Chapter 17: Never Meant to be

-MissK!

"When you said your last goodbye, I died a bit inside. I lay in bed with tears in my eyes, without you, darling, by my side."

Misaki sat up as she rubbed her head trying to soothe it. One of the perks of getting drunk was hangover. She fished her drawers for sunglasses. She put them on hurriedly and drank a glass of water. Sunlight was peeking through her curtains. September was here. Misaki got up groggily, she didn't remember what happened last night.

She ran to the bathroom as fast as she could when she felt her throat fill up with vomit. She spent the majority of her morning throwing up. She sighed as she rinsed her mouth for the hundredth time. She took a bath after she felt that her stomach had settled itself.

Misaki went to her living room after putting on a white shirt and denim jeans with matching sandals. She found a plate of warm breakfast with a paper note kept next to it. She picked up the note and started to read. She recognized the neat handwriting of Takumi immediately.

"Good morning.

As you requested, I stayed the night, (don't worry, we didn't do anything ;) I was on your couch)

However, I had to leave. Duty calls.

See you.

-Alien"

Misaki's cheeks tinted red as her memory soon returned. She face palmed. She had really done it this time. She felt a thump in her heart as soon as she stared at the piece of paper in her hand. Her hands shivered and she let the paper go. What the fuck was she doing?

What the fuck?

She crushed the paper and threw it away. She knew that if she let herself be affected by these simple things, she'd end up right where she started. She couldn't fall for him, not after what he had done.

Not after all those things.

Not after all that heartbreak.

Misaki dropped down on the chair with a sigh. Her weak body could only handle so much stress at a time.

"Akira!" Misaki shrieked.

She finally remembered, her partner in crime. She quickly dialed her number on her iPhone as she wiped her sweat. How could she be so forgetful?

"Hey…lemme sleep" Akira mumbled. She was sporting a hangover too.

"Sorry for last night" Misaki said, she was embarrassed.

"Oh, it's cool. Let's talk over lunch. Need to throw up—"The call ended as soon as Misaki heard Akira run. So she was in the same condition as her.

Misaki sat on the dining table and looked at the plate sitting silently on her table. It was bacon and eggs. Misaki wondered how Takumi found food ingredients in her kitchen, hell, how did he unlock her apartment yesterday? He really was inhuman.

She took a fork and dug in. She melted when she tasted the food. It was phenomenal. As expected of him, she mused. He was good at everything.

Misaki stopped eating as soon as she remembered that she was doing exactly what he wanted her to do. She was falling right in that trap…of feelings. This was exactly how he had crawled his way inside her heart back in high school… but things were different now.

She put the entire plate in the garbage bin without a second thought, right where it belonged. How was she going to face him today? It was her last day in his office. Tora was coming back. She hadn't even gotten the chance to talk to him since the last few days because all the mess he was stuck in. He was so busy. Misaki cleaned her plate with an annoyed state of mind and took off.

Misaki hadn't taken off her sunglasses even when she got inside the office. Her eyes hurt. Fucking hangovers, Misaki and Akira had been utterly stupid. But Misaki would never deny that she had fun last night. She smiled as she thought back to their charade last night—from shopping to drinking to dancing. She felt like a normal girl now. She opened the door of Takumi's cabin and went inside without a second thought.

She found a smirking Takumi Walker standing in front of her with a cup of coffee in his hands. He wore a black shirt and a gray tie. She looked away embarrassedly.

"Feel free to use my restroom if you feel like throwing up again" He snickered. He knew she was having a hangover.

Misaki almost banged her head against her table and pouted. Today wasn't her day. "Don't you have work to do?" She spat as she rubbed her temples.

"I have different priorities" Takumi said as he looked at her. Even in her hung over state, she was as beautiful to him as ever.

Misaki stared at the small pile of paperwork she had. She was glad it wasn't much today. She had finished majority of her work yesterday and was glad, because she didn't have the strength today. "Shut up" She muttered as she opened her mails.

Takumi resumed his work shortly afterwards, both didn't talk much the entire time. Partly because they were engaged in their work, and partly because it was awkward.

Misaki got up to leave for her lunch, she had remembered she promised Akira for lunch. She took her purse and stood up.

"Meeting your drinking friend again? Tell her I said hi" Takumi smirked.

Misaki scowled, that alien, "Will do"

"You should have seen what happened last night" Akira gossiped with Misaki, who was busy eating her food.

"I remember a little."

"But you didn't SEE it" Akira shrieked, "Your Ex. He was so crazy angry. If looks could kill, that handsy guy would have died right there!"

Misaki listened and nodded occasionally. She had her face tomato red due to embarrassment.

"Anyhow, it was so sexy when he carried you over his shoulder. I was so freaked out when I saw him approach you. I was dancing nearby, everyone was looking at him as soon as he picked you up. You're lucky, if he didn't, you'd have landed in the emergency room" Akira drooled over Takumi Walker as she laughed, much to Misaki's mortification.

"We messed up yesterday" Misaki mumbled. Last night was a total bust, and she sure as hell didn't feel like reminiscing about her shameful behavior last night.

"Who cares? You had a hot guy personally carry you home, who also happens to be your boss. How wicked. Tell me, did you guys do it last night?" Akira asked her, she was dying for some good ol' gossip!

Misaki put her hand over Akira's face, "People will hear. Can you keep it in your pants? No we didn't"

Akira gaped at her with a wide mouth, "You had such a great chance to put him in your pants, yet you threw it out of the window"

Misaki muttered, "He…he isn't like that. He respects my boundaries" Respect her boundaries, her inner sighed, he wouldn't even have stopped if she had let him! And then, he'd leave the next morning as if nothing happened. Just thinking about all this gave her a headache and put her in a sour mood.

"Awww" Akira chirped as she clasped her hands together. A pink aura surrounded her and it gave chills to Misaki.

"By the way" Akira looked at the red face of none other than Ayuzawa Misaki.

Misaki looked up, Akira went quiet all of a sudden, "What?"

"He asked for another chance from you right? So what are you going to do?" Akira put a hand on Misaki's shoulder. Jokes apart, Akira understood Misaki's pain. She had unintentionally told her everything about her and Takumi's relationship. Akira cared for her friend and she didn't want Misaki to stay alone.

"I don't know. What if he's just bored?" Misaki said, unsure of her own words.

Akira gave her a soothing smile, "From my experience with men, I don't think someone would care so much about me if he was looking for a one night stand. When a guy wants you for sex, he won't bother that much about you. But when a guy really wants you, He'll show it."

Misaki nodded, she was right. But she couldn't trust him that easily. What if he left her again? She put her hands in her hair and shook her head. She didn't know anymore.

"Sometimes, you gotta take a chance and see what happens" Akira rubbed her back soothingly.

"Aaa…" Misaki muttered. But, sometimes, you gotta let go of things and move on with your life too, her inner self replied.

Misaki resumed work after lunch. She picked up her laptop and placed it on Takumi's table, and sat on the chair opposite to his. They had to work on something together. Tora had forwarded the file and Misaki took a quick look at it. Misaki took the liberty of explaining what the file said to Takumi and saved them both a great deal of time. Takumi was standing behind Misaki's chair. His body was bent over so as to look at the laptop clearly. Misaki could almost smell his scent. He smelled just like he did a few years ago. This, was causing Misaki a lot of pain. The more time she spent in his company, the moment her stupid heart started reminiscing of the past. He was lost in thought, unaware of Misaki's face turning pink. He was too close!

Takumi retreated after going through the text. He was currently looking outside while standing near the huge glass window. His tie hung loosely around his neck and his sleeves were rolled up. Misaki looked at him while he stared outside. A part inside her wanted to walk towards him and hug him from behind. She looked back in her laptop screen and typed instead, ignoring her urges and for the first time, being rational.

"All done" Misaki threw her hands up in the air and stretched her arms. She was tired.

Takumi nodded, "Good work"

Misaki smiled. She was done for the day.

"So, do you remember what we did last night?" Takumi asked dryly, he was hiding his smirk behind his bland face.

"WHAT?!" Misaki freaked out. What did they do last night?!

"Oh nothing, you were just flirting with me" He moved his long fingers out and about, as if wielding a magic wand.

Misaki glared at him, "I was not"

"You were" Takumi teased.

"Well" Misaki bit her lip, "What did I say?"

Takumi put a finger under his chin, as if in deep thought, "Well, you told me that I was hot, but you also said that I was a turn off. Ouch, you hurt my feelings, Miss Ayuzawa" Takumi made a hurt expression.

Misaki looked at him, "So, did we…did we do anything then?"

Takumi smiled, "Nope"

Misaki snickered, "So you are a turn-off"

Takumi walked towards her, he bent down so that he was at eye level with her, he looked straight into her eyes and he placed his arms on her either sides, "I would love to do unspeakable things to you" He pushed a strand of hair behind her ear, "But not when you're out of your senses" He patted her head.

"You don't have the right to." was all Misaki could manage to say when her insides turned sour as she remember all the tears she shed.

Misaki quickly got up the first chance she got and picked up her purse. It was eight pm. She was tired, hungry and flustered. She couldn't spend another moment in the perverted bastard's company.

"Oy Ayuzawa" Takumi called her name, she turned around and raised an eyebrow.

Takumi smiled, "Have dinner with me?"

"No" Misaki said dryly.

"Am I not hot enough for you?" He teased her, he was having more than fun with her!

"I'm afraid I'm not hot enough for you" Misaki mumbled, almost sarcastically, and almost truthfully.

It was Takumi's turn to raise an eyebrow, "Never" He smiled as he walked towards her and grabbed her shoulders. He pushed her outside as he walked behind her, "I'm treating you to dinner"

Misaki yelled at him, "Act appropriately!" Takumi chuckled as he left her shoulders and smirked, "Then walk"

"Fine" Misaki walked as she stomped her heels. He's gotten more annoying! The duo got of his office and headed out unaware of the stares they were getting.

"So what have you decided?" Takumi asked as he peeked above the menu card and Misaki knew he wasn't talking about the food.

Misaki kept her eyes fixated on her menu, "I don't know. What's best here?" She asked the waitress, who was busy ogling Takumi.

"What... Oh! Right! Ma'am, our today's special is Indian curry with flat bread and rice" The waitress stuttered, she was caught off guard.

"We'll take those" Takumi filled in, the waitress bowed and went to get their orders.

Dinner was silent. Misaki was lost in her own thoughts and she paid little attention to her food. She thought back to what Akira had said. Was he truly into her? Misaki didn't know. She knew he cared for her in the same way as he did before. But she still couldn't come to trust him. One moment she felt like she knew him quite well and the other she didn't know who the person sitting in front of her was. Misaki was painstakingly aware that she was not over him. There was no getting over him. Misaki took small bites in between her thoughts. She didn't want him to comment upon her eating habits again.

She thought back to the times she had cried over him. She thought back to moments when she would wake up drenched in her own tears upon reminiscing the memories they shared together. She had never thought she'd ever see him again. But now here he was, and she didn't know what to do. God had a weird way of bringing people together. Was his return to Japan a sign? That they were meant to be together?

Or

Was this a sign that she needed to overcome her weaknesses? Why should she go back to him anyway? Why should she give him the chance? All the thoughts she was having were all fun and games, but now she was being practical. She didn't want to go back to him out of his pity. She may not be completely over him, but it wasn't like she couldn't breathe without him, like before. She had gotten up on her feet, somehow. Was she going to throw all that away for just another chance?

She wasn't.

Takumi raised an eye when he saw her spacing out. He smiled, what all went inside her beautiful mind? He rested his chin on the back of his palm and looked at her. She was completely out of it. He waved his hand in front of face, "Oy! Earth to Ayuzawa"

"Wh—oh!" Misaki looked at him, she was too close to freaking out.

Takumi looked at her worriedly, "Are you alright?"

"Yeah, totally" Misaki said, she finished her meal quickly and they headed out. Misaki looked out of the window as Takumi drove her home. She looked at the city lights and then gazed at the stars. She even had her doctors' appointment tomorrow. Only God knew what they were going to do to her. She sighed, she decided to go alone. Tora wasn't back yet and she didn't want to burden him. Besides, what was the worst that could happen?

Takumi walked her to her apartment and Misaki didn't say a word. They reached her front door and stopped.

Takumi looked at her worriedly, she looked pale. He decided to get his thoughts across once and for all, "So, what did you decide?"

"You're a great person, Takumi." She paused, "But…"

Takumi raised an eyebrow, this was the first time she was complimenting him. But? But what? He decided to stay silent and let her continue…

"But, we…" she trailed off again, as she looked at the keychain in her hand that Tora had given her last month. She looked up with a small smile and trembling lips, "But we were never meant to be."

Takumi extended his hand unknowingly, he wanted to correct her; he wanted to tell her that she was wrong. He wanted to tell her that they were always meant to be. He had been stupid before, but he couldn't utter a single word when he saw how hard she struggled to keep a straight face on as her eyes began to water. He stood there like a rock as she smiled and turned around.

"Good Night, Takumi. Thanks for the dinner." She said as she unlocked her house hurriedly and went inside without a second word.

"Never meant to be, eh?" Takumi smiled to himself as he stared at the mahogany door that was shut out on his face.

-xx-

"Never meant to be?" Tora smirked as he held a water bottle in his hand.

"Laugh at my expense, if you must." Takumi said as he looked up in the sky. He and Tora, were the two most unlikely people to sit together and chat in a park. Tora had shown up at his mansion at five in the morning, and now he was sitting with him in the lap of nature.

"I can't help but do" Tora laughed as he sat down next to him, "Can't say I feel bad for you."

"Its not a game."

"You're stupid if you think I dragged you into this just so that you could sweep Misaki off her feet and live happily ever after with her." Tora said as he looked far away.

"Be more specific." Takumi said distastefully as he looked at Tora.

"I wanted her to face her feelings for you. Whether they were of love, dejection, hatred, anything. I just wanted her to get closure. I don't care what she does, as long as she doesn't keep bottling up her feelings. As for you, I couldn't care less whether you live or you don't. I did it for her."

Takumi stared at the patterns on a fallen maple leaf as he thought about Tora's words. He realized that he hadn't even scratched the surface of what he broke. Misaki was nowhere near closure. She wanted to shut him out, last night.

"But it seems like the more I try, the more she's trying to run." Tora said as he looked at Takumi, who only smiled. "You can't control everything, Tora. I hate to break it to you but things always don't work out your way."

"That's a loser's excuse." Tora broke out an annoying grin and Takumi ran a hand through his hair, "Not an excuse, but an experience."

The two fell quiet a few moments later, both had the same thoughts, the same person, in mind. She, who disrupted their lives, probably slept soundly in her warm bed as they spoke, Takumi thought.

"As cruel as ever, eh Ayuzawa." he smiled.

x—x—x

Hey there! I made you all wait for so long, I'm so sorry. I wanted to say that even though I update really late, I open the ff site regularly, so don't feel shy while voicing your thoughts thinking I won't read. I read each and every review that gets posted and those reviews often shape the following chapters. I get a lot of new ideas as I read them and who knows? I just might be using your ideas in the next chapter.

I love you guys, APOF has reached one year this March. I always thought it would get completed before it ages one, but hey! we're on our way (:

I would like to thank everyone who has reviewed/followed/favorited/read this story. This was the first MAID SAMA fanfic that I ever wrote and look how popular it became. I'm so happy today.

MUCH LOVE XOXO

I'll see you all soon.