Who's excited to go back to school? Not me...
Chapter 13: Contract
Misaki woke up with Takumi's arms tightly around her. Her back was pressed against his chest, bare skin touching bare skin. His hand lightly traced patterns on her skin.
"Are you awake...?" Misaki whispered.
"Mhm..." came a low voice.
"What time is it...?"
"Past noon,"
"You're not going to work...?"
"Do I look like I'm in any shape to work...?" Takumi teased. He seemed to be in a much better mood.
"I can't even see you...can you let me go?" Misaki asked.
Takumi loosened his hold and Misaki rolled over.
"Sleep well?" Takumi asked.
Misaki shrugged. "How many times did you wake me up?" she asked. She felt like she didn't sleep at all last night...
"Five. Definitely a record," Takumi said rolling onto his back. "We didn't even do it that much on our wedding night."
Misaki blushed. "Well, it had been my first time..." she said, softly.
"Uh huh...you're a pro now," he teased. "Don't think from now on that you can get anything from me by withholding sex."
Misaki smiled. "Do you think Tora and Kuuga agreed too?"
"Were Sakura and Ruri dressed like you too...?"
"Even worse," Misaki said. "Mine was rather conservative...compared to their's."
"Poor Tora..." Takumi mused.
"Poor Takumi," Misaki said. "You were rather cute when you look frustrated."
"Uh huh..." Takumi said. "You're a little vixen," he said, stroking her hair.
Misaki held his hand and closed her eyes. She was still tired.
"Do you remember when we pretended to be butlers at Maki's contest thing?" Takumi asked.
"Yeah..." Misaki said, opening her eyes. "I dressed as a boy."
"Mhm...I said you were flat as a board," Takumi reminded her. "Except I take that back now...you definitely got-"
"Stop it!" Misaki exclaimed, pushing his hands away. "I'm getting up now, you perverted alien."
Misaki swung her legs over the side of the bed and stood up. "Ow!" she said, falling onto the carpet. She really couldn't walk straight today…
Takumi sat up and ran his hand through his messy hair. "You okay?" he asked. He got up and scooped Misaki up. Takumi gently set her on the bed. "I'll draw you a bath," he offered.
Misaki shook her head. "I'm fine..." she said. "Can you grab me some clothes?"
"Here," Takumi said, tossing her the fishnet leggings.
Misaki threw them back at him. "I'm not wearing those!"
"You wore them yesterday,"
"I was forced too,"
Takumi went around the room and picked up the articles of clothing. "Here," he said tossing Misaki her undergarments. "Where did you even find these? They're hot."
"A boutique called Madame X," Misaki explained.
Takumi pulled on a pair of boxers and shorts. He laid back down on the bed. "I'm worn out..." he said.
"I'm the one who's worn out," Misaki said.
"You just lay on your back and-"
Misaki smushed a pillow over his head.
"That's not very nice..." came Takumi's muffled reply.
"You're not very nice,"
"Says the seductress..."
"I'm not a seductress!"
"Really...? As I recalled...someone totally seduced me last night." Takumi's lips trailed up her calf.
"Okay, so what if I did. You brought it on yourself," Misaki sniffed.
Takumi smirked and massaged her leg. "Sakura and Ruri are a bad influence," he teased. "You could have asked me to roll over and beg and I would have gladly complied yesterday."
Misaki laid on her stomach and hugged a pillow. "Its good to have you back," she said with a small smile.
Takumi ruffled her hair. "I'm glad I was missed. I thought you might have forgotten about me," he pouted. "I thought I was the only one who enjoyed our nightly fun..."
"You're kind of hard to forget about," Misaki said, tracing the contours of his abs.
Takumi took her hand. "Don't do that or else I might have to attack you,"
"Have mercy..." Misaki muttered. "I need a break..."
Takumi scooped her out of bed and carried her to the bathroom. Misaki touched her neck when she saw her reflection. Takumi had left an entire trail of kiss marks on her neck to her collar bone.
"Aggressive much?" Misaki asked, examining her neck.
Takumi pressed his nose to her cheek. His arms were around her. "I marked you as mine..." he whispered. "You're mine."
Misaki sighed and rested her head against his shoulder. "I look like I've had a rough night," Misaki said, picking up a brush and running it through her messy hair.
Takumi laughed. "It was definitely rough," he said. "Who knew Misaki liked it that way-"
"I did not!" Misaki exclaimed, blushing.
"You certainly sounded like you enjoyed it..."
"I did not!"
"Want me to record it next time?"
"No..." Misaki said, blushing harder. "It was just different!" she said.
Misaki's phone beeped. She slid off the counter and stumbled back over the nightstand. Misaki picked up the phone. It was a picture from Ruri. Misaki tapped on it and laughed. Ruri sent a picture of her snuggled up against Tora. Tora was still asleep though.
"What?" Takumi asked.
"Ruri and Tora must have come to some agreement last night," Misaki said. She zoomed up on Tora's face. "Tora has a cute sleeping face," she observed.
Takumi plucked the phone out of her hands. "Yeah...Tora definitely lost," he said, studying the picture.
"Want to take a picture?" Misaki teased.
"No," Takumi said, rolling back into bed.
"Fine then...I'll just text her- Hey!" Misaki exclaimed as Takumi grabbed the phone out of her hand.
"No talking with your friends," Takumi said.
"Why?!"
"Because you have to spend the day with me," Takumi told her.
Misaki sighed and sat on the bed. "Greedy," she said poking him.
"Yup," Takumi said, hugging her.
Misaki smiled and rested her cheek on his chest. They laid in bed for a while but eventually got up mostly because Misaki's stomach made its presence known.
Misaki went to take a bath while Takumi used the hall bathroom. Misaki scrubbed at the red kiss marks. She wasn't going to be wearing anything summery for a while. Misaki dried off and changed into a pair of skinny jeans, white blouse and a pink lace scarf.
She walked out and smelled food. Her stomach rumbled and Misaki quickly bounded down the stairs. Takumi fixed her a big plate of scrambled eggs, sausage, waffles and syrup.
"I'm famished," Misaki said, shoveling food into her mouth.
Takumi smiled and sipped his coffee. He picked up the contract on the table and sat down across from Misaki.
"Let's see what I agreed to..." he sighed. "By signing this contract I have agreed to let Misaki Ayuzawa work at any job she chooses," Takumi read. "Misaki does not want any help from Takumi Walker such as connections or favors. Contract is created by the Housewife club soon to be the Working woman club..."
Misaki smiled.
Takumi raised an eyebrow. "Since when did you become Misaki Ayuzawa again?" he asked.
Misaki dropped her fork into her empty plate. "Only for work," she said, wiping her mouth. "I don't want anyone to know I'm married to you," she explained.
"Why...?"
"Because if they see the name Walker, they wouldn't dare NOT hire me," Misaki said, sipping her milk.
"Is getting help from me that bad?" Takumi asked.
"I don't need help," Misaki said.
"I know you don't but it would make things so much easier."
Misaki shook her head. "Just let me do this. Please Takumi? I don't ask for much but I really want this." Misaki took his hand and smiled at him.
Takumi patted her hand. "If you must..." he said. "I can't refuse you anything..." he said, shaking his head.
"Yay!" Misaki said, kissing him on the cheek.
Takumi tucked a stray piece of hair behind her ear and caressed her face. "You better let your co workers know you're taken though," he warned in a light tone.
"So possessive," Misaki teased, wrapping her arms around his neck.
"Mhm..." Takumi said, kissing her on the forehead. "There's only room for one man in your heart and that's me,"
Misaki giggled. "Deal," she said. "Do I get to be the only girl in your heart?"
"Nope," Takumi said, smirking.
Misaki frowned. "Why's that?!"
Takumi leaned down and whispered in her ear. "I want a daughter..."
Misaki blushed. "Idiot..." she muttered. "No one can control that..."
Takumi chuckled and hugged Misaki close.
Over the next few days, Misaki went to several interviews. Her biggest interview was at Tokyo Law Firm, Japan's biggest law firm.
"You'll do great," Takumi reassured her. He placed his hands on her shoulders.
Misaki swallowed and adjusted her blouse. "Thanks," she said, placing her hand over his.
Takumi gently kissed her on the lips. "Don't want to ruin your pretty lipstick," he said, lacing his fingers and her's.
"I haven't been this nervous in a while," Misaki admitted.
"You don't have to do this," Takumi reminded her.
"But I want to," Misaki said.
Takumi walked Misaki out to a waiting taxi. "I love you," he said.
Misaki blushed. "Love you too," she whispered.
"I'll be waiting for you,"
Misaki nodded and got in. Takumi closed the door and waved. Misaki waved back and the taxi drove off.
Misaki got out at a fancy office place. She straightened out her jacket and walked inside through the automatic glass doors. She walked up to the lady at the front desk.
"Name?" a lady asked.
"Misaki Ayuzawa," Misaki said. "I'm here for an interview."
"They'll call you when they're ready," she said, pointing to the waiting section. The lady at the desk didn't even bother to look up. She continued typing on the computer.
Misaki smiled and went to go sit down. If she had said she was Misaki Walker, things would have been so different but she preferred it this way. Misaki wanted this job done by her own strength and work, not a name.
Misaki waited around an hour before getting called. A quick swipe of lipstick and she walked in to the nice air conditioned room.
"Please sit down," a bald man said, gesturing to the chair.
Misaki thanked him and took a seat.
"My name is Mitch Gee. I am the CEO of Tokyo law firm," he said, holding out his hand.
Misaki shook it. "I'm Misaki Ayuzawa," she said.
Mitch looked over her resume. "Tokyo Law School," he said, nodding. "Well Misaki, let's begin. I'm looking forward to your answers- Have we met?" he asked, studying her. "You look familiar…"
"I don't see why you would," Misaki said, playing it cool. "Have you spoken at the university before?"
Mitch nodded. "That must be it," he said, sliding off his glasses. "Alright let's begin."
"How'd it go?" Takumi asked.
Misaki dropped her purse on the counter. "I did the best I could," she said.
Takumi held out his arms and Misaki walked into his warm embrace. "I'm proud of you," he said into her hair.
"Why were you so against me working then?" Misaki asked.
"I still don't think its necessary. Don't get me wrong, the first time you push yourself to breaking point, you have to quit," he warned.
Misaki rolled her eyes. "I have self control too," she said.
"You did it all the time in high school and in college," Takumi said. "Studies, part time job, sports, clubs, student council," He closed his eyes. "You remember what happened during your last year in law school?"
Misaki blushed. "That was a mistake on my part," she muttered.
Misaki went to Tokyo University on full scholarship but law school scholarship was limited. In order not to fall too in debt, Misaki worked two part time jobs. During the day, she worked under a professor but her second job was a night shift. She worked until 4 am. Three months of working all night and studying all day, Misaki ended up in the hospital, over exhaustion.
Takumi had been frantic. He was determined to pay her law school fee but Misaki refused. Misaki winced at the thought of her and Takumi's first real fight. Takumi said over his dead body would she be allowed to work night shift again. He actually sat outside her dorm building during the night for a whole week to prove his point.
Misaki eventually quit her night shift in fear of her grades dropping but shouldered her debt by herself. Only when her and Takumi got married did she let him pay off the remaining amount she had left.
"When I flashback to when you collapsed, I still get shivers," Takumi said, bringing her back into the present. "You don't know how scared I was."
The fear and anger… Fear for Misaki and anger at himself for not taking care of her. Holding Misaki's hand in the hospital was when he swore that he would never allow this to happen again. The girl he loved would never need to worry about money again. He wanted to provide for her every need.
Without Misaki, Takumi would have never wanted to be CEO of Walker Corporations. He would have never worked as hard as he did. He hated business but the thought of Misaki needing to work again had him working as if he loved his career.
"Life's been hard, hasn't it?" Misaki whispered.
Takumi cupped her cheek in his hand. "Not anymore," he said. "You have me. I have you. We'll support each other."
Misaki's phone rang ruining the moment. Misaki picked it up.
"Hello?" she asked. Misaki blinked a few times. "Yes, I understand. Yes, that's fine. Thank you so much!" Misaki said. She hung up. "They want to see me again for a second interview!" she squealed.
Takumi hugged her and swung her around. Misaki laughed and kept her arms tightly around Takumi.
"Takumi, I'm so happy!" she exclaimed when Takumi set her back on the ground.
Takumi laughed. "I can tell…" he observed.
Misaki giggled. She pulled Takumi over and planted a kiss on his lips. "Thank you," she whispered.
Takumi smiled. "Anything for you," he said.
Misaki looked away slightly. A smile tugged on her lips.
"What?" Takumi asked.
Misaki blushed. "I can't believe what a great husband you are," she said.
Takumi chuckled. "You're so sly," he said, ruffling her hair. "But I love you anyways."