Chapter 15: Perfect sense

Lately, I've been lost in the sound of our memories.

I've been lost in the visions of you and me

you got me thinking, what makes the perfect sense?

Should I become the best thing you never had?

And deny that you're the best thing I've ever had?

or

Should I give you another chance, to wreck me all over again?

What makes the perfect sense, I wonder?

What makes the perfect sense?

(Miss_Kirei)

Barcelona, Spain:

The dark liquid swirled as he walked inside the bar. Tora stared at its contents blankly as he sat down on one of the high bar stools and drank the entire thing down in a gulp. He placed the glass back with sheer force on the counter that it started to shake. The bartender looked at the man worriedly—he didn't want to deal with another drunkard at 2AM in the morning, it was bad enough that he was stuck in a night shift.

"Master." Maki smiled as he bowed down respectfully before Tora, who acknowledged the said man with a shake of his head as he looked at the bartender "It's not strong enough."

Maki had his signature smile plastered on his face but deep down inside he was truly worried about his master. He'd been drinking ever since he arrived in Spain. He worried that if this continued any longer, Tora was sure to get sick.

Tora gulped down the alcohol with a sigh as he felt the burn down his throat, "Good, keep it that way." He told the bartender with a bitter smile. Maki bowed again as he addressed his master.

"Master, I reckon you should retire for the day. Tomorrow we have a packed schedule."

"Will you control what I do now?" Tora asked as he cocked his head to the side with a toothy smile. Maki stilled and he apologized, "My apologies, I am just worried."

"Don't be" Tora yawned "Nothing is going to happen to me, this is like water." He laughed, "I need my water tonight."

"If you don't mind me asking, is there any special reason?" Maki asked softly.

"Sit with me, Maki." Tora said as he waved a drunk hand towards the man, urging him to sit down. Maki sat down on the floor instead. Tora smirked as he pulled him by the collars "Don't be fucking ridiculous. You're not my slave."

"As you wish, master." Maki smiled as he sat down next to Tora, on another bar stool. Tora bought him a drink as he continued to drink too.

"Don't call me master. Call me your friend, Maki. I need…" Tora drank his bourbon "…I think I need a friend tonight."

"Anything for you, Tora-san." Maki smiled awkwardly as he sipped red wine.

"Call me Tora damn it." Tora grinned as he placed the glass on the table. A few girls sat down next to him to catch attention, but he ignored them all.

"Ah,—okay… T-Tora." The name felt strange to his own voice as Maki addressed Tora informally. Tora laughed out loud, "There you have it." Maki smiled sadly as he saw a broken smile on Tora's face.

"Why did you call him?" Maki asked when his mind was overcome with worry and sadness. Tora remained silent as he drank unceremoniously. Maki urged further, "If you knew…why would you call him back to Japan?"

No response.

"Why would you give away your happiness? To him. To someone you hated?" Maki sighed, he just couldn't understand how a self-centered person like Tora could do something so selfless. How could he give her up to someone he hated?

"Because…" because she was never mine to begin with… Tora trailed off as he stared at his almost empty glass with tired-red eyes. He laughed, how could he explain something he didn't understand himself?

"My apologies if I am wrong, but, why would you do that? When you know how much he had hurt Miss Ayuzawa a lot…why?"

Tora threw the glass of alcohol on the mirror placed behind the bar. The bartender froze in his spot as the glass almost missed and the mirror broke down into large shards. Maki stood up from his seat as he inspected Tora's fist.

Several attendants came out with first aid but Tora waved them off, "You don't understand."

"You would never leave her, like he did. That's all I know."

"But" Tora smiled as he looked at Maki, whose eyes widened, "Because she can never love me the way she loves him." He looked away as he stood up dizzily, Maki walked behind him as he instructed the attendants to clean up the mess.

"Watch your step!" Maki said as he saved Tora from almost falling, Tora pushed him away and laughed "I can never make her happy the way that bastard can. That's why…Maki. That's why."

"Why would you be so unsure of yourself? I'm sure you can win Miss Ayuzawa over easily I—"

"You don't under-hic-stand M-Maki" Tora's lips quivered as he leaned against the elevator glass and ran a hand through his hair. Maki pressed the floor and the elevator started to move. Tora laughed looking at himself pathetically. How unfair was this love?

"No…its not unfair" Tora mumbled out loud as Maki stared at him in confusion. He couldn't understand a single thing as Tora laughed and banged his fist against the mirror.

"It's perfectly fair." Tora looked at Maki as he held the collars of his shirt and laughed maniacally "It makes the perfect sense! After all the bad things I've done…" He mumbled as Maki struggled to breathe due to the strong grip Tora had on his neck. "Of course! How could I not see it?!" He cocked his head to the side as he smiled.

"Makes…perfect" Tora's grip loosened and Maki could breathe. He looked at Tora slide down on the floor with a laugh "Perfect…sense…" he breathed as he passed down on the floor, leaving a stunned Maki standing stiffly with his shirt collar drenched in blood.

"What makes perfect sense?" Maki wondered out loud as he picked Tora up and took him to his suite.

Tokyo, Japan:

Misaki woke up dizzily. She cracked an eye open and the moment she sat up, the entire world was spinning. She sighed as she searched her drawers on the night stand for the medicines.

This was the downside of chemo, she felt weakness and nausea very often; having to eat a lot of pills thrice a day was no fun either. She sat up as she downed the damn pills and got up to get ready for the day.

Tora had left for Spain yesterday for some business related work and she had to head to the Walker Corporation whose headquarters had just been opened in Japan with Takumi as the CEO. Her life was one huge rollercoaster ride filled with medicines and emotions and weaknesses. All the three things she had begun to loathe. But she kept her head high and fought on.

She still hadn't told her parents about anything, because she didn't want them to be crushed with the pain. She knew that they were sure to find about it sooner or later. But she preferred if they found out as late as possible. It would hurt, yes, but it would be better than feeling small amounts of pain every single day, living with the anticipation and hope that one day their daughter will be cured. She thought, that it was better to cry for an entire day then to cry every single day.

Misaki shook her head, now was not the time to be gloomy. She had a hard day ahead of her. Hell, she didn't know how she would ignore Usui Takumi now that they were sharing the same workspace. She vowed to stay out of his way. She wanted to know him as less as possible, as it would only create complications for her own self.

She was going to mind her own business.

And he better do that too.

Whatever had happened, she figured, happened for the best. There was no use dwelling over it again and again. And besides, if he had moved on with his life with that annoying smirk on his face—so could she.

Misaki managed to reach her new temporary office on time. She went inside and said hello to Takumi's secretary. She fake smiled back, leaving Misaki a very good feeling that Hinata didn't like her at all. She opened the door and went inside. She shut the door behind her and muttered "Good Morning" plainly and sat on her chair. Takumi was sitting on his own chair casually sipping his cup of tea. He mouthed a "good morning" to her. Misaki only nodded and opened up her laptop.

He was as punctual as ever, she had noted. He had even reached before herself. She wondered how much of him changed?

She shook her head, now was not the time!

Misaki was glad her table faced the wall. If she sat facing Takumi, she was sure that she wouldn't be able to get any work done. She opened her emails and checked her agenda which was forwarded by Tora's secretary. She looked up at Takumi, "So we have a meeting around 12pm with Azalea" Misaki looked at her schedule thoughtfully. Haruhi, her old friend from Azalea was coming too. She smiled, she hadn't seen her in ages.

Takumi nodded. He barely registered what she said. He was too busy looking at her. She wore a simple black pencil skirt and a peach top inside a striped jacket. She looked so feminine. He had never imagined he would live to see the day when Ayuzawa Misaki wore something other than a sweat shirt and jeans. She looked amazing to him. She had her hair up in a ponytail. He wanted to take off her hair tie and run a hand through her raven tresses. He pouted.

"Are you even listening?" Misaki asked as she glared at him.

Takumi replied "Yeah. Sorry. Just remembered something"

Misaki looked away. She had work to do. She started replying her mails and picked up a document. She drowned in her work just like she used to do before.

Takumi looked up at his watch, it was time for some meeting with some company. He was bored. He didn't want to go to some meeting with some company. He wanted to spend time in her company instead. He pouted. He couldn't concentrate on his work.

Misaki got up with a file in her hand. She raised an eyebrow when she saw him space out. It was uncharacteristic of him. Takumi Usui always completed his work before anyone even started. He wasn't himself today. He barely touched his work. Misaki finally asked him, "You okay?"

"Are you worried about me?" He teased.

Misaki went silent all of a sudden, she mumbled, "No… Well, we have a meeting to attend" She walked out of his office. Damn him. Misaki put on a fake smile and went to the conference room.

"Misaki-san! It's so great to see you. I didn't know you joined Walker" Haruhi said in her ever so cheerful voice, she reminded Misaki of Sakura.

"No, I'm in Igarashi. I'm here on business." Misaki said as she smiled.

"Hai! Let's word hard together ne!" Haruhi said as they both smiled and sat down. The CEO of Azalea arrived shortly afterwards. They all waited for Takumi to show up, who came late.

Formal greetings were exchanged and Takumi maintained a professional smile. He might have fooled the entire world but he didn't fool Misaki. He was bored as fuck. Misaki glared at him, as if saying "Be nice" He smirked and shook hands with the other CEO.

The meeting went as Misaki planned. Things were smooth and Takumi was accepted with welcoming hands by Azalea. They invited him to a fundraiser event in honor of him coming back to Japan. He nodded with a smile telling that he would drop by.

The meeting went on till lunch time and Misaki's stomach growled. She let out a frustrated moan as she signed her name on yet another document. She had so much work to do, it was driving her insane.

"I know a good place just nearby" Takumi muttered as he enjoyed looking at her annoyed face. She looked in his direction and glared. What is his problem? Misaki gritted her teeth as she picked up her purse. Takumi chuckled as he grabbed his car keys.

They went to a nearby restaurant which was famous for its sushi. Takumi ordered for both of them and they sat on a table. Misaki got some juice and slurped it using a straw. Takumi couldn't help but chuckle.

When Misaki felt a pair of eyes staring at her, she stopped slurping her beloved juice. She looked at Takumi who sniggered in response. Misaki quickly looked away.

"Oy" Takumi called in Misaki's direction. She glanced at him. He said, "Food's here"

Misaki nodded, "Oh"

They both ate in silence. Misaki tried to concentrate on her food and not on the alien sitting before her. He always made her nervous and self-conscious. What was he doing in Japan anyway? She had so many questions in her mind but decided to shut her mouth instead; she had no rights to ask him personal questions. He was just her boss, and her best friend's friend. That was it.

The sushi was delicious. Misaki enjoyed her meal thoroughly. Pleased with her meal, she placed money with the bill, much to Takumi's displeasure. As they were heading back to the office, Takumi looked at her all of a sudden and said, "Say, are you seeing someone?"

Misaki's face flushed. Why was he asking her such a personal question? They weren't even friends! She muttered after spacing out, "Not at the moment"

"Okay" He looked at her sincerely.

Misaki looked at him, "What about you?" She felt like she could ask him that much. Didn't he too?

"Nope" He said.

They walked towards his car and Misaki got inside wordlessly. So he wasn't seeing anyone. Maybe he liked someone already? Misaki had realized that not many people were like her. All of her friends dated casually and changed boyfriends like clothes. Misaki sighed, she could never do that. She thought, maybe Usui liked someone too? That would explain why he never looked twice at a woman no matter how many around him had a crush on him.

She looked out. Time changed people. Did time change her too? She always felt like she was the same person as before. Except that a few things had changed, like she wasn't as violent as before and had to wear feminine clothes because of her work. The rest had been the same.

They reached his office shortly afterwards. Misaki pressed the up button of the elevator and waited. The doors opened. She mentally face palmed. It was fucking empty. Things were already awkward for them She didn't want tempting elevator rides to add to the effect damn it!

They got inside wordlessly. Misaki looked anywhere except his face. She looked up when she heard him say her name.

"Misaki" Takumi said and Misaki turned red. This was the first time he had called her with her name after the gala. She looked at him questioningly. In a flash, she found herself cornered by his arms. Her back was against the elevator wall and there was practically no escape. He looked at her with a very serious face. It freaked her out to no end. When Misaki was busy spacing out, he had pressed the stop button. They were literally in the middle of nowhere.

She looked at him as she pressed her hands on his chest in an attempt to push him away, but failed miserably. He was too strong, his stone hard chest was the testimony of that. She managed to say as her face heated up. "What do you want?" He was way too close for her liking. Fucking elevator, she growled.

"What do I want?" He looked at her face as he removed one arm from her side. He took out her hair tie which had her hair in their place, causing her hair to fall down. He was satisfied now, she looked beyond beautiful to him.

Misaki looked away as her hair fell on her face. She was literally trapped with him. She wanted to kiss him and kill him at the same time. She looked away as she tried to ignore the spark of passion which had just been ignited.

"Misaki look at me" He said sternly, she couldn't help but obey. She looked at him and felt like she was going to die. Her heart was beating too fast and it had nothing to do with her illness.

"What I want from you" He touched a strand of hair and reveled in its softness, He continued to say, "Is one. Last. Chance." He said as he let her hair go. He looked at her with a sincere look in his eyes, "I'll wait for your answer" He said as he removed his hand away, and ran a hand through his hair.

Misaki was too stunned to notice that the elevator started working again. The doors opened and Takumi Walker stepped out. His face blank as he talked to his secretary with Misaki's hair tie wound around his wrist.

Takumi left a very shocked Misaki in the elevator. She pressed some random button and the doors closed. What the fuck just happened? He wanted her back now? Oh this is good. First you leave me using a shitty phone call then you just barge back in my life when you find out that I'm single? Misaki mumbled as she wiped her tears away from her cheeks. She got out on some random floor and headed to the ladies' room.

She tried to maintain a stoic face as she walked with her head held high. She didn't attract much attention as she closed the door behind her and stared at her reflection inside the washroom mirror.

He wanted one last chance from her, she gritted her teeth. "One last chance" She spoke the words as more tears flowed from her eyes. Why? Was she just a means of entertainment to him? He knew what kind of power he held over her and he just showed her the extent of his power. She couldn't even move when he called out her name. He had her spell bound. She splashed some water over her eyes. She really didn't know what to do. She looked up in the mirror as she ran a hand through her hair. She didn't have anything to tie them, so she just pulled them sideward.

She knew that she was a mess around him, but she also knew that she was worse when he wasn't around. The last six years had taught her that much. What was she going to do? Was she going to throw away one last chance that she had with him? Or was she going to accept him back just wishing every day that she doesn't find herself left alone all of a sudden? It was true that she didn't trust him now. She didn't trust men anymore, except Tora. He leaving her just increased her hatred more. But, it was also true that there was nobody else she would rather trust.

She had so many conflicts inside her mind. She knew this was bound to happen someday—she had to face her feelings for Takumi and decide whether she was going to move on or accept what she had. Now was the time to make a choice, and she couldn't have been more clueless.

Misaki brought her hand up and stared at it.

She slapped herself.

She splashed more water on her face and dried it using a napkin. And she did what she always did, she hid her pain underneath a layer of foundation and lipstick.

Misaki went back to work cautiously. She opened the door only to find it empty, much to her relief. She didn't know how she would have stayed in the same room as him. She opened up her laptop and began her work. She typed furiously till her fingers ached and stopped around six. She looked at her wrist watch. It was time she headed out. She used her pen to support her hair into a bun and started to pack her things.

After three hours of working non-stop, Misaki fought hard to stifle her yawn. She pressed her forehead on the table she currently worked on. Her tired eyes closed as she forgot the world. Her mind spun and she shut herself off from this torturous world, if only for a couple of moments.

Takumi walked inside the room as he found her napping. He was careful about not waking her up. At least he could admire from afar. He was reminded of the times he had done the same back in high school. Things were better back in those days. She acted like she hated him back then, but now she actually hated him.

He moved towards her and took off the pen that held her hair up in a bun. The long tresses cascaded down and Misaki flinched. Takumi's eyes widened as he walked back. He wondered how he would he explain his behavior if she woke up?

But she didn't.

He stood by the doorframe and leaned on it as he crossed his arms. He looked at her apologetically.

"I'm sorry…" he mumbled as he ran a hand through his hair.

She hadn't noticed when Takumi had got inside and started to do his own work. When Misaki stood up to leave, she saw him working on his computer. She almost screamed in fear as if she just saw a ghost. Misaki exhaled a breath when she found out it was only Takumi. She sat down again and took out her iPhone to dial Akira's number.

"Hey. I was wondering if you forgot me already, since you found your prince charming" Akira teased as soon as she picked up the phone.

Misaki blushed, she didn't want to disturb Takumi. She talked lowly into her phone, "Nothing like that. Are you free? Let's go out"

"Let's go to the club!" Akira cheered, "I'm getting bored and Friday's too far"

Misaki chuckled, "Friday is tomorrow"

"Tomorrow never comes" Akira said with a smirk.

Misaki face palmed, why did she always get stuck with weird friends, or was she the weird one? She mumbled slowly, "Okay, but let's not get too much drunk, okay? I'll come by to your office. Meet me outside."

"Okay" Akira chirped and cut the call. Misaki stood up and grabbed her bag. She glanced in Takumi's direction, he was busy. She didn't want to disturb him. So she quietly got out of his office and closed the door without a sound. With that, she was gone.

What Misaki knew was that Takumi's eyes were glued to his computer screen. What Misaki didn't know was that his ears were already at her service. He took off his reading glasses and pinched the bridge of his nose. She was going out to get drunk with a friend. Takumi frowned as he remembered the crazy drunk state of Misaki from high school. He didn't want her to do something silly and cry about it later on. She was going to be the death of him. He continued typing for an hour at most and sighed when he couldn't concentrate. His heart had already been with Misaki since the start, but now it felt as if she took his brains along too. He ran a hand through his hair and picked up his car keys. He knew what he was doing was utterly stupid but it was better than spacing out when he was supposed to be working.

Misaki stared at Tora's picture in her phone blankly as tears formed in her eyes and fell down on the screen of her mobile phone. Hadn't she so proudly kissed him? She didn't know what to think anymore. She decided, for once in her life, that she was going to disregard everything and just enjoy the night.