Chapter 7 *UNEDITED*

He kissed me. .Me…Chizuru traced her fingers lightly on her lips. She recalled back this morning. After their sudden kiss in the meeting room, she didn't dare to look him in the eyes. The whole day passed by in blur for her. Her head was in the cloud. She sighed.

HE KISSED ME!

Chizuru rolled to the empty side of her bed, where Hijikata slept that night. Gosh, he was really warm. Her bubble of thought disappeared as she remembered Sannan-san said about an addition of new member next week.

Kazama Chikage.

By saying his name brought a stale taste inside her mouth despite all she tasted the whole day was Hijikata. Groaning in her pillow, she turned on her phone and scrolled her facebook page. Although their relationship ended six years ago, she sometimes liked to stalk Kazama Chikage on his facebook profile. Not because she was missing him but because she wanted to know if that useless guy had his suffering. Yes, she wanted him to suffer greatly.

Chizuru clicked on his name, observing his latest profile picture. He still has that smug face and arrogant smile, though he dyed his hair blonde and longer than she recalled. Announcing that he'll be joining a new project of promoting Hokkaido's tourism on his page earned him almost sixty thousands likes and several thousand comments. Her brows met as she scrolled further down the page. He never changes, does he?

She signed off her facebook, and returned her phone on bedside's table. Her mind wandered back to how nice his warm palms felt against the side of her head, his soft, masculine lips against hers and the smell of his expensive cologne and aftershave made her heart somersaulted. Slowly, her eyes dropped with a small smile on her face.

The next day…

"I can't believe I'm late today!" Chizuru grumbled whilst tying her hair in a bun inside the car. Kenji ignited the engine, chuckled lightly.

"I texted you last night, saying I'll pick you up an hour early. You'll have audition for Silky Girl later at eight."

"Silky Girl? Did you send my resume?" Her voice muffled as she clamped bobby pins with her lips.

"I did, last month. I'd thought it'll boost up your popularity more. I'm not saying you're not well-known in Japan but if people outside this country recognise you, that'll be amazing."

"Uh, huh." She reviewed the compartment's mirror, looking for stray hairs.

"Remember I told you about their upcoming organic lipstick collection? I'm signing it up for you." He looked at her before glancing back to the road.

"When will it be if I'm selected?"

"In two weeks' time."

Chizuru didn't reply. Her mouth shaped in 'o' as she counted its date.

"By the way, why were you late? It's not ordinary."

Eyes widen, she knew exactly why she was late. Someone was involved, not physically but more emotionally. She squirmed, fanned her face a little, trying to calm the heat down.

Kenji scrutinised Chizuru from the corner of his eyes. Why is her face red?

"I…erm…I was really tired and overslept. That's all." She shrugged, not answering further.

Decided to drop his question, he somehow could guess the reason behind her red face and nervous answer. A certain person name Hijikata Toshizou. Knuckles clenching tight against the steering wheel.

"Good Morning. As promised, I'm introducing our new member for next week, Kazama Chikage-san." Sannan ushered Kazama to come forward. He stood proudly next to Sannan, eyes scanning the crowd before stopping at one particular person. Smirking as that person didn't seemed to faze from Kazama's smug stare.

"This is the team you'll be working with Kazama-san, though another girl is currently not here because she has an audition. You'll meet her in Sapporo next week." Sannan continued briefing itineraries of their Hokkaido project, summarising what'll happen once they arrive and so forth.

After dismissing the minute meeting, Kazama eyed Hijikata. Souji and Sen looked between two alpha male oozing of testosterone as they clashed gazes; Kazama with his signature smirk, and Hijikata with his expressionless face.

Then, Souji decided to break the silence atmosphere. "Nee…Kazama-san. I didn't know you're going blonde now. Did you accidently wash your hair with bleach?"

Kazama broke his gaze and sneered at Souji who seemed to enjoy his irritation. "This is the latest style." He smiled proudly, combing his hair with his fingers.

"Girls are going crazy with my new look. I easily charm women's panties off." Kazama's pompous side surfaced. "Little boy like you won't know. At least my hair is not that boring dark purple." He mocked Hijikata, chuckle humourlessly.

"Urmmm…" Souji pouted. "But…why did Marissa-chan left you for your band mate?"

Sen snorted as Kazama's face twisted.

"Let's go Souji, Hijikata-san. I'm sure Chikage took short courses on how to charm 'Women's panties off' after Marissa-chan left him" Sen grinned, tugging Souji and Hijikata's arms, lead them towards the exit.

"Shut up Sen. I'll make sure you'll pay later!" His voice faded as Sen closed the door.

Souji burst into laughing, Hijikata gave his crook smile; clearly pleased with Sen's comeback.

"You. Are. Amazing!" Souji said breathlessly.

Sen shrugged indifferently. "He deserved it. Though he's my cousin, he often bullied me when we were kids. Now, it's my time."

Souji hung his right arm around Sen's shoulder and the other around Hijikata's shoulder.

"We should become 'The three musketeers'. Ne, Toshi-kun. What do you think?" Hijikata shook off his arm, strode off before them.

"That emotional old man." Souji complained. Sen giggled at Souji's childish pout.

The following week, Sapporo…

"Grrrrr…" Chizuru's teeth chattered. Although it was already middle of April, Hokkaido was surprisingly colder than Tokyo – and windy too.

"Chizuru-chan! Come here, let me warm you up." Nagakura opened his arms wide, walking towards her. Souji took the opportunity, hugging him back. Nagakura tried pushing Souji off but he won't budge, and tighten his holds instead.

Harada and Heisuke laughed. "Let's make a group hug." They went beside Nagakura and enveloped him and Souji.

The girls laughed at their antics. Nagakura howled for help to be released, that made them laugh harder. Saito shook his head and Hijikata ignored them.

"Saito-kun, go hug Jade-chan. She wants your body warmth." Souji shouted louder than Nagakura's scream.

Jade stopped laughing, her face turned crimson. Saito blushed, his ears were red. He coughed. "I should check-in now." Saito stride towards hotel's entrance, followed by Hijikata.

Chizuru's eyes followed after Hijikata's back until he faded behind the glass door. Biting her lower lips, she wondered how she'll survive the whole week with Hijikata and Kazama within five metre radius.

That night…

Chizuru was sipping her cocktail at a bar when she felt a pair of eyes watching her from the other side of the table. Glancing slowly through her lashes, she made eye contact with Hijikata's before he inverted his elsewhere.

She recalled back the whole kissing incident. Since that day, she seldom spent time at Virgo and anywhere near him due to extra work at Sagittarius HQ. After his knee-wobbling kiss, she saw him as a whole different person. He may look like a stoic face but she sensed him as a romantic kind of guy. Although Chizuru used to date several men after Kazama, none of them made her feel like how Hijikata did. Not even Kazama. She snickered inwardly, knowing if she told him that, his Mount Fuji-sized ego will deflate tremendously.

Loud chattering was soon dimmed as she felt arms wrapped around her from behind. The smell of certain cologne she used to love six years ago now made her wanted to gag.

"Chizuru, we meet again my love." Kazama's not-very-low voice caused all eyes around the table turned to Chizuru - including those mesmerizing violet eyes.

To be continued…

A/N = New update! Please rate & review. ~Happy Tomorrow's Friday!~