Disclaimers: I don't own anything.

Dedicated to:

Dedicated to all girls and boys out there who's in love with Usui Takumi. Damn, he's really sexy. :D

-;-

#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?

-;-

I can't take a day without you here. You're the light that makes the darkness disappear.

-;-

Spoiler:

"I love you, and it's getting damned worst!"

A/N:Another clue! Who said this? :D

-;-

Twenty One:

Aoi was pretty certain something was wrong with the twenty two year old woman the moment he had laid his sharp and feline eyes on her. Kaon Umekoji was too friendly with Misaki, too clingy with Takumi and definitely too obnoxious and irritating for him. He wasn't even sure why his stupid brother and his idiotic best friend puts up with the unpleasantness of the woman. She was just so annoying and clingy and fake that he and Chiyo could easily see right through her façade. She was a pretentious little bitch who was obviously aiming for Takumi and already, he could imagine the disagreement her very presence would put amidst him and Takumi had his brother agree to go out with the woman after his divorce with Ayuzawa.

Saying he dislikes her would be the understatement of the year because he didn't just totally dislike her. His feeling is something deeper and adept. In fact, Aoi find that Kaon woman detestable… objectionable and had there been a chance, he would definitely stay off her path because he might end up doing something he usually doesn't do: push someone off a cliff.

"You look like you're going to puke."

Aoi sneered at Ayuzawa Suzuna who looked absolutely dashing and smart—and definitely as beautiful as her sister—on her simple long sleeve, off shoulder and soft white colored satin dress. Suzuna dresses too simply for her own good—similar to her sister—and thanks to him, they were able to dress a lot better now since they were following his suggestions on what they should wear whenever they'd attend parties or formal gatherings. He didn't know why the Ayuzawa siblings is so averse on dressing up when they have bodies to die for and beauty to flaunt on the entire universe.

Sometimes, he just wanted to hit the two for being stupid and idiotic on the wrong moments.

"I'm not going to puke." He mumbled, still glaring daggers towards Kaon's directions who was so busy bothering the Usui couple when he wouldn't even dare do that since he was too keen and adamant on giving the two some privacy and alone time. "Look at that woman."

"Woman who?"

"That ugly bitch that was bothering Misaki and Takumi."

Suzuna followed where Aoi's gaze was leading him and, indeed, saw a petite woman with cropped hair and slender figure standing next to Takumi, looking more like she was the wife instead of her sister. Automatically, her eyebrow rose. "Who. The. Hell. Is. That. Ugly. Woman?" she asked Aoi, word by word. "She wasn't supposed to be there, is she not? Can't she see that Takumi-nii and Misaki doesn't need and extra companion?"

"Well, you tell me. You're idiot sister and my idiot brother doesn't even have the guts to kick her away. Why the hell did Chiyo invited that woman anyway?" I'm going to give a piece of my brain to that Chiyo later.

"Come with me." Aoi gasped when Suzuna suddenly grabbed his hand and started weaving through the crowd, dragging him with her as they approached the Usui couple. When Misaki notice their presence, she beamed obviously at the sight of Suzuna and tugged on the hem of Takumi's fitted black suit vest who instantly snapped his head towards their direction and produced a small grin. Kaon stared their way, too, and Aoi noticed how her eyebrow raise the slightest while staring at Suzuna.

Hah! Take that! She's prettier than you, betch!

"Suzuna!" Misaki exclaimed and walks forward them to hug the sister. "Oh, my God, you're so pretty!" and then she eyed Takumi. "What do you think of my sister, Takumi?"

Takumi nodded at Suzuna and lowered his head the slightest. "Good evening, Su."

"Good evening, Takumi." Suzuna greeted back, mirroring Takumi's emotionless tone. Aoi thought he wanted to laugh at the two. "I see that both of you are busy. How are you doing?"

"Fine." Misaki answered enthusiastically—too enthusiastic. "We're doing fine."

"How's Law school?" Takumi asked.

"Better. I've been studying a lot of cases lately and I was thinking of passing up a new law."

Misaki's forehead creased. "New law?"

"Yes, you know, cases that could be filed against people who bothers couples when it was so obvious they needed privacy." Discreetly, she eyed Kaon Umekoji who obviously understood what she meant by that and whose eyes automatically narrowed. "How are you doing, my dear brother-in-law?"

Takumi chuckled darkly because he obviously understood what Suzuna meant by her earlier statement. "I'm fairing well, too, dear sister-in-law. Have you seen Chiyo already?"

"Yeah. I've greeted her on the backstage awhile ago. She looked harassed."

"Oh, by the way, how mean of me." Misaki smiled widely before she slightly turned to Kaon and smiled. "Suzuna, do meet Umekoji Kaon-san. She's the daughter of the Umekoji Industries, Takumi's new business partner in the shipping lines business. Kaon, this is my sister, Suzuna. She'll be the future lawyer of our family. She's currently in her third year in college."

Kaon produced an ultra sickeningly sweet smile and lends out her hand to Suzuna. "Hello, Ayuzawa-san, do call me Kaon. I heard a lot of good things about you. Ever since your appearance on Misaki and Takumi's wedding, you've already gotten my attention."

Suzuna's expression remained neutral as she accepted Kaon's handshake. "Is that so? That's too bad, then. I don't really like it whenever I'm getting another set of stalkers."

Aoi actually had the nerve to chuckle openly while Takumi simply looked away and cleared his throat to make sure nobody would notice his obvious enthusiasm and amusement to Misaki's blunt little sister. Go, go, Suzuna! Aoi thought mentally.

On the other hand, Misaki cleared her throat, too; startled by Suzuna's snide remark. "Suzuna." She reprimanded her easily, before eyeing Kaon. "She's a lawyer."

Kaon's eyes were already narrowed dangerously—Aoi and Suzuna notice that clearly—but since Takumi was present, she decided to simply smile at Misaki to earn everybody's favor. "It's fine. I guess the way I've said it came out wrong. But I'm really glad I've met you, Ayuzawa-san. It was such an honor meeting the future defenders of our country."

Aoi merely rolled her eyes while Suzuna finally decided to ignore her and gazes at the couple. "Misaki-nee, Takumi-kun, shall we go get our seats now? Chiyo-chan's been looking for us ever since I showed myself in the backstage." Sweetly, she smiled a sinister one at Kaon, clearly dismissing her. "We'll see you later, Umekoji." And without a word, she pulled Takumi—while Aoi held Misaki's arm—and they went off to their respective seats.

Aoi was secretly laughing all the way. Ladies and gentlemen, Suzuna Ayuzawa nailed it!

.

Misaki was definitely not stupid but she had clearly notice the deadly exchange between Kaon and her little sister Suzuna before the start of Chiyo's gala. But since she already became busy with further preparation and development of the other places, she simply shrugged off the earlier discussion as the obvious product whenever Suzuna is in one of her moods. She doesn't really like social gatherings like this since she'd rather the company of a wall and she decided to apologize to Kaon after the event to make sure there were no hard feelings between her and her sister.

Aoi and Chiyo—and now, Suzuna—might not really like the woman but she hasn't done anything to her that could make her hate Kaon. In fact, she looked like a sweet, little thing that just needs attention since she was still young. Maybe, just maybe, she harbors a secret crush on Takumi. Well, who wouldn't, right? The guy was just so perfect even some of his kind prefers him than women. And besides, he looked extra dashing today, wearing nothing but a pair of dark colored dress pants, light blue dress shirt and a fitted black suit vest that just complimented his entire stature and gave emphasis to those hidden muscles that was usually covered by his always formal suit.

At the reminder that Kaon might have a crush on Takumi, she instantly felt jealous of her.

"Misaki," Automatically, Misaki snapped her head towards Takumi's direction when he reappeared out of nowhere and stands next to her by the terrace. The gala was already over and since they were invited, too, on the cocktail party Chiyo held, they decided to stay for a few more hours before they leave. Suzuna's apartment was pretty far and she offered her to stay in their home but Suzuna declined her offer politely and told them Aoi had already arranged for her to stay in their previous house. Well, it was fine with her. If there was another person she considered Suzuna's safe with, it would be none other than with Aoi.

Misaki smiled at Takumi as he took the space next to her. "Yo, having fun?"

"I only came here because you and Aoi came. I didn't come here to enjoy at all."

"Always the bad boy, Takumi, huh?" she muttered with a roll of her eyes. She doesn't totally get this man, or why was it so hard for him to simply say he was having fun for Chiyo's sake. "I don't really get you at all."

"Well, aren't we two entirely different beings?"

She snickered at that, but nods in agreement anyway. "You're right." We're just two different people who aren't allowed to be together. "Have you seen our siblings?"

"Suzuna was so cool awhile ago."

Her forehead creased. "When? Why? How?"

"If you didn't understand it, then, it doesn't matter." He smirked at her again before he looked down on the garden below then and turned to Misaki. "Want to walk around over there? Chiyo's Hall had a really nice location. There's a cliff over there, too."

Misaki looked over the direction Takumi was staring at before she checked the foot trail—it was a stony path. But she would very much rather be with him now on any place in the world even if she was wearing extremely high heels than stay here—in this slightly boring party, indeed—and so, she immediately agreed and followed him when he walked towards the spiral staircase on the side of the terrace that would lead them to the trail below. They abandoned their drinks on the trail and started weaving a slow walk towards the natural scenery behind Chiyo's Hall.

"Don't those heels bother you?"

Misaki laughed but nods anyway. "It does bother me. In a minute, I'll just remove them—"

"Let me." she was startled when Takumi wordlessly carried her up to his arms—where she fitted easily—and placed him on a living rock and started removing her strappy heels. "This pair is pretty strappy."

She giggled again. "Blame Aoi. I don't know why he's so good on dressing up people. He should have taken the same course as Chiyo and become a fashion designer as well. I bet he'd be successful."

"If he did that, he wouldn't meet you."

"I don't think so. I think Aoi and I's meeting would occur no matter what." Takumi eyed Misaki in confusion because he certainly didn't understand what she meant by that.

On the other hand, Misaki smiled. Of course she and Aoi are bound to meet. Igarashi Tora is her half brother while being Takumi's cousin, too. And since Aoi is Takumi's half brother, too, of course, it would only be natural for Aoi to know Tora, too. And then, a little more manipulation from fate and their paths would eventually cross. No matter what the situation may be, her path is surely to cross that of Aoi's path… because Aoi's path would eventually lead her into meeting—and marrying—Usui Takumi.

When her death trap shoes are finally off her feet, Misaki jumped off the boulder and smiled at Takumi. "Come on. I wanted to see that cliff you are so fascinated about."

"Did you honestly think I would allow you to walk in this kind of path bare footed?"

"Er, then why did you remove my shoes?"

"Come ride me."

"What—you pervert!"

Takumi ended up rolling his emerald green eyes. "That isn't what I was talking about, you pervert woman. Come ride my back, stupid." When Misaki still hesitated, he shot his hands out and roughly pulled her to him before he throw her carefully on his back and started trekking. Misaki squirmed uncomfortably behind Takumi. He chuckled at her awkwardness. "I don't understand why you are still so awkward about us when we've already go all the way."

Misaki snorted at Takumi, although she was pretty embarrassed over his straightforwardness. "Pervert." He laughed, at that sounded like melody to her ears. She didn't know why he was always so adorable in her eyes. Maybe, it was really because she was so into him that no matter what he does, it would always looked so favorable to her. Hopefully, this kind of obsessive feeling would pass as time go by since it might be a long time again before she sees again this man who had played such a big part in her life.

"You're so heavy." Takumi teased, trying to make some small and easy conversation. He laughed when Misaki fisted his chest. "I want to commend you on the design of the fashion and party hall tonight. You did wonderful."

"Thanks. I guess I was able to absorb a few of Aoi's incredible talent." Misaki was absolutely pleased. A lot of people commended her, too, since the designs they've put on Chiyo's hall was fantastic. But nothing really beats the praise coming from that person you like. "But my feet really hurt. I guess I'm going to be forever unable to survive wearing heels."

"If you're uncomfortable with them, you shouldn't have bothered to wear them. You look good with sneakers anyway, and I like the way you look whenever you're in runners."

She rolled her eyes at that. "I can't believe you're saying that. That's where the big problem originates, you know? The problem I show I look. I married you—and you live in such a high class world—I don't want to look sloppy while standing next to you. People would talk—again."

"People always talk, but I don't care about that at all."

"Easy for you to say since you're always getting appraisals."

"Ayuzawa," she always returns to being an Ayuzawa whenever he gets into serious conversations with her. And she couldn't help but smile because, whenever he'd say her name, it always sounded like there were some hidden meaning behind it—like he was revering her. "—I married you not because I wanted you to change. You can wear paper bag whenever you want on every formal party we'd join and I could care less about it. People can talk, they were only voicing out their opinion. But it would never matter at all since that's the only thing they can do; that's the only thing they are good at: talking. What matters is what I'm going to say."

She was silent for a moment, before she decided to tilt her face towards his direction so she could look at him. "Well, what can you say about the runners?"

Takumi chuckled darkly, and once again, butterflies started to ram inside her stomach violently. "I think you looked hotter wearing sneakers than heels."

She punched him on the chest again because he's starting to act like some pervert—again—but deep inside, she was terribly pleased. This stupid guy really knows how to sweet talked her. "Pervert."

"Is that all you're ever going to say to me? I was always praising you and because of your twisted way of taking my words, you always make it look like I'm really a pervert."

She laughed at that. "I think that was a compliment, too."

"Right."

Misaki giggled, before she swiftly leaned forward and peck Takumi on the side of his neck. "Thanks." She muttered while blushing. She could swear to any god right now that she would never do such an embarrassing thing ever again. "You always know what to say to make me feel better—you really are the ever notorious lover of women."

"Is that an insult?" he chuckled. "The last part, I mean? I'm beginning to think you've just compared me to that favorite character of yours."

"I didn't even mention Casanova's name."

"There, you've said it."

Misaki laughed lightly, holding on to Takumi tight when he suddenly adjusted her on his back, lifting her up partially and she started wondering how romantic this kind of thing was, and wishing moments like this would last forever. "You should be honored. I love Giaccomo Casanova."

Takumi merely snorted at her. "I don't sleep around with nuns and married women."

"Hmm… I guess so." Another laugh. "By the way, you haven't told me yet why you think Suzu was cool? Is it because she's a lawyer?"

"Stupid. Your sister has an obvious repugnance towards Kaon, didn't you noticed that at all?"

Misaki paused momentarily, before she started laughing again. "I was beginning to think that our siblings are quite one and the same."

"What do you mean?"

"Well, Aoi hates Kaon, too, and I really don't know why."

"I'm not surprised at all. Aoi hates everyone—he was never the type to easily soften up around people. That's why I was really wondering how you were able to get along with that guy. He's a brat, you know. Even I was having trouble, back then, dealing with him." slightly, he tilted his face, too, so he could get a glimpse of her. "How did you two got along so well anyway?"

Misaki chuckled darkly, remembering the first time they met when they were first year in college. "He dumped my food by accident."

"And?"

"And I hit him with a tray."

"You what?!" Takumi exclaimed in obvious surprise.

"We were friends ever since then. We don't really get along much either but, well, maybe, we just clicked. Aoi was a piece of art. Our classmates were immediately drawn to him on his first day yet, he all but dismissed them. Everybody fears him since he was so brutally frank and cruel—except me, I guess. So, after I hit him with my food tray, he apologized to me and ever since then, we've been friends."

Takumi was quiet for another long minute, dissecting every word Misaki had uttered as he continued walking towards that cliff he wanted to see, carrying the woman he was so fond of on his back since he could never thought of ever allowing her to walk bare footed on such a rough road—or even though it was a smooth one, too. "Well, I would never dare try to understand your relationship with Aoi since both of you are weird. But I'm really glad you're his best friend. He keeps on telling me that he has found a family on you and Suzuna."

"Why are you glad I'm his best friend?"

"Because I think, he had begun to change when he met you."

"Well, what about you? Did you change when you met me?"

Takumi was quiet for a moment, and Misaki wondered if she stepped on a landmine again. With Takumi, she had to mind every word she would spit out because it might trigger something that she wasn't allowed to touch at all—like his familial past. She never really found it difficult to speak with Aoi with regards to his family. Even Suzuna could speak fairly calm and not hesitant with him about that. But with Takumi, every single thing seemed to be utterly difficult and should be avoided. But that isn't what's deterring her. If there is one thing she would very much want to dig on about, it would be knowing Takumi's history because she wanted to get to know him better.

And it would only happen if he finally starts speaking his mind out to her since, ever since they met and stayed together, he never really did tell her anything; just little bits of information that doesn't point out who he really was.

"I became happier when I met you." he finally answered, and she was slightly stupefied when he admitted such thing. "I'm pretty sure that wouldn't change over time—and I never regretted being happy, either—that much I'm quite certain of."

Misaki smiled secretly, thanking God that she was on his back and that there was no way he would see—and know—how pleased she was that he admitted he was happy meeting with her and that he became happy when he met her. Well, it wasn't everyday that this Usui Takumi would build his guts and admit that he likes staying together with her. And if she would have to put the count on her finger, it would only be a total of two times that Takumi actually had the nerve to declare that he had liked the idea of her around him. He was never one to own up his real thoughts.

"Well, what about you? Are you happy being with me?"

Finally, Misaki released the giggle that was building up inside her throat. "Aren't I always?"

"Right. Aren't you always."

"Okay then, tell me what you like about me."

Takumi chuckled, tilting his head slightly so he could stare at the woman behind him who's beginning to act like some slum book again. But she looked so eager to know his answer so; he adjusted her on his back first before he shrugged. They were near the cliff now. "Your eyes."

Misaki's forehead creased. "My eyes?"

"I told you already about it. It's the way you look at me. Nobody has ever looked at me that way before." another shrug. "And when I found out you were Aoi's best friend—that Misa woman he's always ranting about whenever I'd check out on him—all the more I have liked you more."

"So," Misaki giggled again, and Takumi wondered if she had mood disorder with the way her disposition seemed to be changing from interested to giggly to being giddy. "—you like me?"

"Of course I like you. I wouldn't have married you if I don't in the least. I would have immediately sent you off to jail when I asked my guards to capture you while you were on the lobby."

"Oh yeah, those guards." Misaki frowned. "I remember they were being forceful. I thought I was going to get myself killed."

"I wouldn't do that, stupid."

"Then…"

When she didn't speak, Takumi tilted his head again to gaze at her. "What?"

"Nothing."

"Ayuzawa," once again, she was always Ayuzawa when he would want something from her. "—you can always ask me anything you want. Don't you think it's one of the privileges of being my wife? No normal people could actually get a proper answer from me."

Misaki frowned at him. "You make it sound like I owe you a lot of things."

"The question?"

"You might get mad."

"If you didn't spit out, I would end up thinking it's a negative question more than necessary."

She sighed; he was just too forceful sometimes. "Well, aren't you interested at me, at least, in some way?" she decided to rephrase that. "Did you ever think that I was, in some way, actually interesting?" He chuckled at that, and Misaki ended up frowning. "I knew you would make fun of that question. Forget it. I'm getting off—"

She flinched when Takumi suddenly squeezed the flesh of her thigh and tightened his grip on her, not willing to let her go. She sighed at that. If only… "Relax, okay? You always make me look like I'm the bad guy here."

"Aren't you always?"

"You're right, aren't I always?" another deep rumbling chuckle. "But calm down for a moment. I would answer that question. I was just planning out some kind of different and strategic approach."

Her forehead creased. "What approach?"

"Hmm," he hummed, and there was another stretching period of silence as he continued to walk—with her striding him on the back—towards the cliff he was talking about. One thing she knew about Usui Takumi was the fact that he loves nature, too, like her and Aoi. "—of course I'm interested in you. I think you're the only person I've ever felt this interested in."

Misaki huffed, still unimpressed. "That line's getting old."

And once again, he chuckled. "But I mean it. I was usually averse to being with one woman for a longer period of time."

"I don't believe you. You only put up with me because of the contract."

Takumi sighed. "Well, that's partially you. I wasn't totally that interested in you. I was only interested with the fact that after marrying you, I'd be free and then, you're off—no strings attached. But I guess, being with you has its own perks. I got pretty attached with you along the way."

Once again, Misaki's heart swelled with explicit happiness. But she concealed that well, not wanting to destroy the current mood with her too personal feeling for Takumi. "Does that explain your too often explosion and hostility towards your personnel—and sometimes, Aoi—whenever I would suddenly disappear to some God-forsaken place?"

He nodded. "Yes. So don't ever do that again. Everybody thinks I'm transforming into some kind of mutant whenever the search squad I would contact to find you immediately would fail to do so."

"Search squad? You have a search squad set for me?!" she asks in extreme disbelief.

Takumi simply laugh, and that sounded beautiful to her hearing. "Well, who do you think I am if I don't even have my own search and rescue team for you? And besides, you're my wife. I have my eyes set on every place where you'll be. If there was one thing I would bother to do, that would be following every step you'd make."

"What do you mean?"

"Well, I mean that I would always be in a place where I can see all of your movements."

"Ah," Misaki groaned. "—it's your inner stalking tendencies speaking again."

"If that is what you may call in your vocabulary, then I guess you're the only person I ever reacted this way; stalking, I mean? I don't usually go following people around. I just had this strong urge to look out for you whenever I can't seem to see you anywhere."

"Damn, you really know how to do sweet-talking with me."

Takumi was already laughing when he tilted his face again and sneaks a peek on Misaki's defeated expression. "Sweet-talking?" he asked. "What was that?"

"You know, saying things I really like to hear and making me feel squiggly inside? That's called sweet-talking. And because you're so good at it, maybe you're really a professional saying all these stuff your women likes to hear." She sighed. "You really are a notorious lover of women; a great flirt. I don't understand your genes at all. Aoi used to do that to me, too, back then."

"He does?"

"Yeah, when he needs something: like borrowing my camera or some of my clothes. Or if he wanted some of my clothes because there weren't enough rags in the houses. I'm telling you, your brother is a big jerk, too, like you."

"Well, were brothers, aren't we? We have the same genes, after all."

Misaki chuckled, too, and when they finally reached that cliff that just overlooks too much of nature, she decided to get off Takumi who allowed her off his back; he must have felt great exhaustion, too, for carrying her from such distance. Chiyo's Hall was perched atop a hill with a cliff that overlooks the entirety of the bright and outstanding city of Tokyo, and Misaki never ever thought that she would have the chance to see such a place with someone who, had she not met by fate, was someone too far-fetch for her to reach. She pulled out her camera that was always hanging over her neck and took multiple shots of the bright city, before she decided to take three steps back and captured Takumi's strong and broad back along with the gleaming lights as his background.

He really was someone that was way too out of her league.

"Do you like the nature?" she asked, trying to open up another easy conversation even if she already had that confirmed.

Takumi nodded. "Yeah, but not much. I just like seeing them from time to time. Aoi seems to like nature so much that I wanted to know what's likeable about it. After all, it was just a collection of untrimmed vegetation and weirdly shaped trees."

"And wildflowers."

He returned his gaze back to her. "You like nature, too?"

"What can I say? I was surrounded with one ever since I was a kid so I guess that kind of stuck." Misaki smiled at Takumi again, committing into memory that childish expression he seemed to be wearing more and more now these past few days. "It tends to calm one down whenever they're missing something. So, if you're feeling sad about anything, you should go to the places where you'd often spot me and enjoy the scenery. I guarantee you that it would lessen the depression and stress."

"Will I see you there?"

Misaki stilled, and she snapped her head towards Takumi, startled by his sudden question that caught her totally off guard. Does that mean he still wanted to see her even if their marriage is already over? "You still want to see me… even if we're done?" she couldn't resist asking.

Takumi smiled. "You're not just a somebody in my life, Ayuzawa." Once again, she was Ayuzawa to him whenever he was saying some things he doesn't normally say. "Of course I would always want to see you. Is that really a question you're supposed to ask?"

Misaki forced out a laugh and she decided to stare back at the view to rid herself from the depression that was building up inside her again. "You don't have to feel too indebted on me. In exchange of marrying you, you have given me more than I deserved and expected. Ours might not be normal but we both benefitted off this marriage." She smiled at him again, and she notice he had that kind of expression as though he wanted to say something but couldn't really do so—as though something was stopping him. "We'll see each other again if we're bound to see each other."

Takumi exhaled, and he, too, decided to take his eyes off hers. "You're right." Although he was quite certain that for someone like Ayuzawa Misaki, she would probably forget him a lot faster and easier than he was capable of doing to her.

But without their knowledge, they didn't notice the slender figure that was hiding on a nearby tree that has been following the two of them all along.

.

Kaon was in extreme disbelief—and happiness—as soon as she returned back to Chiyo's Hall after listening eagerly to the conversation between Ayuzawa Misaki and Usui Takumi. It was bogus, it was fucking bogus, after all—their marriage, that is! She couldn't contain her happiness when she found such a useful information and what's left to do now is to use that against Ayuzawa Misaki and then, Takumi would finally belong to her. They were not meant to stay together for a long period of time, after all. Their marriage had a time limit and maybe, once that time limit is over—which seemed to be not too long from now—she would finally have the chance to be with Takumi.

And she was fucking right all along! Takumi was never in love with Misaki which doesn't give her—along with that bitch sister of hers—to act so cocky on her. Because after all, everything about their relationship is fucking bogus and made up! And she would never be able to make friends like Chiyo Kurakano and Aoi Hyoudo had she not married Usui Takumi. And what's worst is she only married him for money!

Hah, that bitch! That scheming bitch! She was able to fool everyone with her modesty and generosity when everything about that woman is fucking fraud! Coy and demure she was when in truth, she was a good example of some pathetic gold digging bitch! Her eyebrows rose immediately when she spotted Ayuzawa Suzuna on some corner sharing a conversation with Aoi, Chiyo and that also successful businessman and bachelor, Igarashi Tora that was once rumored with that bitch Ayuzawa Misaki. A small smile appeared on her glossy lips and she smiled when a roaming maître d' passed by her and offered her a drink. She accepted the wine glass and started making her way towards them, a plan already hatching on her brain.

"Hi." She greeted the four with such enthusiasm and opted to stand right in front of Suzuna, holding up the wine glass on one hand. "Mind if I join in?"

Kaon remained smiling even if she clearly heard Aoi Hyoudo mutter a low "Yes." while Igarashi Tora answered a polite, "No." before darting a glance at Aoi.

She stared at Igarashi, feigning surprise as she smiled. "Oh my, you must be Igarashi Tora. My father talks a lot about you. I'm Umekoji Kaon." She stepped forward to shake hands with him, but instead, she tripped over the high heels of her strappy shoes and ended up spilling all of her drink on Suzuna's white dress. Kaon gasped. "Oh, my God! I'm terribly sorry, Ayuzawa-san!" everybody was now staring at them, and some laughed over how Suzuna looked.

Kaon smiled secretly, thinking how better Suzuna actually looked with drenched clothes.

Igarashi was fast as he handed Suzuna his expensive handkerchief. "Su, are you okay?" To that kind of name he called her, Kaon's eyebrow raised again. "Your clothes are drenched. Chiyo, do you have an extra pair of—"

"It's fine, Tora-nii." Suzuna deadpanned while wiping the traces of wine on the chest part of her clothes. "Umekoji gave me a reason to finally remove this too modest clothes Chiyo-chan forced on me."

Chiyo laughed at that. "I didn't coerced you to wear that, you idiot."

Suzuna shrugged and without a word—in front of amused spectators—she unzipped the zipper of the dress she was wearing which revealed another dress inside which was a lot shorter and more brazen than the first dress she had worn. And it made it looked like the first dress she previously worn was something more akin to a coat. Kaon's eyes rounded as she regarded that expensive Vera Wang spaghetti strap cocktail dress she's been eyeing ever since it was first introduced via live telecast.

Aoi merely whistled. "I told you that dress fits you more. You should have known better than listening to your sister. You do know that Ayuzawa is a fashion disaster—she's a friggin' old maid!"

Igarashi elbowed Aoi. "Don't speak about Misa-chan that way."

Aoi merely rolled his eyes before he averted them to Kaon who looked like her plan backfired on her; because their spectators and audiences now stared at Suzuna Ayuzawa in envy and extreme amusement. "Well, Umekoji, what do you think of the dress?"

Kaon was still flabbergasted. "It's… it's nice. I'm really sorry for the accident, Ayuzawa-san. I guess I got too excited meeting Mr. Igarashi."

"I don't mind." And wordlessly, she stretched out her pale arm and handed Kaon her wet dress and smiled at her sardonically sweet. "And since I know you're such a nice person, I'm sure you wouldn't mind handing this dress you ruined to Chiyo-chan's attendants, right? Take it as you apology to Chiyo since that dress was hers."

People were still watching them, and since her disposition precedes her more than anything else, she smiled back at her in an ultra friendly way and accepted the dress she was handing over. "Of course, I don't mind. Do excuse me for a moment."

"You are very much excused." Suzuna answered back politely.

She nodded at Chiyo and Igarashi before turning her back on them, walking with dignity and generosity as she searched for some stupid attendant whom she could give this ugly dress to. When nobody was watching her anymore, she shoves the dress to some poor woman and marched towards the nearest cubicle to vent out her anger.

Those stupid Ayuzawa siblings would definitely be going down very soon—and they would be submerged in too much embarrassment that they wouldn't even want to have their faces seen in the public!

.

"Suzuna, that was epic."

Suzuna merely rolled her eyes as she bumped fists with Aoi as soon as Igarashi was done reprimanding her before taking Chiyo—his wife he had secretly married to avoid conjecture and gossip—away to some private place. "I was more like planning to spill some wine to her, too. But if Misaki-nee hears that, I'd be in for more trouble."

"I know, right? I wouldn't be able to help you, too. She'd surely bite my head off."

"And besides, this is Chiyo's night. I don't want to ruin this by acting uneducated like that Umekoji woman. I know something is wrong with her the moment I saw her flying around Takumi-nii."

"Flying around?"

"Yeah, doesn't she resemble a fly to you?"

"Well, I never thought of it that way… until you mentioned it."

"She definitely had something under her sleeves." She smiled a small one when a famous photographer asks to take a picture of her and Aoi. And next thing she knew, they were being flocked down by photographers now due to that expensive dress she was wearing which she would not have worn if that stupid Kaon Umekoji didn't pull such a prank on her. "I'm not going to let her ruin my sister and Takumi."

Aoi smiled, too, as their pictures were taken. "Don't worry. I wouldn't, too."

Andy