(A/N: I'm still here alive and kicking. Life happens. And yes, I'm still actively writing for this fic amid my hectic schedules and stuff. So, without further ado, here's the latest chapter below before I disappear into the void once again. Hopefully, you'll enjoy this as much as I did when I wrote it).

Chapter 4

By: Aztec999

Emma chewed her food carefully before swallowing it and drinking some water from her glass.

Senju was silently observing the events unfold in front of her, thinking their current predicament now that Mikey's grandpa directly invited Carol to spend the night in their house.

So, logically speaking Carol would have more time now in sticking to Mikey like a gum and probably tried to charm him off with her dazzling smile and graded A sociability.

Senju resisted the urge the slam her head down on the table out of indignation.

She honestly thought if she pulled out the "pie card" it would make things easier for her.

"Well, since we're inviting guests over to spend the night here, how about we invite Senju too Grandpa? Even though she's our neighbor across the street, it's already late in the night and it's not that safe for her to walk back home at this time of the night hmm?" Emma asked innocently.

Senju almost choked on her spit and her mind came into a screeching halt upon hearing Emma's words.

She stared at her from across the table. Emma spared her a glance and a quick but meaningful smile that spelled a lot of trouble.

'What the fuck are you on Emma?' Her mind screamed inwardly although she maintained a calm aura outside.

"You do have a point there Emma. So, it's decided then. Senju you may spend the night here in one of our guest rooms after the party is over. I'll go ring your brother later about this." The old man smiled at her reassuringly.

Senju tried to smile back in a reassuring way as well although her mind was now racing.

What the hell was Emma planning now?

If the woman suggested to seduce her brother in his bedroom later that night, she might shake Emma back to the reality and imposed her clear boundaries.

She still had her own dignity thank you very much. And she didn't want to throw it away for some guy like Mikey.

As if she wanted him in the first place anyway.

She needed to have a good talk with Emma after this dinner.

"Of course. Thank you, Sano-san." Senju smiled politely at him, her fingers slightly twitching around the fork from she was holding.

Out of the corner in her eyes, she saw Carol smiling at them. Or rather trying hard to be pleasant all around them. Senju could see the fakeness radiating off that woman just a mile away from here.

Well, the good thing that came out of it was that Carol was not pleased with the turn of events and they could probably foil her plans.

She's just inwardly praying that whatever Emma was planning, it doesn't involve any desperate actions from her.

The door was shut down calmly behind her even though Senju was tempted to slam it out of sheer frustration and anxiousness.

"Okay, what the hell was that earlier?" Senju crossed her arms over her chest and glared at Emma without any heat.

The blonde was currently lounging on her bed casually like she didn't do anything out of the ordinary.

"What?" She inspected her nails.

"That earlier. Me spending the night here? I swear if you're gonna make me jump on your brother on his bed—."

"Whoa. You have a pretty active imagination there." Emma cut her off with a slight giggle escaping her lips.

"Considering that this is you that we were talking about… It's not a farfetched idea after all." Senju shot back.

Emma pouted. "Don't be like that. I just took the opportunity for the both of us. And trust me no funny business this time around." She offered a peace sign.

Senju let out an exasperated breath and flopped down on the mattress beside her.

"You better… Okay, so what's the plan now genius?" Senju asked as she stared at the ceiling.

"You're gonna be wearing a swimsuit."

"I'm sorry what?" Senju did a double take and stared at her, looking taken aback.

"Tomorrow, I'm pretty sure that Mikey will probably use the swimming pool. He does that swimming thing as part of his regimen. And we will certainly take advantage of the given opportunity to us." Emma winked at her playfully.

Senju narrowed her eyes at her. "And what exactly do you propose me to do now?"

"It's just really simple my dear Senju. You'll wear one of the two-piece swimsuits that I'll give you tomorrow then you'll lounge at one of those available sun loungers in there and then you're going to pretend that you wanted to tan and ask my brother to spread some tanning lotion on your back. Sounds innocent enough, right?" Emma replied casually.

Just the thought of Mikey's hands caressing her back with than damn tanning lotion was enough to make Senju's cheeks burned in mortification.

"What? No way in hell!" Senju exclaimed out indignantly.

"Well, I figured you're going to say that." Emma sighed before she brightened up again. "That's why there's a plan B. The plan B was just you're lounging by the pool, your feet dangling on the water and initiate a small talk with my brother."

"As if Mikey can withstand a normal conversation with me without him throwing insults and backhanded compliments right into my face." Senju snorted.

"Certainly, you don't know the other side of men sometimes. Mikey is still a guy y'know? Oh, trust me Senju once he sees you tomorrow in that two-piece swimsuit, he'll be more than happy to pay attention to you." Emma smiled innocently at her.

"Right…" Senju rolled her eyes playfully before standing up from the bed. "Just hand me that two-piece swimsuit so we can be ready for tomorrow." She added.

Emma stood up and went towards her dresser where she got a small paper bag and handed it to her. "He swims at around 10 in the morning so better get ready for it tomorrow, okay? Don't worry I'll be in the background tomorrow to observe you guys so if something happens, I'll be there to help!" She beamed at her.

Senju took the bag from her. "Of course, you are. You'll be the invisible chaperone anyway. See you tomorrow." Senju bid a quick goodbye and went outside her bedroom, closing the door behind her and left.

As her feet padded lightly on the floorboards of the halls, Senju squinted her eyes as she noticed some figures standing in front each other.

Upon realizing that it was Mikey and Carol she quickly hid behind the walls where she was a few feet away but not to the point where she couldn't hear everything that they're talking about.

Okay eavesdropping in a conversation was totally uncool and not in her own rule book but given the circumstances and since it involves two people who were the source of Emma's plans in the first place, it would be a great timing to know what the hell was Carol up to now that she was spending the night here in Mikey's place.

"Are you sure that you don't want to just talk with me here in my room for a few minutes to catch up?" Carol asked smilingly.

"Ah no Carol… I think it's already late in the night and we've had a good time at the party earlier. I want you to rest now seeing that you also travel for several hours going here." Mikey declined politely.

'Huh?' Senju blinked a few times. It's foreign to her to see and hear Mikey being polite and diplomatic with other people. Well, then again. This was Carol that they're talking about. His childhood friend. So, maybe he treated her differently from the other people that he met.

For some unknown reason, it sent a sour note in her entire being before she shook her head adamantly.

Nope. She didn't need to get distracted now.

She wanted to focus more on what's happening in front of her and stared intently at the scene in front of her.

Carol seemed disappointed with his answer before a quick, understanding smile played on her lips.

"That's fine really! I completely understand! We can catch up tomorrow morning right during breakfast?"

"Of course. We can chat over a cup of coffee." Mikey replied idly to which Carol beamed at him brightly.

"Cool! See you tomorrow then Mikey!" She gave him a quick hug.

Mikey seemed taken aback for a few seconds before he reluctantly returned her hug and wrapped his arms carefully around her.

'That woman I swear…' She seethed inwardly before she quickly composed herself as Mikey disentangled himself from her and waved goodbye at her before she closed the door behind him.

Mikey was already walking away.

She had to think fast. Should he let him be or she could take the opportunity to strike a conversation to him?

It's now or never.

When Mikey was already away, Senju was already walking behind him and she made it seem that she saw him accidentally on the halls.

"Oh, fancy seeing you here Mikey." Senju inwardly cringed on how she sounded.

It made Mikey paused in his tracks and turned around slightly.

"Still awake?" He arched a brow at her.

'Control your temper, Senju. Just this once.' Senju's mind tried to compose her even if Mikey's expression alone makes her wanna scoffed at him.

"I was about to sleep now. I just catch up with Emma earlier. Y'know just girly things and stuff…" She smiled coyly at him.

"Right…" Mikey's brows furrowed before he turned away again and started to walk away.

It made Senju alarmed slightly.

Damn.

It's obvious that Mikey wasn't interested to any words that'll come out of her mouth.

"Wait!"

Her frantic voice made Mikey stopped in the middle of the hallway and turned to her fully with a look of anticipation on his face.

"Well? You wanna say something to my face?" Mikey asked casually.

Before Senju could answer he proceeded on talking.

"It's kinda funny that you're actively seeking my presence now. Is the night been a bit boring for the little princess to seek my own company now?" There was lilt in his voice and a sardonic smile playing on his lips.

"Hah! As if… You wish!" Senju retorted before quickly coming up with a cover up. "You're not lying earlier, aren't you?"

"Me? Lying about what?" He shot her a quizzical look.

"About our pie being that delicious." She pointed out.

"Why would I lie about it? I'll gain nothing from it. Also, I didn't say that to impress Grandpa or any of you." Mikey scoffed lightly. "If anything, it was one hell of a pie even if it came from the likes of you so you gotta take that as a compliment!" He added… and was that a small pout adorning his face.

God, he looked like a petulant kid in the middle of the playground.

How cute.

What.

'Erased, erased, erased.' Her mind quickly discarded that notion about him. What the hell has her thought has come into?

Upon hearing his words, she couldn't help but to glower in return. Fuck. Seducing this bastard was a lot harder than she thought.

"Well, thank you for the compliment even if it came from a guy like you." She shot back before she marched out and walked past him, missing the smile of fond amusement that slowly inched across Mikey's lips.

Mikey just watched her go, shaking his head slightly before he resumed walking back to his own room.

For some odd reason, a light feeling overcame him and he didn't know what it was exactly but slowly basking in that pleasantness overall.

The next day…

"Why are you wearing a pair of oversize swim shorts on top of your bikini?!" Emma shrieked in disgust.

"Excuse me? I'm not about to flaunt my goddamn body over there for this ridiculous event!" Senju shot back.

"But you're supposed to wear a proper two-piece bathing suit! How can you seduce my brother at the swimming pool if you look like a total grandma?" Emma facepalmed.

"I have my dignity y'know? And I'm not about to toss it away for this stupid situation!" Senju rolled her eyes as she crossed her arms over her chest, refusing to budge in.

Emma sighed. Senju can be stubborn sometimes.

They were currently in Emma's room that morning with Senju finally trying on the two piece swimsuit she gave to her last night.

"Fine. But can you please take it off and try on another swimsuit as well? I have a one-piece swimsuit that's not that revealing and wouldn't make you look like a joke in the swimming pool."

Senju grumbled under her breath. "It better be nice or I'm going home." She begrudgingly followed Emma back to her room.

When they get inside her room again, Emma opened her closet and ransacked some clothes underneath it until she found out what she was looking for and tossed it into Senju's direction to which the latter captured it perfectly in her hands and studied it.

Emma turned around with one of her hands on her hips. "It's a one-piece navy-blue polka dot halter type of swimsuit. I'm pretty sure that your conservative eyes will also like it."

Senju sighed and went inside the bathroom to change.

When she finally got out, Emma clapped her hands excitedly as she observed Senju's figure from head to toe.

"You look perfect!"

The design had a classic cut and design that wasn't too revealing nor too modest. It didn't expose too much of her chest area and backside but it left a certain style to reveal a small amount of cleavage around her breasts that leant a classier yet sexier aura.

Even though her legs weren't that long, it was certainly shapely and well defined as evident in her lean muscles around her thighs which was accentuated more due to her ivory skin and fair complexion. Senju was inwardly thankful for all the training and strict regimen that she went through during her training in the dojo as it gave her lithe body a well sculped frame and lean muscle overall.

"You think so? I didn't look a dumb chick or something like that?" Senju eyed herself in the mirror critically. Although she deemed that this one piece was much more flattering to her body and curves, she couldn't help the sliver of doubt to cloud her senses.

For a mere second, she wanted Mikey to look at her like a real woman and not just a nuisance nor a rival in martial arts.

She paused.

What the hell?

Since when did she care about other people's opinions about her? Especially Mikey's?

She didn't want her dignity to be shattered in this one, small event that's all.

That's the main reason she's doing this and thinking like this.

Nothing else.

"When I say you're perfect then believe me Senju. God, if we're going to hit the beach in the future you better wear a swimsuit. Stop hiding those curves! If you have it, flaunt it as they say!" Emma replied cheerfully as she took some accessories and put on a wide brim sunhat on her head and a pair of sunglasses.

"Now you're good to go!" She added as she placed the tanning lotion into her right hand.

Senju could only hope that everything will go according to their plan without any hitch.

Senju finally came out and let her feet guide her to the swimming pool, holding the tanning lotion tightly on her hand.

She was wearing a wide brim summer sun hat and a pair of sunglasses at the insistence of Emma to give her a sexier look.

'Okay try to remember what she told you to do…' Her mind listed off the things that Emma told her to do once she was in the vicinity of Mikey.

Pulling up all her courage and casual bravado within her, she called for Mikey's attention and put on her most ravishing voice.

"Hey Mikey…"

Mikey was about to repeat some laps on the pool when he stopped midway and turned his face towards his attention.

However, he blinked owlishly at her and just stared at her for a few seconds.

Senju could only hope that's a good reaction as she took off her hat and pulled up her sunglasses, offering him her most captivating smile.

"Want to help me out in putting some lotion on my back?"