Hey guys! So sorry for a veeeeery late update. So many things going on, but I guess I don't need to go into details. I wanted to say thanks to everyone for reading my previous chapter and telling me their opinions about it. Thanks so much! So this is the update, please enjoy!

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Warnings: OOC-ness bound to happen, please be prepared.

'Maid sama' = Conversation in English

Disclaimer: I still wish I own Maid-sama, but sadly no… I don't, and never will.

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"What makes you think that you are in the position of being able to offer me a deal?" The old man growled, annoyed by Takumi's challenging words.

Takumi wasn't affected by his underestimating tone. He looked straight into his grandfather's piercing eyes and spoke. "I'll give you three reasons. First, you tried to make me believe that preparing me to be your heir was all part of your big plan, which turned out differently. I won't be suspicious if you didn't let your emotion took the best of you in the last bit, but it showed me how important it is to you that you tried to hide the truth. Second, the fact that you are trying to make me decide in just three days showed me how hasty it was. Last, even clearer, seeing you here in person can only mean that this matter is very urgent that you won't risk wasting any more time by sending someone else. So based on everything that I see today, I can only conclude that looking at the whole situation, a quick agreement needs to be settled, and the best way to reach it is to consider an advantageous solution for both."

"Don't think too highly of yourself! Do you think I won't easily ruin you and your girl's life right at this very moment or simply take you away by force? You should be grateful that I didn't do that instead of being such a big headed boy!"

"Both of us knew that you are capable of doing any of those things, but I know better that you knew how unfavorable it will be. It won't solve any of your problems, if not making it worse, so that's why I'm offering you a better way to settle things without involving any kind of damage. I will appreciate it if you will listen to what I'm going to say before disagreeing so openly."

The old man stayed still for a while. He knew that his pride wouldn't allow him to simply agree to his illegitimate grandson's wish, but he couldn't deny that the young man's words held indisputable truth. He should consider the best option that would give him the best result. That was his goal after all.

Then after thinking about it for some moments, at last, he was convinced that there was nothing to lose if he would listen to what he was going to offer before he decided otherwise, so he replied with an unsatisfied tone albeit his understanding over the truth of Takumi's words. "I will hear it, but if I don't like the sound of any part of it, don't you think that I will even bother to listen to the rest."

The grandfather turned to sit on his leather chair behind the huge desk, back to his earlier position, and at the same time gesturing Takumi to do the same.

Takumi simply nodded and sat back to the chair in front of his grandfather and then started speaking. "I'm aware that we have different goals in this situation, but none will benefit from continuing this act of pulling the already strained thread. I believe that you won't even bother to come here by yourself if it's not because of your concern over the future of your business, as you stated earlier. And even though I have yet to confirm about Gerard's inability to be the successor of the company, the fact that you are considering me to fill in that position is enough to tell me that he probably will not be around for some time."

Takumi stopped, waiting for his grandfather's reaction. The old man raised his brow while looking at Takumi. Even though he would never admit it, he agreed that Takumi's ability to analyze things impressed him. He was gradually interested to know what Takumi had in mind at the moment. So he didn't stop him, no, he wanted to hear more.

"Continue." He simply said to Takumi.

Takumi then added. "To be honest with you, I'm tired of the uncertainty that had been fed up to me ever since I was a child. So I appreciate your way of inviting me here and offer me a deal. This is the first time I get to see the real intention, and at the same time it showed me how important this matter is to you. So assuming that my outlook over the whole situation is true, I guess there's no use to waste any more time to force each other's better judgment. That's why to make things easier for you and me, I'm offering you a mutual agreement. I will agree to your offer earlier, if you will agree to mine."

The grandfather kept his silent treatment. He was thinking about the words Takumi just said. Even though he thought that he was still on a more powerful position to ignore everything he said, but he knew that it would be more favorable if Takumi came to him willingly. It would make so many things easier and the result would be much better, not to mention it would make the problems faster to overcome. "I will hear what you have in mind, but do not assume that I will agree to it."

"Fair enough." Takumi answered. "First, I'll promise to do all I can to learn from you and take care of the business, but I will not always follow your instructions, I will decide my own actions and take responsibility for each of it. Second, I will be free to decide everything related to my private life under any kind of circumstances, meaning I won't be forced into marriage or anything of that sort. And lastly, you will not do any harm or attempt to do it in any way to Misaki and her family, as well as her friends and colleagues."

"Do you seriously think that I will agree to that kind of things?" The old man's expression got colder, and his voice sent unpleasant feeling towards Takumi.

Takumi tried to ignore the effect of his grandfather's sudden pressure on him. He attempted to be as calm as possible while he responded. "Can't hurt the chance, can I?"

"… You sure have guts. Nobody talked to me like that, young man." His mood darkened as an intimidating aura that was coming from him got stronger by the minute. "You seem very certain that you are capable enough to meet my standard, don't you? Then what if you failed because you won't listen to my instructions?"

"Then I will give up struggling and listen to your every instruction from then on." Takumi said earnestly.

"Huh… Not only you have guts, you are an arrogantly confident person." Suddenly, incompatible to his rough words, the old man smiled for an unknown reason, but he seemed satisfied. He started to take interest to the young man he used to despise a lot ever since he was born who he didn't care to get to know even though he had so many years to do it. It was such an irony that the will to do just that suddenly emerged during such moment. It was then driving him to make a decision that was unexpected by both of them.

"…It's a deal."

The grandfather's agreement felt unreal to Takumi's ears. He couldn't believe his grandfather would agree to his conditions all of a sudden. He was speechless by that unexpected outcome.

"Do you mean…" was all that came out from Takumi's mouth a few seconds later.

"You heard what I said. We've reach our agreement. Isn't that what you want?"

"…Yes…" Takumi didn't know what else to say. He was still digesting their last conversation which was too unexpected that it felt like something that was only happening in his imagination. He really wasn't sure how to react.

"Good. Now… Since we've reach this point, I'll tell you what happened…" The grandfather stood up and walked slowly toward the huge glass window behind the chair he sat on before. He held open the long curtain that was blocking his view over the window. Glancing on the scenery outside the window, he unconsciously gripped the fabric a little too tight as he continued his explanation. "Gerard is in no condition to run the company. He is…" He slowly let go a sigh, losing his effortless control over his tough appearance as he turned around to face Takumi. "Have you ever heard of Dilated Cardiomyopathy*?"

"DCM? Enlargement of the heart? Do you mean Gerard is having a DCM?" Takumi was too shocked, he didn't realize that he was already standing, eyeing his grandfather in an utmost surprise. Honestly, Takumi was ready if his grandfather would say that Gerard was sick and he needed time to recover, therefore he needed a replacement, but he didn't expect that his illness is something that would endanger Gerard's life.

He finally understood why his grandfather was so persistent with the idea of having him back to Walker's family. The fate of the business and The Walker's name both lied within the sole successor who was in such imperil condition. The past ignominy behind Takumi's existence was no longer big of a problem if compared to such circumstances. As much as he despised the family who had alienated him for his entire life, Takumi wasn't the type of person who would be careless on such a painful state.

"…How severe is his condition?" Takumi asked.

"He experienced significant symptoms and collapsed a few times although the doctors claimed that at this stage, it will not endanger his life. But they need to run a few more tests to confirm the diagnosis because the disease is passed genetically from his father and therefore the risk of complications is higher. Do you understand now? With his current condition, he won't be eligible to be in charge of the company. You, as the Walker's only direct descendant left besides Gerard is next in the line."

Takumi fell silent. With this new fact, there was no doubt that fate had brought him closer to his worst nightmare and at the same time, sending him away from the only place he wanted to be. From the only person he wanted to be with. Misaki…

The grandfather watched Takumi intensely, sensing his apprehensiveness heightened. "You seem troubled." The old man commented.

The grandfather's voice awakened Takumi from his reverie. He looked up to his grandfather and found him standing not too far from where he was standing, scanning him with his sharp eyes.

"…and I know exactly the source of your hesitation. Obviously the only thing that's running through your mind in the entire time you are here is that girl. I am warning you, such an ordinary girl will not be a match for you, even if I don't interfere with your private life. I assume you know what I'm talking about."

Takumi knew exactly what his grandfather was implying. Tora Igarashi had made it very clear when he used his flawless act to lured Misaki into developing a conclusion that the rich and the poor will not have any chance of being together. That's why his grandfather agreed to his requirement, because he was sure that the gap between their status would set them apart even without his help. Such thought was bound to occur in one's mind because of so many examples.

Takumi had never ignored the veracity of that thought, but he refused to give up. What he and Misaki had was too valuable to be abandoned. It was worth the fight. So he decided, even though they will be apart for the moment, his faith remained. He believed in their relationship, and most importantly, he believed in her. It was enough to keep him going.

"Grandfather… There is something you don't understand…" Takumi paused, then a smile occurred on his handsome face for the first time since he stepped inside the house. "In my eyes, she is my only match…"

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"Hey… Idiot Takumi… What are you doing?" Misaki was putting her hands in repeating motion in front of the stoned Takumi, who was sitting on a couch while staring blankly to the space inside his high rise apartment.

Takumi snapped as he heard Misaki's voice, which suddenly transported him back to the present. "Ah… It's… Nothing…" He was acting like someone who just awoke from a long deep sleep.

"You asked me to help you with the packing, and you said you are doing nothing?" Misaki's demonic aura leveled up as he put both of her hands on each side of her waist, annoyed by Takumi's plain answer.

Takumi pulled her into his lap all of a sudden, then enveloping her petite body from behind. Then he whispered to her left ear while tightening his embrace over his girlfriend's strained body. "I'm sorry, please pardon my disturbed mind just now… You aren't angry, right? Misa-chan…"

His soft voice made her shivers as his hot breath blew her neck. You're doing it again, you knew I can't be angry with you if you're like this, uh… damn pervert Takumi!

Misaki didn't answer but when Takumi looked at her flushing hot face as she bowed her head to cover it, he already knew the answer. He smiled on her cute awkwardness whenever he made his move on her that didn't change even though they were already a couple. She just couldn't get used to his touch and passionate expressions. She was this one of a kind type of girl, and he couldn't deny that it made her very attractive in his eyes.

He then buried his face in her raven hairs while placing a chaste kiss on her shoulder. His act tensed up her body even more and as expected, she started struggling to break free from his tight grip. He didn't let her go, he tightened his embrace even more instead, but careful enough to not hurt her. Takumi rest his chin on her shoulder, and said.

"Please pardon me for one more thing, Misaki… For lying to you…"

To be continued….

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*Dilated Cardiomyopathy (DCM) is a condition in which the heart's ability to pump blood is decreased because the heart's main pumping chamber, the left ventricle, is enlarged and weakened; this causes a decreased ejection fraction (the amount of blood pumped out with each heart beat)

Ahhh what a loooooong journey to finish this chapter. I hope you guys like it. Pardon me for mistakes that may be more than usual as I don't have time to really proofread it more than once. I will really appreciate it if you will point out my mistakes so when I get back to it, I'll be able to correct it right away :)

With things going on recently at work, I won't be able to update like I usually do, so please be patient with me, I'll update when I have more time. I'm really sorry for this, but I'll update my progress on my profile if you guys wanna know :D

Sorry for the lack of TakuMisaki moment in these last two chapters, I promise in the next chapter there will be more of them. Next chapter will be titled "The Goodbye".

If you don't mind, please review, it will encourage me more to write ^^

Good days to you all!

-Fin-

March 27, 2011.