Chapter Two

Getting Along

Two days later Atobe woke up early morning, and headed to the gym in the basement. He was wearing his training shorts, with a hooded t-shirt and sneakers. He reached the gym, and found that someone had already beaten him to it.

He got in and saw Fay running on the treadmill with her headsets on. She was wearing leggings and a tank top with her hair in a ponytail swishing right and left as she ran. He didn't say anything as he walked in, but his father's words haunted him. You have to try, he heard. Why do I have to try? It was better off that she was away for three years. Why is she suddenly back in our lives? Not only that she's back, but she's brought an attitude with her as well

He shook his thoughts away and walked to the other treadmill. He set it up causing Fay to glance at him, and began walking. Fay placed her headsets around her neck and looked at him, "I bet I can run more than you."

He looked at her, and raised an eyebrow. Is she challenging me?

She looked at him, still running. "I've only done seven minutes. When you reach seven minutes tell me and I'll run against you. Last one stands, wins."

He rolled his eyes. "I don't have time to indulge in your silly…"

"You don't think you can beat me, brother dear?" she asked sarcastically.

He glared at her dangerously, and then smiled, "you know what. You keep running, I'll still beat you," he said confidently. I don't like to be provoked by people I'm not fond of. This is childish but so be it.

Two hours later the butler went to Atobe Mitsuru's study and knocked on the door. "Atobe-sama, please excuse me for intruding but I think you should go to the basement."

Mitsuru looked at him surprised, "what is it?"

The butler looked embarrassed. "The… *cough* the children have been running on the treadmill for almost two hours, and they both look like they're going to collapse."

Mitsuru stood up, "and why is that?"

Butler coughed. "It seems that they made a bet that whoever stands last wins."

Mitsuru cursed out loud and walked to the basement with hurried strides. I'm going to kill both of them, making his way hurriedly through the path. When he got there he found that most of the help were worriedly looking at Atobe and Fay as they ran on the treadmill red faced, and out of breath.

Mitsuru felt a nerve popping on his forehead. He looked at the help, "Get me two cushions, and hold it behind each of them. Make sure to catch them," he said, walking to the fuse box. "I'm pulling the plugs."

In a few minutes, Mitsuru pulled the plugs and both treadmills stopped suddenly. Both Atobe and Fay fell backwards with a jolt, and he was thankful that he had told the help to be there.

He stood in front of them with a menace feature. The children were clearly surprised, and out of breath. "You're both to take a shower, and then you're sitting in the hydro bath for an hour."

"But…"

"Without any arguments!" he interrupted in a fierce tone. "Now go, I will come and join you in the bath in twenty minutes," he said sternly. "Since neither of you can stand, I'm sure that the maids can help lift you," he added sarcastically, leaving the basement.

A while later, Atobe was in the bath with a towel around his waist, while Fay sat opposite him with a towel around her and her hair piled up on her head. They both seemed to still be out of breath and flushed.

Mitsuru walked in wearing a robe and looked at both of them. He still couldn't believe what he had witnessed. "What possessed you two to do something stupid like that?" he asked. "Keigo, you should be smarter than that!"

"Father, don't scold him. I provoked him," Fay said before Atobe could answer.

Mitsuru paused, and studied the situation. Who would've thought… he turned to Fay and gave her a disapproved look. "You should be smarter as well, I told you a million times you shouldn't do anything to hurt yourself. If you want to provoke him, then do it mentally." He took off his robe, revealing his swimming shorts and got into the bath. "My God! I'm exhausted already and I have three meetings in the afternoon."

"If you're exhausted then you should just ditch work, you're the CEO after all. It's allowed no?" Atobe told his father with his eyes closed. He finally looked like he had some color on his face.

Fay sat up straight and looked at him. "Yes, why don't you? You've been overworking a lot."

To think my company will someday be entrusted to these two, Mitsuru thought sarcastically. "I…"

Fay looked at him excitedly. "Ditch work, and take me to Disney Sea. Keigo will never take me there, and I don't have any friends to go with. It's still morning so we can have a good day."

Mitsuru looked at her in surprise. "You're joking? I can't just ignore my meetings? What if they find out that I cancelled my meetings in order to go to Disney?"

Fay crossed her arms, "So? Everyone does it."

Atobe looked at her, "but father is not everyone," he said. "He has responsibilities."

Fay looked at him sharply "Must I remind you that it was your idea for him to ditch?"

"Ditch, yes? But not go to Disney," he mumbled irritated.

Mitsuru looked at the situation, and thought of an added advantage, " you know… I think I'll ditch work," he said.

They both looked up.

"However, I'm more professional than not showing up. I will call and reschedule my meetings because I had a family outing that I forgot about."

Fay stood up excitedly, "does that mean you're taking me to Disney?" she asked, with huge round eyes.

"No, that means we're taking you to Disney," Mitsuru said, looking at Atobe with a grin.

Drat! Atobe thought, sinking in deeper into the tub.