Enjoy!
Did you know that Atobe jogged every day of the week except Tuesday?
Cause I knew. I knew very well.
Since that first Thursday wherein he had me wake up at four in the morning to jog with him like it was the end of the world, he's been having me do it every single day, barring the weekends. And it's been a little over a week since then. It is not how I pictured my Friday mornings.
The second day it happened, I was still rather drained. The third day, Monday, I was annoyed. As he dismissed me that morning, he told me, "Same time tomorrow." I gaped as if he had just announced that he was going to elope with Yuushi. Or worse, Kabaji. I wouldn't have been too surprised if it were Yuushi, after all.
"What?" I managed to choke out.
He shrugged his bag strap on his shoulder. "You know what."
"What makes you think I'll even bother to go?" I exclaimed agitatedly.
He smirked. "It doesn't take much effort to make your cell phone ring."
I think he's threatening my sleep. I can't have him threatening my sleep. I wasn't about to give up just yet. "I can turn it off just as simply."
"You have a house phone." He replied smugly.
The argument went on for a while after that and, sadly, I was back in the same spot the next day. The guy knew how to argue. He resorted to every single thing humanly imaginable in the most irritating way universally perceivable. At some point, I even believed he implied something technically illegal but he would never attest to that.
It was an annoying arrangement to nth degree. I got up early to jog with him, went to school early because I was always glaringly awake afterwards and found myself still helping him out in the Student Council Room while I ate breakfast.
IT WAS SO DAMN ANNOYING.
I couldn't help it. He looked so pitiful with all the paperwork and stuff. And for some reason I could not understand, knowing he jogged every single morning before the sun was up made me feel even more pity for the guy!
It wasn't like he was asking to be pitied. The guy's pride was too high for that and whenever I even dared to mention to him that I was helping him out due to pity he scowled and glared and whatnot-ed at me.
GAHHH! Curse my easily movable heart. Yuushi's soft-ness was rubbing off on me...
Friday afternoon, it was after practice and Atobe didn't walk me to the gate like usual because he had some business to attend to. It was well enough in itself because my friends and I were planning to go out and do something together.
As my friends and I were walking out of the gates of Hyotei a familiar black limo pulled up in front of us and the back window lowered to reveal Atobe's inflated head. We all stopped in our tracks and stared at him in horror…well, I stared at him in horror, they stared at him with some more like awe. Oh, you do not know what he is capable of.
"Are you available, Mai?" He asked placidly, propping his head up on his arm on the edge of the window.
I raised an eyebrow at him warily before I looked at my friends standing behind me. "As you can see, my friends and I were actually – " And not for the first time, my friends interrupted me mid-excuse. This time with a rather painful nudge which propelled me towards the car. If it weren't for Atobe's chauffeur suddenly materializing next to me and steadying me, my horrible coordination would've sent careening into the open window.
"Perfectly available," my friends chorused behind me.
Atobe smirked. "Great," he said leaning back into his seat and snapping his fingers at his chauffeur. The middle-aged man began to herd me to the other side of the car. From the corner of my eye, I saw Atobe send my friends a patented lady-killer smirk before rolling up his window. Behind me, I heard something heavy drop to the ground. Let that have been one of the girls...
"Where are you taking me?" I asked him testily, turning to face him on the plush leather seats. He had his arm draped across the back of the seat and looked for all the world like he was sleeping.
He sighed before answering me. "You'll figure it out when we get there."
"I think you're forgetting the blindfold," I deadpanned. He opened his eye a crack and smirked.
"Ore-sama didn't know you swung that way," He drawled.
In the frenzy of being dragged into a limousine, I'd forgotten I was still clutching onto my bag. "Oh, I'll swing something your way!"
Happily, that hit him square in the abs. And he even raised his shirt to check. Why was he so fit and annoying at the same time?
So, there I was, sitting grumpily in the back of a limousine with Atobe Keigo without anything else to throw at him since he robbed me of my book bag when I threw it at him the first time and it was now resting at his feet as we drove down the busy streets of Tokyo. When he was sure that I wasn't about to throw my shoes at him, – and I wouldn't because he would probably take them if I did and I only had one pair of shoes with me – he smiled at me mysteriously and then leaned back into the seat with his eyes closed.
I sighed, figuring he must be pretty tired after everything. I wasn't any happier being there but I left him alone. He looked relatively harmless when he was – I assumed – asleep anyway. And he even felt tired as we talked, well, argued earlier.
I was staring out the window, not really paying attention to anything when the chauffeur suddenly opened my door and I straightened in my seat with a start.
Staggering out of the car, I blinked in the bright light as I looked up at the building we had stopped in front off. "We're here." Atobe called, nearing the entrance. "Come on."
"Retail?" I asked once I'd fallen into step with him. He smirked at me and said no more.
Inside, we were greeted by a row of bowing employees who immediately began graciously ushering us into the elevator followed by a room very largely labelled VIP LOUNGE.
The VIP Lounge was a room filled with plush leather furniture and a whole lot of attendants sporting racks and racks of clothes. I glanced over all the designer shoes and dresses displayed around one side of the room while the other side held various shapes, cuts and colours of suits.
As I was about to open my mouth to ask Atobe what the hell was going on when I was whisked away by a female attendant into a spacious dressing room where more attendants were waiting, each holding a different dress.
"Atobe?" I called over the rustle of clothes.
"What is it?" He answered before I heard a softer, "Next."
In the span of the few seconds it took him to answer, I was seated in a swivel chair with some lady toying with my hair and another lady taking my shoes off.
"What's going on?"
There was a pause as I heard a zipping sound. "We're getting you a dress."
That was all I got from him since the attendants suddenly converged around me and I swore I saw my life flash before my eyes. You know how those things in the cartoons go where people spin you around and the next thing you know you're down to your underwear. Yeah, that happened. And then, they spun me around some more and I find myself in a dress. The process went on for a while. Spin. Dress. Spin. Dress. Over the course of my typhoon-esque dressing sequence, I repeatedly tried asking Atobe why the hell we were getting me a dress to which he replied he'd tell me when I got the dress.
About a dozen dresses later, one of the older looking attendants addressed me in a pleasant tone. "Takashina-sama, have you seen a dress you liked in particular?" Not really, I haven't exactly registered any of the dresses I've put on.
Just as I was about phrase that to her in a more polite manner, I was cut-off (again) by a knock on the door. The attendant nearest to the door glanced at me and, seeing that I was still fully dressed – a rare moment in the past half-hour – opened the door slightly. From where I stood, I couldn't see who it was.
"Atobe-sama," Well, now I knew. She stepped out of the room, leaving the door ajar. On the other side, I could hear them talking but I couldn't make out the words. Giving up trying to listen to them, I looked at myself in the large mirror behind me, checking out the dress when I saw a slip of paper next to me and curiously picked it up.
What followed was me screaming in horror.
The people in the room started as I stomped towards the door and wrenched it completely open to see Atobe standing nearby in an unbuttoned dress shirt – which reaaaallly showed off his not underrated magnificence, but I couldn't afford to be distracted – and shaking his head exasperatedly with his fingers pressed to his temple. I took the time to make sure to keep my jaw hinged before I opened my mouth.
"I just said not to let her see the price tags," I heard him mutter to the assistant he just called out. Her apologies were lost on my ears as I stomped towards the barely dressed blonde.
"What the hell, Atobe!" I grated, keeping my voice as low as possible. To do so and still have him hear every word that came out of my mouth I had to stand irritatingly close. "You can't treat me to expensive food so you'll buy me expensive clothes instead?"
He lowered his hand from his face and instead looked at me with unconcealed amusement. If we weren't in front of so many people I would've decked him again. "It was ore-sama's mom's idea. She picked out the dresses and technically paid for whatever you get in advance already. She said it was a gift." He said matter-of-factly before nodding towards someone behind me and walking off.
While he was still at arms reach, I grasped at the end of his shirt and tugged slightly at the same time I felt a hand on my shoulder. I smiled at the lady and let go of Atobe's shirt. His head was turned towards me faintly and I gave him a frustrated look before turning around and walking back into the room. I decided that I might as well get it over with.
After another barrage of dresses in which I tried to really see what I was wearing – and tried harder not to think of the price of whatever I was wearing – I had at last found this really cute little black dress. It was black silk and cotton blend with cross over straps and an empire cut. The skirt of the dress had three layers to it but it was still really easy to maneuver in and very lightweight, – I could just imagine the thoughts entering my friends' minds if I told them that – which I figured suited me to an extent. If I was going anywhere with Atobe, the dress better have leeway for inflicting pain unto his person.
"That's a wonderful choice, Takashina-sama," the attendants chorused. I smiled cordially and did a gleeful spin in front of the mirror despite myself. I thought it was a really cute dress.
Having found a dress, I thought I was done until the attendants lined up once more, this time with boxes in hand. Of course, shoes… I thought balefully, sitting down in one of the comfy chairs.
I was trying on a pair of shoes when Atobe's voice drifted over and I could only assume he was talking to me. "She didn't know what style you preferred so she went with colors to suit your 'exceptionally pale skin,' she said." He droned boredly. At his tone, I realized why it had felt like he was so tired earlier. It wasn't so much training and schoolwork, as his mom's pestering, I guessed.
"Is that so?" I chimed, slipping my foot into another shoe. This was gonna take a while.
I finally decided on a pair of soft black suede boots with a small buckle and slouch detail. It was unbelievably one of the shoes with the least amount of heel in the selection. Plus, the hidden platform inside was really helpful. But overall, they were still heels, my mortal enemy. Atobe's mom may have excellent fashion sense and did amazingly well in choosing the clothes in the room based off of one picture we took but I guess there was no way you could tell how coordinated a person was from just that.
After choosing the shoes, I was once again disappointed in my apparent not done-ness when they offered me a selection of bags next. I chose the simplest black clutch I could get my hands on and finally they dragged me to the mirror to check my make-up and hair one last time. They were about to bring out a selection of jewelry but I vehemently turned down the offer in light of the fact that I wasn't really a jewelry person.
A glance at my wrist showed a watch that I did not remember putting on my person. I looked at one of the attendants who smiled back playfully. I looked at the watch again and sighed. There wasn't much I could say about the make-up and hair other than it was really quite nicely done. My hair was kept almost as it was when I came in except they added something to give it some sheen and my make-up was light but made my skin look rosier than it was in reality but still seem natural.
I could've got down on my knees and praised the high heavens when they announced that I was done if it weren't for the fact that if I ruined anything we'd be back to square one of this grueling process. I thanked the attendants who helped me with the deepest bow I could manage in what I was wearing.
They had just opened the door when Atobe's voice carried over to me, "How is it?"
Looking outside the room I had been in for around two hours, I spotted Atobe standing with his back towards me in front of a full-length mirror being held up by two male attendants. If it were any other guy that I was annoyed at just a little less I would've said something along the lines of 'sexy' at what I saw in the reflection but since it was Atobe I settled for a more...self-satisfying response.
"Yeah, yeah. You look absolutely beautiful, Atobe-sama." I crooned, hand on my hip.
He turned around, annoyed, not really looking at me and fixing his tie which was a tad bit askew. Behind him I could see the younger male assistants stifling their laughter. I smirked as I appreciated Atobe's peeved reaction and his really nice-looking clothes. The suit he was outfitted in was simple but it was pretty obvious Atobe knew what he looked good in.
"I meant your clothes, Mai," He said, still fixated on his tie and turning back towards the mirror.
I shook my head and slowly made my way towards him, careful not to fall. "You're mom has great style." I answered sincerely, tapping him on the shoulder so I could offer to fix his tie but he was already done by the time he turned back towards me.
"Of course, she's ore-sama's mom." He drawled before pausing and giving me an evaluating glance.
He looked me in the eye after a long pause with an eyebrow raised. "You clean up nicely."
Giving him my own eyebrow raise, I resisted the urge to throw my clutch at him and instead settled for a long sigh. "I've heard that before," I said. "And I'm afraid of the direction this particular conversation is going. So before we go there, will you find the decency in your heart to tell me what is going on?" If you have a heart, that is...
I was admittedly somewhat tired after my little clothing session. That was the most times I've changed clothes in one day, or maybe even a week, in my life. I wasn't exactly an avid shopper unless it involved food. Accordingly, I was not in the mood to tolerate Atobe's antics for much longer. And if he couldn't find the decency to tell me what was going on I'd run out of the decency to ask him in a relatively civil manner.
"I'll tell you in the car." He offered and I nodded in acceptance as the door to the outside world was opened. He put his arm around my waist as per usual and I gave him a dead stare to which he responded with the most willful smirk I'd seen on his face since he kidnapped me. It only took a slight twist of my ankle to skewer his foot. He arm dropped almost immediately and he glared at me, also the most willful0.. glare out of him this afternoon. Ahh, achievements.
We were in the elevator when I finally thought to ask, "What about my uniform?"
"You don't need to worry about it."
It wasn't as if it was my only one but it better show up tonight, or else. He wasn't on my 'to be easily forgiven' list at the moment, or frankly, ever.
As he said, he'd tell me in the car. I held him to that. Firstly, I started off with something that's been at the back of my mind since it happened.
"Is this why you came up to me with that question the other day?"
He shrugged. "Ore-sama asked nicely."
I folded my arms across my chest, biting my lip in annoyance. "There's no way I would've found that nice if you're always telling me I'm fat."
He held back a smile at that moment, I just knew it. "Ore-sama has never explicitly called you fat."
"Keyword: explicitly."
"Fine, I'll tell you now..." He drawled.
I raised my eyebrows and gaped slightly. "Who asked you to?" I exclaimed.
Suddenly, he was sidled up close to me – too close, personal space please – and was leaning in even closer. I was suppressing an irritated eye twitch as he got closer. "You're not fat," he deigned to say. "You just eat a lot."
Since he had sidled up so close, his foot was in prime position to be stepped on by the heel of my boot. Stilettos, they could have been by best friends...
Effectively put off by the sensation of being stepped on with really pointy shoes, Atobe stayed at a safe distance for the rest of our conversation.
"Now that we have cleared the air of that very taboo topic, as you have learned the hard way," I began and he glared at me again. "Kindly tell me where we are going."
"Currently en route to the Atobe residence," he answered curtly.
"Why are we going to your house?"
He sighed, propping his elbow up on the window will and resting his head on his fist. "My parents are having a party there right now and they insisted that you attend as well."
"And you didn't think to ask me first?" Like a normal human being, I refrained from sobbing out.
"Ore-sama got you a dress," Atobe turned away and looked out the window, looking like a brooding little boy because his parents were being annoying. I resisted the urge to snicker because I didn't want to have to explain myself. Instead, I took up the same position he was in on my side of the car.
"Unfortunately, that is not equivalent to going 'hey, can I kidnap you and take you home to my parents' party,'" I said to the window in a purposely audible mutter.
Before I knew it the chauffeur was opening my door in front of a mansion no less grandiose than Atobe would ever settle for. There were a few people littered outside, getting out of their own limousines under the suddenly moonlit sky. When did it get so late? It'd been a while since I'd attended one of these parties.
Atobe suddenly came around the car and offered his arm to me. I took a look at the proffered arm and then at his face, a customary dead stare on my face. This time, though, I was actually thinking about it.
He smirked, seeing the expression. "You're in heels," He stated.
I pursed my lips. "I know."
"There are a lot of people around." He added.
"I know." I sighed, taking the proffered arm and walking into the foyer full of people.
Let's get this over with.
"How very polite you are, Atobe-sama," I said, covering my mouth demurely, as we walked away from another middle-aged couple in the midst of our journey to his parents. "Such contrast from when you suddenly ordered me into a car and proceeded to drive me halfway across Tokyo."
Simultaneously, the two of us bowed at an elderly lady that waved at us from the corner of the room and resumed walking when she turned away. At this rate, I would never get to meet his parents.
"You seemed willing enough," he said haughtily as he pulled me closer to his side to avoid a waiter with a tray of champagne.
I gaped up at him disbelievingly. "And you seem delusional enough," I retorted. "What part of flinging a heavy bag at you could possibly constitute as willing?"
He shrugged and turned his lips up in a minute version of his usual smirk that suddenly caused the glares I've been receiving from the younger girls since I stepped into the house to intensify. Successfully ignored. "And that aside," I said impatiently. "You haven't fed me yet and I'm so hungry..." I whined, tugging agitatedly at his sleeve. He glanced down at me with an amused smile and proceeded to ignore my whining. I was about to complain more when he cut me off.
"I see my parents." He said suddenly and I rejoiced inside despite my hunger. Looking down, he gave me a hard stare. "Do not say anything unnecessary."
I gave him my own smirk as I tightened my hold on his arm. "Of course not, I still have to pay you back for all the wonderful things you've done for me these past three weeks." I said in the most velvety voice I could manage. "Least of all, bodily abducting me, right, pretty boy?"
His eyes registered oncoming danger as I proceeded to haul him towards the direction where he saw his parents with a strength afforded to me by his really muscular and sturdy arm. He couldn't put up much of a fight lest it be seen by an audience. "Takashina, what the hell are you planning?" He muttered sharply as we approached his parents.
"Why, to impress your parents, of course, what else could I be planning to do?" My tone was getting more irritably sweet by the step.
"Anything short of murd – "
"Keigo!" His retort was cut short by a female voice calling his name and I turned my face into his arm to hide my smirk before we began walking again, this time following his lead. Oh, how the mighty fall in face of their mothers.
Within seconds of laying my eyes on his parents, I knew where he had gotten his looks.
From both of them.
The sharp blue eyes and more or less blonde hair obviously came from his mom. While everything else from his dad. Everything. I found it kind of freaky that they even had a mole in the same place.
"Otou-sama, okaa-sama, this is Mai." He introduced flatly, giving me a stare that could hardly be misconstrued as affectionate but his parents were too focused on staring at me to notice, I supposed. "Mai, these are my parents."
I had just went through the customary polite introduction and 'nice to meet you' niceties when Atobe's mother stepped forward and grasped my hand tightly as I was poised to bow.
"It's so wonderful to finally meet you, Mai-san. I'm Atobe Allyssa and this is my husband Yutaka." She said enthusiastically, leading me closer to the slightly imposing figure of Atobe's dad and causing me to release my grip on Atobe's arm. "Keigo has told us so much about you." He has, has he? Interesting...
Smiling politely but not insincerely, I bowed as best I could from my position. "The pleasure is all mine, Atobe-sama. I'm flattered that he speaks of me to you, I hope everything you have heard is to your liking." I say, turning to laugh curtly in the most convincing way possible as I glanced at Atobe standing a few feet away.
"Oh, we'll get to those stories later. I can't wait to hear your stories as well." She chimed. "And please, call me Allyssa." I did as she asked and she smiled so widely I was afraid she her mouth would get stuck that way. "You picked a wonderful ensemble here. I hope you liked the clothes I picked out for you." She commented, placing her hands on my shoulders and holding me at arms' length.
"Thank you very much, Allyssa-san, they were all very beautiful. But you really didn't have to go through all the trouble. I hate to be imposing on you."
"Nonsense! It was no trouble at all. I'm glad you like my gift. You really are much prettier in person," she continued to gush, I smiled sheepishly. "Not that you aren't pretty in pictures, of course. But one picture is so hard to go on."
At this point, Atobe-sama stepped forward as well and put his arm around his wife, making her step back and allowing me some room to breathe. "We honestly thought he'd be spending the rest of his life playing tennis. Keigo's outdone himself."
"Oh, I believe he's been doing well for himself so far." I smile sweetly at Atobe who proceeded to give me a smile that could have rivalled that of a dying hyena's. "He's very...dedicated."
The female Atobe let out a sound suspiciously close to a squeal before taking my hand again and then turning to Atobe who still had yet to move from his previous position. "Keigo, I see Sakurakouji-san waving you over. Oh, with her daughter as well! Why don't you go over there and have a chat with them while Mai-chan stays with us. I can't wait to hear what she has to say."
Hearing this, Atobe's head snapped towards me as I gave him a mischievous grin. "And I have so much to tell you, Allyssa-san."
"That's wonderful!" She exclaimed, before turning her gaze back to her son. "We'll see you in a while, Keigo. Enjoy yourself." She waved him off. "Don't forget to tell her that you're already taken, dear." Allyssa-san added as an afterthought.
Atobe turned around and I could tell he was trying really hard not to grimace. I caught his eye and waved at him coyly. "Please do." This time, he couldn't suppress the twitch of his eye which even his parents noticed.
"He can be so moody sometimes," Allyssa-san sighed.
That was the worst I'd ever seen a person's eye twitch in my life.
Atobe found me over an hour later sitting on a stool by the bar in their ever-so extravagant salon. "Welcome back, Atobe-sama," I greeted, raising the glass in my hand as he took a seat next to me. Discreetly, I pushed away the stack of plates I had amassed during my stay at the bar.
I turned to face him, placing the base of my drink on my knee as I crossed my legs. "You drink?" He asked blandly, motioning to the glass.
"Mocktail," I shrugged. He nodded and snapped his fingers and the bartender slid him a drink similar to mine.
"What are you doing alone?" He asked, propping his head up on the bar counter.
Downing the rest of my drink, I shook my head and smiled. "I was actually chatting with Kabaji-kun up 'till about five minutes ago before he went home with his parents." He raised his eyebrow inquiringly. "He doesn't talk much." I added.
He smiled a little before pulling his lips into a grim line. "What did you talk about with ore-sama's parents?" He asked with a practiced tone of annoyance.
"This and that," I waved my hand dismissively, laughing at the glare I received. "I didn't tell her about our deal if that's what you think." Something flashed on his face. Confusion, most likely. True, why wouldn't I jump at this opportunity to tell his parents...well..."I want to see how much I can play with you while it lasts."
He rolled his eyes and took a sip. "How predictable." He drawled.
I smirked. "Well, you didn't see that coming."
"Which brings ore-sama back to asking what you could have possibly told them," he said, placing his empty glass down on the counter.
"I'm actually more curious to find out what you told them about me."
"Is that relevant?"
"Yes."
He raised his eyebrow at me with the beginnings of a smirk before suddenly straightening in his seat. I tilted my head at him curiously.
He ran a hand through his hair. "Well, ore-sama was supposed to take you home," he began and I perked up immediately. "But my mother insists that we dance at least one set together before you go."
It would have been rather unladylike for me to drop my jaw on the floor, so I'll just say my jaw was a little closer to the ground than the norm. "I humbly, politely, and vehemently refuse." I deadpan.
"You can't do that." He answered simply, standing up.
"Why not?"
He smiled wryly. "Because my mother just got a camera to document the moment," he said, his eyes motioning towards a spot in the crowd where his parents were standing with a photographer. I resisted the urge to groan. Atobe got his extravagance somewhere, it would seem. "And a photographer to go with it, if you haven't noticed yourself." He offered his hand to me and I eyed it wearily.
Let's get this over with, I thought to myself again as I took his hand and carefully slid off my seat. "Why do we have to do this?" I muttered, glancing absentmindedly at the girls shooting me glares from all around the room coupled with the measuring glances from their mothers.
"We have to put on a good show," He said, pulling me closer to him and then wrapping his arm around my waist.
I snorted quietly as he led me to the dance floor. "Unfortunately, Atobe, I don't dance." I deadpanned.
He smirked, looking straight ahead. "Fortunately, I do."
"So, I wonder how good a show we can put on when only one of us knows what to do." I bit.
Reaching the destined spot, he spun me so I was facing him and placed both his hands on my hips. Reluctantly, I wound my arms around his neck. "All you need to dance well is a good lead." He announced quietly, leaning into my ear.
I snorted again. "Would that 'good lead' happen to be you?" I supposed sarcastically. "'Cause I'd really rather be led by a cow."
He smirked and drew himself up to his full height. "Unfortunately for you, there are no cows available at the moment."
"Just one really high horse." I muttered under my breath.
When the music started, I think Atobe learned that no matter how good a lead he was, there was no correcting someone that really didn't want to do it right. Take for example, me.
"Ow," He hissed from the corner of his mouth.
I smirked. "I'm sorry. Another accident." I chimed, apologizing for my twelfth 'accident' in the past two songs.
"You stepped on ore-sama's foot with the back of your heel and that's the fourth time you kicked ore-sama in the shin." He griped agitatedly. "How can that still be an accident?"
My lips pulled into a coy smile. "I'm just so clumsy. Allow me to apologize, Atobe-sama."
He looked at me with piercing blue eyes to which I only grinned up at. His grip tightened around me as the dance called for an outside turn.
"Oops," I grinned as my foot landed on the toe of his designer leather shoes. Though, in all honesty, it really was an accident.
Atobe looked as if he could tear his hair out right then and there if it wasn't for his mother standing a few feet away, gushing excitedly next to a photographer taking pictures of us.
Speaking of hair, actually...
With my arms wrapped around his neck like they were, it was no problem for me to reach up and tug tenderly on a lock of hair at the back of his head.
"What the hell was that?" He gave me a stare that said that-sure-as-hell-was-not-an-accident.
Tilting my head to the side innocently, I smiled up at him sweetly. "Just checking if it's real," I sing-songed.
"Why wouldn't it be?" He clipped defensively. "Ore-sama's hair is absolutely flawless."
I raised my eyebrow with a smirk. "Sources tell me you're known to have worn a wig in the past."
Under my arms, I felt him stiffen ever-so slightly. Bull's eye.
"Do I know this source?" He said quietly, closing his eyes and breathing deeply in frustration.
Suppressing a giggle, I gave his hair a little tug again. "The source obviously knows you," I chirped. "But I'd really rather not tell you who it is." I thought to add something that indicated that it wasn't someone on the team to save them from oncoming despair but then I thought about Mukahi...oh, poor, poor Mukahi...and I resolved otherwise.
"Did this source," he drawled the word as if he was in the mood to burn something. "tell you anything else?"
"We'll go through everything eventually, Atobe." I smirk. "Slowly and thoroughly."
Once the set had ended, it seemed as if he couldn't get me off the dance floor fast enough. He practically lifted me off the floor to get to his mom. It amazed me how graceful he could be even when he was so irritated...really, it did.
"Okka-sama, I'm sure Mai is tired by now and – "
"Yes, of course!" Allyssa-san interposed. "I'm disappointed to see you leave so early but I'm sure you've had quite the day yourself. I hope you enjoyed Mai-chan."
Internally, I breathed a sigh of relief. Yes, I really was quite tired. "It was really nice meeting you, Allyssa-san." I bowed. "Please send my thanks to Yutaka-san." I added as I noted that the older male Atobe was not in the vicinity. "I'll be taking my leave first, then."
She seemed to consider something first before suddenly throwing her arms around me. "It really was wonderful meeting you today, dear." She smiled, releasing me as I offered her a confused but not unhappy smile of my own. She nodded at Atobe, who took it as a cue to wrap his arms around my waist again and begin hoisting me towards the foyer where still more people were entering. It was one hell of a party if you still arrived past midnight. "If you see your parents soon, give them my regards." She made a demure wave after me and I turned back a little to nod and smile.
Looking up at Atobe, I saw that his cellphone was already pressed against his ear.
"Oshitari," he said curtly as we approached the limo that was already parked up front. "Morning practice starts on Monday."
Just like that, he snapped his phone shut and gracefully motioned me into the back of the car where the chauffeur was holding the door open. Warily, I slid into the seat, my eyes not leaving his face which held an expression that told me I would have to apologize to Yuushi on Monday.
When the door clicked shut and the limo exited the Atobe's rather long driveway, I let out a tired sigh, collapsing against the door. Something rustled behind me. I sat up and turned around to find a garment bag hanging on the side. Atobe nodded for me to open it. I did and found my uniform inside.
"Was my uniform just dry-cleaned?" Upon closer inspection I found my schoolbag as well.
"Details are important." He answered absently.
Zipping it back up, I moved it a little further so I could have more space to recline against the door.
"My toes hurt," I mumbled. After a while heels really did start to pinch.
"You're one to say." Atobe drawled.
"You aren't the one in heels." I quipped, smirking.
"You weren't the one on the receiving end of the heels." He retorted.
I smirked wider, running my hand through my hair. "Well, you were the one who forced me to dance in said heels."
Atobe sighed and shook his head, crossing his arms over his chest. Ahaaa...why does he look good in a suit...I sighed mentally, only just now taking the time to enjoy his attire because I had been too frustrated with him during the party. And plus, he was moonlit. I've read that everyone looks good in moonlight. How corny was that. Oh, Yuushi.
Leaning my head on the seat, I closed my eyes, relaxing against the cool leather. "You're mom is unbelievably energetic, very enthusiastic..." I breathed, just audible enough for him to hear.
I could hear his smirk as he answered. "She's always wanted a daughter-in-law."
At that, I cracked one eye open and looked at him as he stared back at me. An amused smile formed on my face. "Not a daughter?"
"You heard ore-sama right the first time."
I closed my eye again and chuckled.
"Ne, Atobe," I addressed him casually with my eyes closed. He wasn't asleep, I could hear the clicking of the keys on his phone.
"Ahn," he drawled in acknowledgment.
"What do you think Mukahi would like as a birthday present?"
The sound of keys clicking abruptly stopped and I suppressed a chuckle.
"Mukahi's birthday was last week ago," he said slowly.
"Exactly," I said, snuggling more comfortably into the seat. "He remembered I hadn't given him one in a random bout of annoyance and now he won't stop bugging me to get him a present because I didn't know about it. I figured I'd award his being persistently irritating."
Atobe chuckled curtly before the clicking resumed. "He rather likes bungee jumping, ore-sama believes. Buy him a tether and then throw him off the roof."
I laughed sleepily. "I just might do exactly that."
I figured I'd dozed off – the seats of his cars were so comfortable – because the next thing I knew, we were pulling up in front of my building and Atobe was getting out of the car with my uniform and schoolbag slung over his shoulder. The chauffeur pulled open my door and I walked carefully to where he stood waiting in the foyer. I grabbed for my things and he pulled them out of reach. I glared tiredly.
"I'll bring you up to your place." He said with no emotion in particular.
"I told you it was fine." I tried for my clothes again but to no avail. "There's no need."
"He's watching me." He stated flatly, motioning discreetly to his chauffeur who was poised outside the car with his gaze fixed on us. His mom probably put the poor man – the chauffeur, not Atobe – up to the task of spying on her son.
I sighed and headed for the elevators. "Fine. You get up there and you leave."
The ride up to the eighteenth floor was longer than usual – it was the highest floor – but not particularly awkward as the two of us didn't really say anything, which was a common occurrence. Once the doors slid open, we stepped out and headed to one of the two flats on the floor where I brought out my keys and unlocked the door.
Inside, I was the first one to step through the door and I proceeded to pull off my boots after flicking the lights on. Atobe sauntered in slowly but haughtily, laying my belongings on the table next to the door. He gave the place a quick survey before looking down towards me – I was a lot more down now that the heels were off – and raising his eyebrow.
"You live alone?"
I hope you enjoyed the chapter! It's a little(or a lot) longer than usual because this is two chapters stuck together. And this is two chapters stuck together because when I finished the "first chapter" and the "second chapter," I realized that not much really happened in the "first chapter" - I have a thing for shopping scenes :D - so I tacked on the "second chapter" as well. I hoped you liked the length but I can't assure you that all the other chapters will be this long. ^^
Anyway, tell me what you think about it!
READ and REVIEW, please!