A/N: I am eating the Y.U.M.M.I.E.S.T cupcake right now. Help! My neighbors are trying to poison me with delicious homemade treats! GAAAHHH! *snarfs down hunks of cupcake*

Okay, onto the story...

-The dragon and the tiger have always been traditional enemies-

(the following short story is something I found after fishing around for a short while. It is from BadmintonCentral .com and was posted by wI2172)

(I do not own it, though I admire it)

A Story Of A Tiger And A Dragon

"The dragon is a mythical creature, very mighty and confident in its own strength and power. Its thick scales glow with an inner light that signifies the strength of its invincible armor. An army of a thousand troops will shiver in fear even at the mention of its name.

The tiger is a creature of stealth and speed, it is patient and awaits its turn. It prowls in darkness cloaked in secrecy, perhaps spotted occasionally by the glow of its eyes. When in combat, it gives its enemy no rest, no quarter and no place to hide.

Now the time has come to decide the master of the land, and it is the tiger and the dragon that so happen to meet. With its powerful claws, the dragon draws first blood, throwing the tiger off like a ragged doll. The tiger staggers, with blood covering its hind, but its eyes portrays no fear or pain. The dragon laughs with sinister delight, as it sees the tiger humbled so easily. But with a singular resolve, the tiger crouches low, not to show defeat or submission, but to gather strength and self-belief.

Out of the corner of the dragon's eyes, it catches a glimpse of some movement, but before anything can be done, the tiger pounced. With all its strength gathered in that single leap, the tiger streaked towards the dragon straight and true like an arrow. Like an arrow it pierced through scale and flesh, skin and bones, alas finding the dragon's heart...

With the dragon slain, the tiger awaits its next challenger patiently as nightfall arrives, once again cloaking it in darkness and secrecy. Only its eyes show any emotion at all for this unexpected and long-awaited victory."

(I do own everything below from here on out, in fact ;) enjoy~

side note- I had carefully decided on Orochi's name before introducing him into the story. Explanation below this line!

Orochi: Japanese name meaning "big snake" or "dragon." In mythology, this is the name of an eight-forked serpent who demanded virgin sacrifices.

Chapter Twenty-Five. Tiger Versus Dragon: The Dragon Strikes

Akari knelt in front of her dresser, breathing in short huffs of breath, trying to control her raging emotions.

Just a moment ago, she had thought to trash her room after running inside of it. Not exactly knowing how to do that though, (how could you make such a perfectly organized and neat room look like a whirlwind had hit it? You couldn't- not without some sort of tools at least- which she didn't have) she simply walked over to her dresser, and threw her arms across it, sliding all of the items sitting on it to the floor with a crash. She had then proceeded to angrily breathe at the mirror set on top of the dresser- the only item she hadn't knocked off its surface. After doing that for a good, long amount of time, she noticed her reflection, and she looked so furiously heartbroken, it shocked her.

The shock had then dragged her to where she was now- kneeling on the floor, having slid down there in a crumpled heap, not having the strength to even cry. Or so she thought.

The tears suddenly prickled her eyes, and then they were flowing, a steady stream. She weakly punched the floor. "Da-Damn it!"

"You won't like what I'm about to say."

"N-No shit!" She mumbled angrily.

"I've realized some things,"

She sniffed, more tears falling at the bitter memory.

"I didn't know you had actually thought anything we were doing together was real."

"Don't mock me Igarashi!"

"How very naïve."

"I am hardly that!"

"And I had assumed you were better than that. I was wrong."

"I should have never let myself believe..."

"Like other women, you've only disappointed me."

"...that you had a different side to you than this."

"You turned out to be just like the rest."

"Shut up."The tears stung against her cheeks. This hurt...

"You hold no interest for me anymore."

"Baka..." It hurt a lot.

"...feeling things for me that I don't care to indulge in."

"Shut up." She clamped her fists to her head, trying desperately to get his voice out.

"Imagine my disappointment. I thought I'd finally found a form of longer-lasting entertainment. What a bore you turned into in the end."

"SHUT UP!"

His words were still fresh. The pain was still raw. And even so.

"How?" She asked herself quietly, putting her face in her hands. "How do I still love you? Even after that? HOW?!"

The day greeted her as an annoyance after she woke up the next morning, lifting her head from her tear-stained pillows.

Seeing as she was definitely NOT going to wear the dress Tora had bought for her yesterday, she stripped out of that, not caring to handle it with any care, and searched for something to wear in her closet.

Actually, she had left half of her wardrobe in her old room at the Igarashi estate, so she could quickly change into some simple attire and feel much more comfortable.

Outdoors, what remained of the snow lit up sparkling by the sun. She stepped out of the mansion feeling like the day was mocking her- looking so beautiful while she felt so awful. She had tried to shower and wash away the emotions from last night, but they stuck to her, clinging to her very soul.

It hurt.

"Shit." She placed her fingers to her temple, trying to let the wave of pain inside her heart pass. If only there was a way to quickly snuff out the flame that still burned deeply for Tora in her heart...

Ugh. Since when was she so honestly cheesy? It made her feel even worse.

"Miss Michiyo, I presume?"

Akari pulled back slightly when a man she didn't know stepped in front of her. He was kind of old, but not so old that his hair was greying or anything. And she actually forced herself to smile at him, because it was the first person who looked at her and actually seemed to be an honest, normal human being.

"How do you know me?" She asked, her voice slightly hoarse. She hadn't used it since all her crying and yelling into her pillows last night...

The man smiled kindly at her- a real, kind smile. "I only assumed it was you, Miss. You see, Mr. Fuirutsu told me there was a most beautiful young lady with, I believe as he had put it, 'eyes that sparkle more brightly than the snow', waiting for him here."

"Well that's laying it on a bit thick..."

The man's smile faltered, and her eyes widened. "Oh, did I just... say that out loud? I'm sorry!"

He only smiled again at her, even raised a hand to stop her apology. "It's alright Miss. People often find it hard to understand how truly genuine Mr. Fuirutsu's flattery is."

Akari blinked. Genuine? Truly genuine? But it WAS laying it on a bit thick! She wasn't wrong to think that.

"Can I take you to the car?"

Suddenly, Tora's voice hit her, and it hit her hard.

"It has been arranged that your fiancée will pick you up early tomorrow."

She winced, holding her head with a hand. His stupid voice...

"Oh. Are you alright?"

Her eyes widened suddenly, when her hand was pulled away from her head, and then instead being held between two other, warmer, larger hands. She blinked, then looked up, seeing Orochi's tall and boyishly handsome figure standing now in front of her. The other man stood just behind him.

"Akari, are you alright?" He asked again, looking at her with a worried gaze.

"Orochi..." She was suddenly both shy, and mad. Shy because, well, he looked pretty great, standing there in his casual clothes, jeans, a light jacket, and a scarf, his hair styled lazily, his brown eyes filled with warmth. She had only ever seen him in his school uniform. And mad because, he never mentioned they were to be engaged!

Angrily, she pulled her hand out of his grasp. He allowed her to, but then stepped forward, wrapping his long arms around her slim form in a comforting, protecting manner. Now, she didn't blush, but she felt a bit embarrassed. And then still, angry.

"I was waiting in the car, but I became impatient to see you." He gave a light laugh, and she heard it resounding deeply in his chest as her head was kept pressed there. "I want to explain some things to you properly."

She pulled away from him slightly, and he let her go finally. Despite his dimpled smile that meant no harm, she glared at him.

"That's right. You owe me a lot of explaining. I can't believe you conspired with my brother and created some sort of secret engagement between us!"

"It wasn't conspiring." He grabbed her hand, beginning to pull her along to the awaiting car. "And it wasn't going to be a secret for much longer. Last night I was supposed to propose to you."

They stopped just beside the limousine when she pulled her hand away. He blinked at her uncertainly while she crossed her arms. The man with them- probably the driver- went around the car and stepped inside, leaving them to privacy.

Suddenly, Orochi sighed. "What have I said to you before, Akari?"

She thought back to the latest conversation they had had before this, and growled while repeating his words. "'Expect something better next time'?"

For a moment, he looked confused, but then a smile slowly spread across his face. He grabbed her arm, opening the car door for her at the same time. "That wasn't the conversation I was referring to, but thank you very much for reminding me about that..."

She chose to ignore all of that, fighting an angry blush when she remembered his kiss. "Right, so, what were you referring to then?"

"I had said, a while back, when we were discussing our families and what business I have with you," he leaned in closely, grinning rather cheekily at her. "'All good things to those who wait'."

He then gave her a quick peck on the cheek, but it was closer to her lips and he barely touched the corner of her mouth. After that he quickly pulled away, sitting her surprised form down in the car and closing the door before walking around and entering through the other side.

Once he got in and settled down next to her, he was promptly bonked on the head with her fist.

"Hey," He rubbed the top of his head, staring bravely into her demonic silver gaze. "not very nice of you to do that."

"I don't enjoy being kissed on the cheek like that!" She muttered darkly, eyes flashing.

A sly look gleamed in his eyes. "Oh? So I can't kiss you on the cheek, or I can't do it like that, but I can try another way?"

Her eyes widened as he scooted close to her, brushing her knee with a hand while he began to lean in.

"OROCHI!"

She raised her hand to slap him, but he stopped her. She squinted at him, seeing her hand held tightly in his own, and his soft smile on his face. His brown eyes were wide and filled with a childish mirth. Also, his face was very close to hers now, but they weren't close enough to have their lips meet just yet.

"Teasing you is fun!" His smile grew while she scowled at him. What a boy. A little boy. Tiny. Childish. Cute. Wait.

Okay, fine, fine. Truth: Orochi was cute. Boyishly handsome and such.

But still- he isn't that damn tiger...

She quickly erased that thought, deciding to turn her attention back to Orochi for now. Anything was better, even talking with this distrustful admirer (who was apparently her fiancée-to-be), than thinking of Tora.

"Maybe it's fun when you're the one doing the teasing. Being picked on isn't exactly something I enjoy and- let go of my hand."

Laughing brightly, he let go, and then sat back in his seat with a happy sigh. He let the car lapse into silence as they drove about, but soon he wanted to talk again.

"Hey, Akari."

"Mm." She gazed out the window, avoiding looking at him. This situation felt strange to her, and she didn't know what to do yet.

"I said all good things to those who wait, but... I think you've waited long enough."

She looked at him out of the corner of her eye, wary of him still. "Okay. In that case, tell me everything."

He closed his eyes, leaning back in his seat. "Well, I will tell you. But first... I want to ask you something."

Tora was fighting against an ear-splitting headache. And losing.

He was currently in his office at school, working on loads of paperwork that he had to look over and sign. This was how he killed time, after all.

But even though he was quite possibly the most patient being on the planet, and could kill time for even several weeks if needed, it didn't help to hold off all of the thoughts bombarding his head and making it throb. He kept replaying the scenario over and over and over and over and over...

"Damn it!" He pressed his palm to his forehead, wincing. It was like he was a spinning broken record!

Earlier yesterday evening-

"Obviously, this means he has to stop associating himself with Akari. For good."

The rage Tora felt at those words could not be expressed in any way, shape, or form.

"I couldn't help but overhear something unpleasant." Tora charged into the living room, hiding his snarl with a false smile.

The look on everyone's faces would have amused him, if he wasn't in such a foul mood. His eyes zeroed in on one person in particular, and brown eyes met gold.

"Igarashi-kun..." Orochi spoke the other boy's name slowly. "How perfect of you to finally come out of hiding." He stared at Tora, his eyes clearly displaying an absolute void of darkness. If it had been anyone else other than Tora receiving that gaze, they would have shivered with a total sense of unease.

"My apologies Fuirutsu-kun, though I was just in my room." Tora recalled the girl he'd left behind in the hallway, and put emphasis on the words 'my room' to make sure she got the message to leave and stay out of this.

"I'm sure you were." Hayate sneered, folding his arms.

Tora ignored him. "Might I ask why we're all gathered in here together?" He glanced up at his parents- his father, who looked pissed as all hell. His mother, looking deep in thought. Then his eyes snapped back to Orochi, who was glaring at him, though with an evil, all too knowing smile on his lips.

"And might I myself ask, where you took my fiancée today? And where she is now?"

Tora gave off his usual blank, impassive look. "Eh? It's so unlike you to lose track of women. And your own fiancée?" Tora's lips quirked upwards into the same evil smile Orochi was giving him. "Who's the lucky woman? I never heard about your engagement."

Orochi balled his fists. "You know who."

Tora raised an eyebrow. "Who?"

Hayate was clenching his teeth, and looked eager to punch Tora in the face. Orochi, as equally as angry, though much more level-headed, quickly held up a hand, stopping the other man. Then, his dark gaze surrounded the whole entire room and everyone in it.

"You all should leave. I will finish this discussion with the man I came here to see in the first place."

"You will not order me around." Mr. Igarashi glared at Orochi, but turned away as told, surprisingly. In all truth, he looked tired and bored. "Waste of time." He spat, turning on his heel. "I have far more important matters on my hands."

After Mr. Igarashi left, Tora's eyes never strayed once from Orochi, though he could feel his mother staring at him as if to try to bore a whole through his head. Without a word, she chose to leave as well, turning abruptly and exiting, along with Hayate, who started in the direction of the front of the house.

"Should I wait in the car?" He gruffly asked his question towards the two men now glaring daggers at each other.

Orochi smiled, fully and with all of his dimpled glory. "Sure. This won't take long."

Tora's eyes narrowed down to slits as Hayate left the room. The two young men were now left on their own.

"Are you and her together?"

"I wouldn't call it something as simple as that."

Orochi nodded his head at the other's snappish response.

"I know she's here with you, she couldn't be anywhere else." His gaze abruptly changed to a stony glare. "I won't ask where you might have taken her all evening, I have no time for twenty questions. But I will tell you, that since she's here, I'll be coming to get her tomorrow. There's no helping the situation, and it's getting late, so I'll allow her to stay here for just this one night."

Tora smirked, teasing the other young man with a queer gaze. "Playing the part of her father? You and her are supposed to be 'in love', aren't you?"

"Do you love her?"

Taken off guard. Tora was ACTUALLY TAKEN OFF GUARD.

...The very girl he loves... that's what he was thinking earlier in the car, was it not? That he... loved...

Tora stared down at the floor, his golden gaze stubbornly refusing eye contact now with the other man. His lips were pulled into a firm line, as if glued shut by an unseen force.

Orochi smiled, showing his full set of teeth as if to bare them at Tora. He was a wild beast now, capable of the unthinkable since he had his prey squirming under his foot. "Oh, don't be ashamed. Everyone has a weakness."

Tora remained unresponsive.

Slowly, Orochi approached his rival until they were so close, the small space of air between them was hardly noticeable. He leaned in by Tora's ear, close enough to let his breath tickle the skin there, as if to taunt. To bitterly tease.

"I told you, all those years ago, I'd ruin you. Over time I've grown and come to realize, I may be unable to do that in the way I had originally wanted. I'll admit even I don't have the power to cause the permanent downfall of the great Igarashi heir. However," He smirked. "I can still cause you a terrific amount of pain. Remember: One. By. One." He smiled when Tora jolted slightly, unnerved when he felt Orochi grab his shoulder and press even closer to him, striving to intimidate. "I'll break all your defenses. The embarrassing debut for all of your pain will finally come."

He pulled away then, as if finished with his big announcement. Tora shifted, turning his back towards the other boy more, but besides that, he remained still and silent. His ferocious glare set on the carpet almost had the power to set it ablaze in golden flames. He was breathing slowly, trying to control himself. He had to remind himself about a million times that he couldn't kill this nuisance. No matter how much he wanted to. Killing was beneath him, anyway.

Orochi took Tora's immobility as an opportunity to dig his claws in even deeper. "I want you to watch as I take her from you." He hissed out, any trace of his care-free, boyish personality completely and forever soiled in its image as he glared with malice dancing across his deepening gaze. "No, actually, it will be more fun if you have to hand her off to me. And, on top of that, I also want you to see all that I do to her... I'll make sure to leave marks all across her skin, and when those disappear, I'll just create them over and over again, making them permanent. I'll kiss her in front of you. I'll invite you to our wedding so you can see it start from the beginning. Then, when I notice how you can hardly take it anymore, after so much time, I'll stop... Just to see you beg me for her."

The floor was about to be burned to a crisp, Tora was gazing at it so heatedly now.

"But by that time though," His voice was a whisper now, brown eyes glinting almost black as their coloring seemed to darken immensely. "She'll already want me instead of you."

Tora's fists clenched automatically, his arm shaking with the effort of not swinging up with a ready fist and breaking the other boy's nose.

"Until that day comes though," Orochi lifted a hand as a goodbye, turning towards the door with a new, dimpled, innocent smile on his face. "I'll leave you alone. So long."

"..." Tora was unable to speak, or rather, he knew he should not. Whatever he said would just turn into a fist fight in the end.

The moment the other man left, and his receding footsteps could no longer be heard going down the hall, he lost all control over himself, letting his silence lapse into incredible aggression.

Soon, the whole room was practically torn apart, in absolute and complete shambles, as chaos broke loose from its lone inhabitant. Once the wild, atavistic, demonically infuriated aura had started to ebb away at last, a deep, brooding silence filled the room.

Panting, his hair slipping into his face, Tora pulled his fist out of the wall and closed his eyes.

"Tch!"

Pressing a hand underneath his bangs to his warm forehead, he tried to erase the pained look on his face. He chose not to notice it, but annoyingly, tears stung behind his eyes.

What pissed him off to no end, was how damned smug Fuirutsu had been. It was like he didn't even see Tora as worthy competition.

Throwing his head up, his fist flying into the wall once again, Tora glared at the air.

"Orochi." He said between gritted teeth, anger flooding through his veins. "You forget who you're up against."

Tora stood from his seat, slamming his hands on the surface of his desk. He was breathing heavy again, as the memory replayed itself in his head once more.

"President?"

He froze. He had forgotten, Maki was in here with him.

"Can't work." He said simply, standing up straight and walking around his desk.

Maki stared after his friend, a concerned look on his face. Tora quickly left the room, offering no explanation to the other man as he closed the door behind him in silence.

Tora calmly walked through the darkened hallway alone. It was the school's after hours, and he and Maki were the only ones here due to the work load that had piled up. He walked slowly down the elegant marble staircase, his footsteps echoing loudly- their slight, 'step-stepping' sounds reaching all the way up to the domed ceiling high above his head, and back again. It was these times when the school was this empty, that Tora realized just how massive it truly was.

Sighing, he reached a hand up to his hair, running long, slender fingers through his blonde bangs. He reached the last step and stopped there, eyes closed, as he took deep breaths in through his nose and out through his mouth. His headache just wouldn't let up.

He wondered, if not for a moment, what Akari was doing right now. He hadn't seen her since he had said those harsh things to her last night...

Suddenly, he clenched his fists, eyes snapping open to glare. That's right. She'd be with him now. He had come to pick her up this morning.

Sighing again and shaking his head, he took another step forward, and began walking for the exit once again. He should just stop thinking about it. After all, he didn't have to worry. He had his plan.

"Wait."

He stopped walking, his mind reeling, his headache worsening. He had just realized something. Something he should have realized sooner.

Neither of them had been in school today. He hadn't caught one glimpse of Orochi, not even a glance of Akari.

Tora began walking furiously, his steps growing urgent with the sudden quickened pace he acquired. The memory reformed in his mind, those twisted last words, a seemingly innocent farewell-

"Until that day comes though," Orochi lifted a hand as a goodbye, turning towards the door with a new, dimpled, innocent smile on his face. "I'll leave you alone. So long."

Throwing open the school's heavy front doors, Tora sprinted towards his awaiting car, his long legs practically flying over the pavement while he pulled out his phone and started dialing numbers.

Akari stared up at her apparent fiancée's expectant face. She had a nagging feeling that, even if she said no now, she would eventually end up being dragged along anyway.

Sighing, she looked him right in the eye, but then turned away from his intense gaze. "Alright, Orochi. I'll go."

The young man nodded, right before pulling her into his arms, possessively embracing her. A small smile, that was not his usual charming one, but rather something much darker, alighted his face when he heard the exact answer that he had wanted.

A/N: *slowly grins*

I have a treat for you all~

NO YOU DO NOT GET ANY OF MY CUPCAKE. I ALREADY ATE IT ALL.

The real treat for you guys is- Two updates at once~

!

\|O.O|/

wut.

WHHHAAAAAT?!

Heehee! Your faces look hilarious! You totally weren't expecting such quick updates, and on top of that, two at once! Were you? Weerrreee yoouu? X3

I told you, didn't I? If you are patient, you are rewarded. SO! I hope you enjoy this chapter and the next!

CK :*

praise me, peasants, I deserve it. (that means review please. Sorry, my inner tyrant again... I may need like an exorcism done or something in order to get it out of me... eeesh, scary)

p.s- as I've said before, I strive to update within the span of a week, but often times that is expanded to ten days or so