You don't have to tell me anything just because of what happened. You aren't obliged to give me an explanation about anything" He stared at her for a long moment , waiting for her to respond "Okay?" He smiled at her and went back to making the beverage.
There was a moment of silence as Misaki gathered her thoughts and Takumi whistled as he mixed the contents of the drink "I am not telling you this because I feel I am obliged to..." She started , placing her hand over his to grab his attention away from what he was doing "I am telling you this ...because I want to"
Taking her hand in his , he entwined them before placing a kiss on the back of her palm "If telling me helps making it any better , even a little bit , I am all ears Princess"
Blushing as she took her hand back , she dipped her head low , letting her hair cover her face so that he didn't see the effect he had on her "W-Where do I start from?"
"From wherever seems comfortable"
"None of this is comfortable"
"Then you don't have to-"
"-I'll start from the beginning"
It was true that Misaki didn't feel obliged to tell him anything. But she wasn't telling him because she owed him anything. Yes , he had helped her get out of the situation when she had practically acted like she didn't even want to see his face. Yes , he had acted like her boyfriend to protect her. Yes , he had punched her ex without even knowing him just because he said things against her. And he did it without expecting anything in return.
And she? She just knew he was the right person to share this little but important piece of her past with.
"I met Asahi - Takamiya" She corrected "At a manga fair" She paused and looked up , making him look up as he nodded for her to continue.
"Where I was getting a signed copy of one of Fujiwara's best works and uhm..he just happened to take the last one so.." She looked at him as he was adding choco chips to the hot chocolate , making him look up again as she paused.
"Oh , I am sorry. Am I supposed to give a reaction for everything?" She would have found that statement offending but he looked like he was genuinely asking and so she let it slide.
"N-No. I-I was just wondering if you were listening"
"Oh right. I am doing some distracting work" He finished stirring and pushed her mug towards her "But now you have all of my undivided attention"
"Right" Wrapping her fingers around the mug , she lifted it to her lips and took a sip. After gulping she exclaimed "This is so good!"
Taking a seat opposite her , Takumi smiled "Glad you like it , Princess"
"I love it" She told him earnestly and smiled back. A moment passed before she put her mug down "Coming back to what I was saying.."
"Yeah. Go ahead"
"Takamiya and I met at a manga fair" She repeated "And he picked up the last edition of what I had come to take"
"Fujiwara's best work" Takumi nodded along , taking a sip too.
"Uh huh. Seeing as to how devastated I was , he let me have it and didn't even let me pay for it" A pause "That's when it all started"
It went unnoticed by Misaki but Takumi's fingers clenched the mug so tightly that his knuckles turned white but he didn't let his feelings show and waited for her to continue as she collected her emotions and got herself together.
"We weren't in the same school and I had met him in third year of middle school. It was because he wouldn't accept the money and I wouldn't stop pestering him about it , that he told me he'd take my money but in an indirect way. And so , I took him out for coffee. From there , we exchanged numbers and were constantly texting each other. One month into meeting each other , we started dating" She took another sip of her hot chocolate "And one year into dating , he cheated"
Takumi didn't say anything and contemplated his decision for a minute before going for it. He took her hand in his and gave it a small reassuring squeeze and didn't let go of it "It's alright. I am here"
He started to take his hand back but she squeezed back and held his hand in place "I was actually under the presumption that things might always stay the way they were. But he obviously he didn't have the same intentions. Fast forwarding to our one year anniversary , I walked into his apartment only to see him getting laid with the one woman he knew I absolutely hated"
"And that might be?"
"Queen Bee of my school. Ofcourse. It had to be her. He was a pretty hot topic at my school. And it wasn't like they hadn't ever met. They were just a lot closer than what I took notice of " She took a deep breath and swallowed the lump in her throat before laughing "And guess what happened next. Instead of using the legendary 'It's not what you think it is' he had the nerve to ask me to join him for a flippin' threesome"
Takumi's eyes almost popped out of their sockets at the shock he felt. But now rising over the shock was the newfound anger he didn't know was capable of feeling "And ..that was when you walked away?"
"Not before throwing the gift I had bought for him on his face. And trust me when I say this , when it collided with his nose , I couldn't have felt more satisfied" Her voice cracked at the end , a sharp contrast to what she had been saying.
"What happened next?" The emerald eyed gentleman asked softly after a moment.
"I got threatened" She replied , her hand clutching his tightly "And kidnapped" She whispered.
"What?!" Takumi's voice didn't come out as a shout , in fact he was so shocked that he could barely get any air into his lungs to form a perfect word , let alone a sentence.
"He was twisted in the head" Misaki resumed to speak , a while later "And I never caught the hint. He did go absolutely nuts after I refused to have any contact or meet him. I'd say I was flattered that it affected him so much but the truth was I doubt any girl had walked away from him. Maybe it was always him playing 'Date and Ditch' that when a finally a girl ditched him , he lost his mind"
Takumi waited for her to catch her breath and collect herself. All this was a lot for her and he knew that. He didn't want to pressurize her for any additional information and as sappy as it sounded , he was really happy and extremely glad that she was sharing such an essential part of her past.
He rubbed his thumb over the back of her hand in a reassuring gesture which made her look up and smile , albeit hesitantly.
"And so.. after the bipolar phone calls and texts that ranged from sweet 'Please come back , I am sorry's to bone chilling 'I am going to make you regret ever walking away's , he kidnapped me" She choked back a sob ".. and hid me in his mansion because he was sure people would check his apartment"
Wordlessly , Takumi got up and walked around the counter , not letting go of her hand before pulling her up and towards the couch. He didn't want to give a reaction. Not yet. And especially not in front of her.
Making her sit down , he took a seat next to her and waited. She would give details , soon enough. She just had to get over the memories and flashbacks first.
Every line , every word , every small bit of it was killing her but today she would finish it. Let it all out. Destroy every little bit that scared her till her nerves froze. But no , she was failing. The fear was overcoming her. Her palms were sweaty and her gaze , not steady. She wanted to be more confident but she was terrified beyond reason.
And yet. Here he was. Supporting her through all of it. She couldn't be more grateful for his silence and gentlemanly nature which held him back from prying any further. She had already let out enough waterfalls on their way back , she had to be strong.
She turned to look at Takumi , whose gaze was fixed on their entwined hands. Everything about him spoke of such perfection. His firm jawline , his shapely lips , his collarbone , muscled arms , lean torso , his eyes. Oh his eyes. They were the best feature he had and possibly the most appealing one too.
"Do you want to have some water?" Takumi finally asked , breaking the prolonging silence.
Slowly shaking her head , Misaki continued not before giving him a grateful smile "After three days of complete starvation , his Mother had found me locked inside the basement and rushed me to a Hospital. I had woken up a few hours later to find that his parents had already finished with his counselling and sent him to Rehab. The entire ordeal of those three days included murder threats and mockery sessions and …" She took a deep breath as her voice faltered "I could only pray"
Placing his hand on the nape of her neck he pulled her close to him and into a hug as the first tears started to fall. He knew she didn't want him to see her in that way and so he quietly let her release all the emotions she had been holding inside.
Wrapping her hands around his neck , Misaki sobbed for all that had happened. This was the most terrifying part of her life , a part she couldn't get over , a memory that would always haunt her. The nightmares were always there and now when she saw him in flesh , the buried ones would probably resurface. And a second time would completely destroy her.
With such devastating thoughts , her breath intakes got shorter and she had to heave in quicker breaths to fill into her lungs which resulted into her coughing into Takumi's shoulder.
Kicking his shoes off , Takumi crossed his legs and pulled Misaki closer and silently ran his hand through her hair , whispering softly "Shhh Princess. If he ever dare to take a step closer to you , I'll saw his feet off and ship them back to Rehab" He paused when he realized how disturbing that sounded and immediately switched to comforting her "No one can ever harm you , Misaki. Not until I am right here , beside you"
Inwardly wincing at how cheesy that sounded , Takumi opened his mouth to counter it with something a little more witty before he felt Misaki nodding slowly. Her mouth was muffled by his shirt but she murmured something along the lines of a 'Thank You' which made him smile.
A few minutes later , when Misaki's breathing had turned to normal and her sobs switched to sniffs , Takumi started to pull back after patting her head , gently.
"N-No!" Misaki shrieked , wrapping her arms around Takumi tightly , holding him in place , startling him.
"A-Are you okay?" Green orbs wide , he stared straight making no movement.
"Y-You c-can't see me like this.."
"Huh?"
"Not when I..I just finished crying and..and I am ..I don't look presentable" She was whispering against his ear and the sensation of it was making the hair on his skin stand "I..I am such a..mess right now"
Takumi smiled at the feminine problems coming out and in order to lighten the mood and see what other girly reactions Misaki was capable of , he leaned in and brushed his lips against her ear "You are a pretty hot mess if you ask me"
As if on instinct , Misaki punched him in the gut making Takumi almost double over which he quite literally did , falling on the floor none too gracefully "For a girl , you sure punch hard!" Takumi gritted , rolling over and clutching his stomach.
"It's your fault!" The amber eyed beauty retorted.
Takumi turned to question her judgement skills over harmless flirting before his eyes almost felt like they weren't looking at something so virtually..real.
Misaki was on her knees on the couch , looking down at him in all her flustered glory. Her dress was crumpled , her hair all over the place but still framing her face well , her cheeks flushed , her nose red , eyes striking and mesmerizing and her? Beautiful beyond belief.
Takumi had seen all kinds of different women in his life but not one reached the league Misaki Ayuzawa was in. She was something else altogether and he was going absolutely crazy for her. It was so berserk that it was scaring him.
Gulping , he managed to plaster a smirk on his face "Atleast you aren't scared of showing yourself now"
As if just realizing, Misaki placed a hand on her face to cover it and started to wipe it to try and look a little more normal "It's your fault!"
"I take full responsibility of my actions" Takumi grinned and kneeled in front of the couch , coming to eye level with her "No one can hurt you , okay? Not until I am right here" He sat back down.
She nodded in response and held her hand out to pick him up. Taking it , he slowly started to get up before she let go halfway and made him lose balance and fall again.
"The look on your face was priceless!" Misaki cried as she burst into laughter which was only increasing every time she looked at his annoyed expression.
"Yeah Cupcake. Real funny"
"Trust me , it was. I'd record it if I ever had a chance to , next time" She grinned at him and he couldn't help smiling back.
"Well now be a Lady and help me up properly" Takumi said , holding his hand out as Misaki sobered up and nodded.
Taking his hand she slowly started to lift him and as soon as he felt her letting go a second time he pulled on her hand. Misaki got pulled down from the couch and onto him.
"Not so funny now , huh Princess?"
"I swear to God I will-"
"Uh uh uh language" He laughed , ruffling her hair and sitting up.
"Where's your inner gentleman that made you pull a stunt like this?" Misaki retorted , sitting up.
"The exact same bedroom where your inner Lady is hiding" He winked before laughing at her horrified expression.
"You didn't just say that!" Getting up , Misaki grabbed a cushion and swung it at Takumi who managed to dodge just in time as he grabbed his own cushion.
"Getting rough , are we?" He smirked as Misaki chased him around the coffee table.
"I can't believe you have the audacity to say all that!" She didn't care about the coffee table anymore as with one leap she was up and on top of the magazines on the table , grinning evilly at a laughing Takumi.
"I never thought you of all people would have a demon aura" Takumi was almost falling on the floor as he clutched his stomach , the laughing intensifying.
"Oh you'll know with first hand experience just how my demon aura work- Woah!" Slipping on one of the magazines , Misaki started falling face first on the ground , just as Takumi grabbed her by the waist to steady her and she in turn grabbed a hold of his shoulders.
Opening her mouth to say something as her hair fell around Takumi's face like a curtain , she closed it again and gulped staring straight into his emerald orbs and tightened the hold around his shoulders.
Takumi , in turn , slowly lifted her off the coffee table and placed her on the floor not breaking eye contact with her. How could he? She was absolutely breathtaking.
"Are you okay?" He asked , taking his hands back making her mirror his actions.
"Y-Yeah" She covered her mouth with the back of her hand and nodded.
Smiling , he said "Don't fall for me so soon , Princess" His smile turned into a chuckle "Quite literally"
He had forgotten about the cushion in her hand until that moment.
"I-I am sorry.."
"What for?"
"It's nearly 11PM and you have to cook for me"
"I don't blame you for being hungry. Weren't you supposed to go for dinner with Ryusuke?"
"Yeah and I had to ditch the plan.."
Takumi kept a blank face but mentally , as horrible as it sounded , he felt content that she was here with him and not that red haired idiot.
"Well you can't do much about that now" Takumi said "However" He paused , waiting for her full attention and continued when he had it "You can do me a lot of help by telling me what you'd like to eat"
"Oh anything is okay. Do you have instant noodles?"
"Stop trying to survive on those and come over for dinner more often"
"That'll just be-"
"Problematic? It'll be a delight. Cooking for two people is a whole lot better" He smiled at her and walked over to the refrigerator.
Misaki watched him go and a strange feeling filled her. Being here in the kitchen with him was a different kind of intimacy. He was just cooking and she , watching. It was a regular thing to do but something about it was so special. And she could get used to it.
"Earth to Misaki , you here?" Not realizing that she had been staring right at him while..not actually staring at him , she violently shook her head and nodded at him.
"Yeah. You were saying?"
"I was asking if Spaghetti was a good idea since you like noodles so much"
"Are you serious?! Make something as normal as an omelette!"
Takumi furrowed his brows before shrugging "Spaghetti it is then"
"Takumi. No. Wait. Listen-"
She jumped off the counter before walking up to him "A cup of coffee is what I requested for. Not Spaghetti. Since when did the menu change so vastly?!"
"You are hungry , sweetheart. Not thirsty"
"Exactly. So I'll go home and eat instant noodles. Big deal?"
Takumi shrugged before taking the pan off the stove , his gaze lowered "Fine. You do that"
Amber eyes watched him for a second before her brain started working. Here she was thinking that she was being a burden to him while all he wanted to do was be there for her. Stupid stupid Misaki.
"No. Takumi" She grabbed his arm "I..I didn't realize that I'd sound offending because all I wanted was to not burden you anymore" Her gaze fell "Anymore than I already have" She quietly added.
"You have never been a burden to me , Misaki" He slowly smiled at her and placed his hand on her cheek , turning her face upwards "I just want to be there for you especially at a time like this. We are friends , right?"
Misaki nodded but she hated the fact of being friends with him as absurd as that sounded. It just didn't feel right for some reason.
Takumi regretted saying the last sentence as soon as it left his mouth. Friends? You've got to be kidding.
The two of them were so engrossed in their own thoughts that they didn't realize the position they were standing in and how close they were. Immediately turning away , the same time as Misaki did , Takumi picked the pan up from the side in his haste "Holy freaking-" He pulled his hand back and blew over the part he had burnt.
"What happened?!" The raven haired beauty was by his side in an instant "Oh shoot" She grabbed his palm and rushed him toward the sink , placing his hand below the cold running water. After a moment she turned to him "How?"
"I had forgotten the pan was hot and grabbed it from the side. Didn't know those things hurt like a bitc- hurt this bad"
"You are a classified idiot" Misaki shook her head before turning the faucet off "Got a first aid box?" She proceeded to ask as she inspected his bruise that was turning different shades of violet across the length of his palm.
"Last cabinet , fourth shelf" Emerald eyes followed her as she went to take the box out. The bruise didn't really matter to him. But getting pampered by Misaki? That he couldn't pass on.
Misaki returned a moment later and pushed him backwards , making him sit on the counter "Don't move" She shot him a warning look and took his palm in her hand and blew on it before opening the first aid box.
Takumi didn't really know what being ordered to felt like. His own family members couldn't push him around the way they wanted so it was obvious enough that nobody else could. But Misaki obviously didn't know that. Oh no wait. She wouldn't care even if she knew. And that made him smile as he watched her apply the antiseptic and wrap the bandage.
"You are so bad at this" The blonde haired model laughed as he saw her fiddle and fail at being able to wrap the bandage properly around his hand.
"I-I .. am trying. Efforts count you know?"
"Ofcourse they do"
His gentle tone made her look up and something in his gaze told her that no one had probably ever done it for him. Come to think of it he also lived alone. Were his parents elsewhere? He had no photoframes in his house of any person who might be a family member. For the first time Misaki found herself thinking - Who really was Takumi Walker?
"Here , give it to me" Taking the bandage from her after realizing that she had zoned out Takumi started bandaging his hand "Take your hand off Princess. I'll finish bandaging this and-" He looked up to see amber eyes still boring into him with an intensity that seemed like she was peeping right into his soul.
"Princess?"
"Who are you?"
Laughing nervously Takumi resumed bandaging his hand "What kind of an absurd question is that?"
Placing a hand on over his palm , she stopped him "Takumi Walker" She sighed and looked him "Who are you?"
The emerald eyed gentleman knew what the latter was implying and he was purposely avoiding the said question. He wouldn't..couldn't tell her anything. Not now..not yet.
"Misaki I-"
"I am sorry..I-" She exhaled in exasperation "I didn't mean to imply it that way. It's a personal choice whether you tell me or not" She turned around to put the box away when Takumi grabbed her by the arm and pulled her to him.
"There's nothing I can't tell you" He spoke quietly "Alas. The only difference being I don't think I am ready for it yet" Burying his face in her hair , he softy sighed making the hair on her nape stand up "Doesn't mean I don't want to tell you"
Smiling to herself , she softly stroked his hair as he continued "I just happen to be a bigger mess than you'd have imagined"
"Now I feel I forced it on you" Misaki chuckled breathlessly just as Takumi pulled away smiling at her.
"Nothing I wouldn't have come crying to you eventually about" He said , making Misaki laugh. Knowing all too well that he was bandaging Misaki's hand with his own as payback for when she had let go of his hand , he realized that she hadn't realised it yet as he struggled to maintain a composed facade.
"I'll put this away" She said , when their eye contact had prolonged way more than what either expected.
Nodding , Takumi watched her pick the box still not breaking eye contact and take a few steps back before turning around only for him to pull her back.
The blonde haired gentleman would have laughed at her startled expression if she hadn't let go of the first aid box in her haste and grabbed his shoulder to steady herself , their noses now touching , breaths mixed.
Glancing down at their hands wrapped together , amber eyes flashed "Very funny"
"Trust me it was" He smirked at the ravenette who was shaking her head and had lifted their hands to unwrap the bandage.
"Fingers up please" Takumi obliged and let her take the bandage off , bemused "There" She said , finishing the process of unwrapping "Help yourself-"
Entwining his fingers with her , he held her close , his emerald eyes boring into her. All through the night he had pretended it was okay. Pretended it didn't matter. Pretended it didn't affect him.
Truth was. It did. It was affecting him so badly. She was affecting him so much.
"Takumi I-" Her voice caught in her throat as Takumi brought an arm around her waist and pulled her impossibly closer. Was she trying to deny him? Push him farther away? Was that what she wanted?
Who was she trying to fool? Takumi Walker was probably the only man alive who had ever had such a devastating effect on her.
God forbid , the only thing she was hoping for was no regrets. She could probably push him away but ...she didn't want to.
They were impossibly close , noses touching , orbs helplessly gazing into the other , breaths mixed , thoughts one. Her other hand reached up and caressed the side of Takumi's handsome face just as he started to lean in and her eyes started fluttering shut.
"I am telling you there's no way he's asleep" The front door clicked open.
"I agree with chocolate boy. He's probably downing away his third bottle of champagne or something"
"Which means he's awake and can cook for all of ...us"
Chiyo bumped into Kanou on her way inside Takumi's penthouse , ready to reprimand the four boys frozen in the doorway when she saw why they were frozen.
Like this night couldn't get any longer.