Tsukushi covered her mouth with her hand. Alas, her efforts were futile. A yawn escaped her as she prepares for work. Bringing the piping hot coffee to her lips, Tsukushi cautious sipped it. Slowly, she placed the hot mug onto the table.
"Life is not fair. We worked so hard and not once did I have a deserving holiday," Makino groaned out as she took a bite from her rice cake.
"Cheer up Tsukushi. I bet life would be good for you in the future," Yuki consoled as she cleaned up her dishes.
At the comment, Tsukushi let out an unladylike snort. Good? More like my future had signed itself with the devil. I still can't believe that I am still his slave for thirteen more days!"
"You mean the devil that stirs up your desires," Yuki chuckled.
"Believe what you want, Yuki. I'm not going to bow to every one of his wishes."
"A bet is still a bet Makino. You know that you can't back out now. Anyway I'm going to work earlier today. See you later at work," Yuki winked as she slid out of the door.
"Baka," Tsukushi muttered to no one in particular as she walked to the kitchen sink.
"Thirteen more days with him. I wonder what he had planned for me. Eck! Why the heck am I thinking about him? I have work to do!" Tsukushi thought as she made a move for her ladies' bag. Slipping on her coat, Tsukushi run the last thorough check on herself.
Ring! Ring! Ring!
"Who would be calling at a time like this?" Tsukushi frowned as she picked up the receiver.
"Moshi, moshi. Tsukushi Makino here."
"Makino-san? Watashiwa Yamashita."
"Yamashita-san? Is there a problem at work?"
"Ie. I just called to inform you that you do not need to report to work for two weeks."
"Nani? Naze Yamashita-san? Am I retrenched?" Tsukushi's heart was beating frantically to hear the answer. She had been working hard to get this far and she hoped her job stayed.
"Ie. You had worked very hard and your performance in the company is very positive. So to reward you, you have two weeks leave with pay."
Tsukushi was still dazed as she put down the receiver. Two weeks leave with pay. It is a dream comes true! Jumping on the sofa, she shouted with joy.
Snapping his latest satellite handphone, Tsukasa leaned against the leather office chair. A smirk crossed his chiselled face. At least one job is done.
"Someone is in a good mood today." Tsukasa looked from the corner of his eye at the trio that had just entered his office.
"That is because things are going as planned, Mimasaka," smiled Tsukasa.
"Is it me or did the always scowling faced Tsukasa just smiled?" remarked Soujirou as he looked at the smiling owner of Doumyouji Enterprise.
Rui laughed at the comment as he sauntered towards the designer desk. "So what is happening between you and her?"
"She is having two weeks leave with pay. I'm thinking of bringing her out but I'm out of ideas."
"Why don't all of us go for a holiday? Each of us brings our partner. In that way, Makino-san would not be lonely," Mimasaka suggested.
"Yeah! We can all go to Hong Kong. They are having a great sale and the beaches are great!"
"You mean the gals…" Tsukasa eyed his blushing friend. Soujirou and women… they are like finger and nails.
"I agree with Soujirou. Let's all go to Hong Kong. You set the date Tsukasa," Rui looked at the curly haired man.
Tsukasa had to bite his lip from bursting out laughing. Both Soujirou and Mimasaka had puppy eyed looks and Rui, well he being the calmest just smiled pleadingly. Grinning, he agreed. "Ok let's go to Hong Kong tomorrow."
The secretary who was busy typing six meters away from the door to Tsukasa Doumyouji's office, jumped at her seat when she hear the loud cheers from inside the office.
Tsukushi frowned slightly as she placed the book she had been reading on the coffee table. Hazel eyes glanced at the clock on the wall as she walked past it and towards the front door. It is four in the afternoon.
"You are sure early today…" Tsukushi gaped at the person before her.
"What are you doing here, baka?" Tsukushi wanted to shout it out but the only thing that came out was a squeak.
A strong hand ran through the curly mass. Tsukushi's breath was caught when the pair of sexy mahogany eyes stared deeply into hers. His deep voice was dripping with sexiness when he spoke. "Can't a master look into what his slave is doing?"
Tsukasa's gaze raked Tsukushi from head to toe, not missing a single detail. Dark brown hair cascaded all the way to her waist, her dazed expression, her casual shirt and pants. They surely brought out her womanly contours.
"So are you going to invite me in?" Makino quickly snapped out of her reverie and collected her train of thoughts. Pivoting on her left foot, Tsukushi turned around and angrily marched into the living room.
Tsukushi could feel his heated gaze on her as she poured tea for him. Even though she despised the great Tsukasa Doumyouji, he is still a guest in her house. And it so happens that is customary to pour tea or make drinks for guest. It is considered rude not to.
"Ok out with it Doumyouji. Why are you here?" Tsukushi asked once she set the teapot down.
Taking his own sweet time, Tsukasa Doumyouji sipped the piping hot tea and leaned into the armchair with his eyes closed. After all, it had been a tiring day in the office. After a while, he cracked an eye open. The brown haired beauty before him was glaring daggers at him.
"I thought you had died but it seems not," gritted his beauty.
Setting the fragile china down, Tsukasa reached into his coat pocket. A slim and elegant gold coloured handphone sat magnificently on her half price coffee table. Taking a closer look, hazel eyes widened in awe at the slim object.
A small smile played at the sexy lips of the curly haired man. "It is yours to keep. The bill is under my name. Just press one to call me."
"I can't take it! It is too expensive…"
"And the latest model in the market. I meant what I say Makino. It is yours to keep."
Nimble fingers reached out and gingerly touched the fragile phone. "At least let me pay for the bill."
Tsukushi saw the impossible man shaking his head. What is with men and their ego? She was about to protest again when Tsukasa raised his hand, a gesture for silence. Instantly Tsukushi closed her mouth.
"I'm paying for it and that is final. Anyway if you still insist on spending your money, you can do that tomorrow when we reach Hong Kong. Then you can shop until you drop."
Tsukushi began to think that the man in her house is a runaway maniac. "Excuse me but I have no attention of ever going or even going booking a flight to Hong Kong."
"You are going with me. If you opened your mouth and even whispered out something about paying for the flight, I will make sure that I go up to you and ravish your sweet little mouth." Immediately, Tsukushi clamped her mouth.
"Tadaima!" Tsukushi looked up and forced a smile on her face in greeting.
Curious, Yuki walked towards the hall. "Huh? Nice to meet you again Doumyouji-san."
"Politely, he smiled. "Back from work Yuki-san?" while the two engaged in a polite conversation, Tsukushi stormed into the kitchen to prepare for dinner.
Confident that her friend would not overhear anything, Yuki dropped her polite façade. "Ok mister, what are you here now?"
Tsukasa raised an eyebrow. Are all the people in the household hungry lionesses? "I'm bringing her for a holiday to Hong Kong." Now why did he tell her?
Excitement immediately lit up in Yuki's eyes. "Great! It is about time she have some fun and excitement. She can be such a worrier at times. Ne, are you going only with her or with some of your friends?"
"With the rest of the F4 and their partners."
Immediately the light in Yuki's eyes faded. "With others… it may cause some problems. Well I do hope you share a room with, then perhaps the both of you can get to know each other more and…"
Tsukasa blinked. Is he hearing right? Tsukushi's friend, her best friend to be precise, supporting him? Where did all of the anti-Tsukasa Doumyouji propaganda gone to? Not wanting to test his luck, he eagerly listened to Tsukushi's advice.
It was six o'clock when he at last stepped out of Makino's residence. After all, Tsukushi had been glaring daggers at him the moment he stepped into the house.
Tsukasa's eyes danced with mischief as he keyed the engine to life. The last coherent thought before he drove away was Yuki is such a good ally.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
A/N: Muahahaha…. At last I got it done! I thought it would never finish. Actually the chapter was done weeks ago but I just can't find the right time to type it out. Blame it on my lecturers…flooding all of time with tutorials…sheesh… *grin wryly* no offence there lecturers…. Q_Q
Anyway sumi masen minna for the short chapter. I truly wanted to continue but got no idea and if I were to delay further, I got a hunch that I won't see the light of day again…lol
Till we meet again….
The crazed author
zackire