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— Intentions —
30# - Unlikely Quiescence
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"You only live once, but if you do it right, once is enough."
― M. West
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— U. Takumi
"Are you done yet, Misaki?"
Five long minutes later and she was still holding her stomach, her eyes full of joyful tears.
"Misaki..." I quietly pleaded, hoping for her to eventually stop. My smile was tight, and even though the situation was somewhat amusing to her, it only made my confidence plummet further down.
She held a hand up, her body still shaken by her uncontrollable laughing fit as she leaned on the kitchen island.
Well? If she wouldn't stop on her own, I would make her do so.
Eyeing her intently, I gave her a stern and menacing look.
"Sweetheart," I paused for emphasis purpose. She didn't even bother looking at me. "I swear, if you don't stop mocking me, I'm going to spread your legs and take you right here."
She froze, and I kept going, my palm curling around her nape because having the upper-hand with her was always pure bliss. "On the counter, no matter how sore you are."
What was left of her laugh was only a frail hiccup.
"Uh..." she quietly muttered, her muscles stiff under my fingertips. Slowly, she rose up, our gazes meeting.
"I... I mean," clearing her throat, she gave me an apologetic expression and her sorry-but-not-so-sorry smile. "It's totally normal to be nervous when you're appointed to a trial. No big deal."
Playing it down, she gradually shuffled away, making my arm stretch with her retreat. A slow and knowing grin curled my lips.
"Mmh..." I halted her attempt to flee, my hold around her nape tightening. "Is that all you meant, by laughing that excessively?... I have my doubts, Misaki."
Her ambers widened, pupils dilating with the seconds. "Of course that was all. No harm done, right?..." She shakily smiled, her eyes flickering between mines and my body when I began to stand up and stalk closer to her.
She rapidly averted my gaze. I cocked my eyebrow, staring down at her. "Right."
"Yes... right... Plus, you don't have to worry so mu—uchh!"
My left hand met her waist, flushing her to me in a swift pull. Fear thrown out of the window when she gazed up, her gaze locked with mine in a fierce glare. Apparently, my sensual bedroom eyes only managed to stir her severity.
"Takumi," she promptly warned, frowning at me.
"Yes?" I asked, bending down and brushing my nose the length of her neck.
Her palms slammed flat on my torso, trying to push me away. "I'm being serious!"
"As serious as you were laughing very hard, minutes ago?" I continued the path up to her ear, biting the shell. She whimpered at the sting, before her hands cupped my face, forcing me to focus on her.
"You don't have to force yourself to appear all fine, Takumi," she murmured, once again reading through me like an open book.
"What are you talking about?" I forced a bright smile her way.
She only kept her silent gaze at me.
Five more seconds.
She sighed.
Sighed.
My playfulness faded away, my smile withering upon her genuine concern.
"Don't worry. Your case isn't as substantial as you think," she voiced. "A big company suing a journalist happens every single day. It's not like you were the one prosecuting the Walker to court."
A shallow exhale left my lungs, and her palms were soothingly brushing my cheeks. My hands came to cover hers.
"But... The Jury. My lawyer said the Jury would be corrupted." I bitterly said, searching for reassurance in her eyes. "How do I fight against corruption? They're going to get me for sure..."
She pushed me backward, and made me sit down onto the stool without breaking her hold on my face. Our eyes finally leveled, she leaned in, quietly pressing her forehead down on mine. A gentle smile graced her lips, as if nothing could go wrong.
But everything was wrong. My heart began to ache, panic flooding my veins. My arms immediately came to embrace her small frame.
"I don't want to be put to jail, Misaki... I don't want to spend a day without you..." I choked, my hold around her waist straining. "A month, a year, few years... It's all too much to handle without you..."
Her thumb whisked a lone tear away. Was I crying? It felt so long since I ever did. I couldn't even recognize that foreign feeling of dread and hopelessness filling my chest.
It couldn't be, after all. I wasn't crying, right?
Receptive of every single emotion running in my mind, her arms came to wrap tight around my head, the fabric of her blouse damping at the contact of my unshed tears. And she stood there, a shelter of comfort in all my brewing insecurities. Her fingers softly threaded in my strands as she laid her head on top of mine.
"Everything will be fine," she whispered. "I swear, I will protect you, Takumi."
—
Day one before the trial.
If I could stop time, I would probably do it right now.
"Tora," I sighed over the speaker. "I wouldn't mind if you wouldn't want to go. In fact, I'd rather you don't attend at all."
"Takumi." The lazy and nonchalant voice answered. "How could I miss my co-worker getting defeated on court? Come on. Don't ask for the impossible, I've been waiting to see that for years."
"How nice..."
"Anytime," he huskily laughed, and I wanted to throw something out of the window, in hope that it would crash against his —undoubtedly— mocking face. "As a matter of fact, I invited Adrian too," he added, "And boss too. And also..."
"At this point, I hardly care anymore," I bitterly chuckled.
"See you tomorrow —or maybe today actually, seeing how late it is." He went on. "Sleep well, it's going to be your big day..." I hung up on him before he could keep going with his open mockery.
"Big day indeed," I muttered, eyeing the shitload of paper laying on the table. I didn't bother switching on the light, thus, my whole apartment was drowned in the dark, save for the City's light reverberating through the glazed wall. Rising from my seat, I stood up and made my way towards the night panorama.
I was restless.
In my hand, my phone was like an indecisive life-line. I unlocked the screen, my fingers automatically tapping the number I knew so well. My thumb hovered over the green call icon.
Misaki.
She would probably answer if I pressed it —as she did for the past two days. Whenever I called her, she was always there, reassuring me with wise words within the first two beeps.
On a spur of weakness, I pressed the green icon... Before cancelling it right away. I would see her tomorrow. There was no use bothering her right now.
And the clock ticked past midnight.
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My ringing phone tore through the haze of my fuzzy dreams. Blindly searching for the device, my hand rummaged the papers in front of me before landing on the buzzing phone.
A call.
I pressed the answer button before holding it to my ear.
"Usui Takumi, where the hell are you?" A strict voice demanded.
Ah, Sotaro.
"Home... Sleeping," I mumbled, sluggishly rising from my unhealthy sleeping position. Noticing that I fell asleep working on those papers that I now knew by heart, I removed my reading glasses and tiredly rubbed my heavy eyelids.
"You're late."
Late?
I yawned, stretching my sore limbs in my seat before casting a look at my watch.
Barely eight in the morning.
"Damn it, you scared me for nothing," I monotonously exhaled. "We're not due to court until eleven."
"But you're late to our pre-court meeting, nonetheless. Hurry, I will see you in thirty and not one minute less."
He hung up without another word. Which meant I had to comply. On the spot.
Ten minutes later and I was already out of the building, freshly dressed in a dark cobalt suit, showered in record time and clean shaven —well, looking all good in appearances. Quickly striding to my sleek and shiny car, I was greatly surprised to see her standing there.
"We're matching, love," I grinned, eyeing her own dark blue jacket.
She rolled her eyes. "Is that the first thing you're telling me on this specific day?"
And yet, she couldn't help but swallow back her grin.
"Right. I should've said that you are absolutely, astoundingly gorgeous —and that's the least interesting thing about you right now." I leaned in and pressed a soft kiss on her lips. "But perhaps would you prefer something... dirtier?"
She playfully nudged me away, before pulling the driver's door open for me. "Don't bring your smart mouth to the Court, pervert." She shook her head. "And hop in. Sotaro told me you were late for your meeting."
She gestured me to enter and I slipped inside on cue, peeking up at her as I put the car into ignition.
"Ah? You know him?"
"Sort of. Anyway, hurry up, you and your gorgeous car."
She softly closed the door, but I couldn't leave it at that. I lowered the window and gave her my best seductive smirk.
"I think you mixed it up, sweetness. You actually meant 'hurry up, gorgeous pervert, and your car,' didn't you?"
Face-palming, I huskily laughed at her reaction as I maneuvered my car back and slid off to the main road. My gaze stayed on hers as she wavered goodbye until she got out of my sight. Taking the crowded morning street, I didn't even care about the traffic jam.
She was like a breath of fresh air, and that was all I needed to start the dreaded day.
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Author's note:
Wow! I can't believe this is already the 30th chapter! We've come so far together, buddies ;v; !
And geez, I really love casual Misaki and Takumi together! Fluff on! :D
Sorry for the late update (school is drowning me) and Thanks for the support lovelies ;u; !
Also, on a bigger worldlies-note:
To any of my readers who, in pure chances, live in Paris or London, please, Stay safe!
Things are becoming hectic (Yes, I live in Paris) with the recent terrorist attacks and all.
If anyone have lost any relatives, I give you my best and sincere wishes.
Stay strong!