A/N: Thanks for all your positive reviews! They were really helpful and they made me happy :P rofl

Here's the second chappie, I'm sorry it still isn't long --;; I'm terrible at writing long chapters, but think about it this way- the shorter they are, the quicker they get put up lol (well, hopefully…)

Same disclaimer and warnings apply.

!#$&()

Chapter 2

"Shuichi! What on earth were you doing, making yourself noticeable yesterday?" Ava fumed, towering over the slight 19 year old.

"I'm sorry Ava." Shuichi said humbly, hanging his head. "I didn't mean to..."

"I'm sure you didn't." Ava sighed. "Just try to stay out of his way from now on, okay Shuichi?"

"Okay." Shuichi stood up and headed for the door, a duster swung over one shoulder. Although he was worked in the kitchen in the mornings, he was supposed to be covering for a sick maid in the afternoon.

"Shuichi!" Ava called out, just before Shuichi could leave.

"Yeah?" the pink haired boy turned around.

"Just watch out for Yuki sama, okay? I don't like the way he looked at you." Ava shook her head. "Maybe I'm just paranoid, but I don't want anything to happen to you. He's a dangerous man, Shuichi."

Shuichi flashed her a quick smile. "Thanks Ava. Don't worry, I can take care of myself. I'll stay away from Yuki sama from now on."

Even though I don't want to, Shuichi thought regretfully.

Something in the blond's eyes as he had looked at him had made him feel like he was burning from the inside out.

And I want to feel that way again.

But Ava was the boss- and Shuichi knew better than to go against her wishes. And besides- Ava's advice had got him so far, and he didn't want that all to go to waste.

He strode down the hallway, pausing every so often to pretend to dust a painting, while instead inspecting them curiously.

"So you like my collection of artwork?" a dry voice remarked from behind him.

Startled, Shuichi whirled around, clutching his duster close as if it would protect him.

"Yuki sama!" he gasped in surprise.

I guess my promise to Ava didn't last too long, he thought a little guiltily. I should've just gone straight to the kitchen, where I'm supposed to be.

"You're the boy who banged into me twice yesterday." Yuki commented. He was dressed casually, in black slacks and a loose white shirt that fitted his lithe frame perfectly.

"Y-yes." Shuichi gave a belated bow, his cheeks burning.

"Stand up properly, boy." Yuki snapped. He took a step closer and lifted Shuichi's chin up with his finger.

Shuichi glanced up, and felt his breath snatched away as Yuki's amber eyes bored unrelentingly into his. They held such intensity that Shuichi couldn't help but stare into them.

Ava's warning floated into his head. He's a dangerous man, Shuichi...

Shuichi quickly pulled away, regretting every movement that pulled him away from the living, breathing enigma that was Yuki Eiri.

"I- I should get back to work." he mumbled, before running off, down the corridor, away from those unsettling amber eyes.

Yuki watched him run off, an idea for a new novel already firmly rooted in his head.

Looks like I've found myself a muse.

!#$&()

"What took you so long?" Hiro demanded, passing the puffing boy a towel. "Hurry up and dry some dishes. You're lucky no one noticed."

"I know." Shuichi grabbed a dish and quickly dried it off. "I got held up. Anything important happen so far?"

Hiro snorted. "Down here? As if. What held you up?"

"Long story." Shuichi rolled his eyes.

"Really now? Do tell." Hiro raised his eyebrows. "Sounds way more interesting than what's been happening down here."

"Well, I kinda banged into Yuki sama twice yesterday..." Shuichi grimaced.

"Really?" Hiro's eyes widened. "What did he do to you? Did he hurt you in any way? I don't care if he's our boss, if he dared touch you, then I'm gonna-"

"No! No he didn't hurt me." Shuichi smiled reassuringly at him. "He was actually quite nice."

"Shuichi!" Hiro ogled his friend. "Are you attracted to him?"

Shuichi went bright red. "No!" he protested.

Hiro lifted an eyebrow.

"Well, maybe a little. But admit it, he's really hot." Shuichi grinned sheepishly.

"You realise that you've got the hots for your boss? You're a servant, Shuichi, what do you expect to get from this? His love?" Hiro shook his head. "Shuichi, he's a rich, arrogant bachelor. He'll use you for your body, nothing more. And once he's done with you, what do you expect will happen to you? That you'll stay on working here, and life will go on as it always has done? He won't want you around after he's had you- you'll find yourself out on the street, with no one to help you and nowhere to go. Do you really want that?"

"No... No, I guess not." Shuichi said, Hiro's words having had a sobering effect on him.

What was I thinking? I'm such an idiot... To entertain such fantasies... God, I'm a fool, Shuichi thought bitterly. I should know better.

"Shuichi? You okay? You've gone kinda pale." Hiro asked, concerned.

"I'm fine." Shuichi gave a shaky smile.

"Shuichi!" the head kitchen assistant yelled out over the din.

"Yes sir?"

"Yuki sama wishes to see you in his study immediately."

One of the other kitchen assistants shook his head. "You must have got the message mixed up. The golden rule in this mansion is to never go to the study."

"You think I'm an idiot or something? The message is perfectly correct. Now go!" he scowled, and Shuichi quickly ran off.

He hesitated outside the study door, hoping that the head kitchen assistant had gotten the message correct, and that he wasn't going to get his head bitten off.

He finally mustered up enough courage to knock, and was surprised when the door was immediately opened.

Again, for the second time that day, he had the unsettling feeling of all the breath leaving his body in one go at the sight of Yuki, standing there, his blond hair mussed up and looking so damn delicious that Shuichi had to use all his willpower to not leap on him and ravish him right then and there.

He's my boss, I can't do it, Shuichi thought determinedly.

"Good. You're here." Yuki opened the door a little wider and gestured for Shuichi to enter. "Hurry up, come in. I don't have all day." he snapped.

"Sorry sir." Shuichi quickly slipped into the study and was surprised by the sparseness of it.

There were no photographs, no personal belongings of any form, except for the lone laptop on his desk and the half empty coffee mug sitting next to it.

"It's so..." Shuichi started to say before realising that he was talking out of turn and quickly shut up.

"It's so what?" Yuki demanded. He was leaning against the wall, one eyebrow arched.

"Uumm... empty." Shuichi hoped that this didn't signal the end of his days as a servant.

Because I really don't want to leave Yuki sama...

"Hn." Yuki didn't seem to care- at least, it didn't look like Shuichi's words had offended him at all. He merely shrugged and swept a glance around the sparse room. "I guess so."

"Would you like me to move some of the artwork in here sir?" Shuichi asked tentatively.

"No." Yuki froze for a second, and then a smirk slowly spread its way across his face. "I have a better idea."

"... Sir?" Shuichi squeaked nervously.

"Come here tomorrow, at lunch time. And don't be late." Yuki gently propelled Shuichi out of the study.

Standing outside in the corridor, Shuichi pinched himself a couple of times, to see if he was stuck in the middle of a bizarre dream.

Well that was weird, Shuichi thought, after he was positive that he wasn't dreaming. I wonder what sort of idea he's cooked up.

Inside the study, Yuki fished out his mobile from his pocket and dialed Tohma's number.

"Yuki, good to hear from you."

"Get me the best artist this damned town has to offer. And tell him to come to my study at lunch time tomorrow." Yuki ordered and hung up.

On the other side of the country, Tohma stared at his phone in wonder.

An artist? Why on earth does Yuki need an artist

!#$&()

"What did he call you for?" Hiro demanded as soon as Shuichi stepped back into the kitchen.

"I really have no idea at all." Shuichi said, still looking slightly dazed.

"Well what happened?" Hiro asked impatiently.

"I went, he opened the door. I told him his room was empty and asked if I should move some artwork in there, and then he smiled a little crazily and then told me to meet him tomorrow lunchtime before kicking me out." Shuichi shook his head. "How weird is that?"

Hiro rolled his eyes. "Looks like we have a lunatic in the house."

"Y'know, apparently he's real notorious in town." a passing kitchen maid remarked.

"Notorious how?" Shuichi asked curiously.

The maid winked. "Notorious with the ladies." she paused, looking thoughtful. "And men for that matter as well."

"Men?" Hiro waggled his eyebrows at Shuichi suggestively. "You'd better watch out, Shu-chan."

Shuichi flicked the end of the tea towel at his friend. "Shut up." he growled, embarrassed.

The kitchen maid laughed. "Oh, and apparently he was in trouble with the police. That's why he left."

Both Hiro and Shuichi froze. "In trouble with the police?"

"Uh huh. Well, that's what I heard anyway." she walked off.

"I wonder what happened." Shuichi said thoughtfully.

"None of our business to know." Hiro grabbed the tea towel off Shuichi and handed him a plate. "Go take that to Ava, and make bloody damn sure you don't drop it. Got it?"

Shuichi stuck his tongue out at him and sped off.

Hiro watched his friend go, an anxious feeling in his chest that he couldn't get rid of.

I have a feeling that Yuki sama hasn't finished with Shuichi yet, and won't be for a long time.

!#$&()

"Here Ava! Straight from the kitchen." Shuichi handed over the plate, which, miraculously, hadn't been dropped once during his sprint from the kitchen to the west wing.

"Thank you Shuichi." Ava took the plate and set it down on a table. "I heard from one of the servants that Yuki sama called you into his study this afternoon."

"Umm.. yeah."

"Did he do anything to you?"

"Why does everyone keep asking me that?" Shuichi rolled his eyes. "It's not like Yuki sama's evil or anything."

Ava was silent for a second. "He has a past, that's all, Shuichi." she remarked finally. "And I think it's safer for you not to attract his attention."

"Well he's ordered me to go see him at lunch time tomorrow. I can't exactly disobey him now, can I?"

Ava sighed. "No, I guess you can't. But please, Shuichi, take care."

"You know I will." Shuichi winked roguishly at her and left.

Ava dropped her head into her hands and heaved out another sigh.

Please don't let Yuki sama take the wrong sort of interest in him... Please don't let him turn out like the last guy Yuki sama was serious about...

!#$&()

A/N: Okies, I'm around halfway through the next chappie, so that should be up within the next week, once the exams are over n.n;; Again, no flames- they're pointless for both you and me, but CC is most definitely welcome.