DINNER OR DISASTER

It was one of those days when I was up to my eyeballs in chores. Heck, my arms were about to fall off my shoulders. Not that I was complaining, but seriously, would it be so hard to just pick your clothes up off the floor for once, and put them in the laundry basket?

I was talking about Kitsune here. He was like a kid. No, worse than a kid. He was like toddler with a shaker full of sand, and he'd spread that sand all over the floor, waiting for lovely me to pick up the grains one by one.

Speaking of the Kitsune, he'd disappeared after the bathroom scene yesterday.

Koshino, on the other hand, was on an angry spree, vomiting foul words because he was so damned mad on my behalf. I had to console him by taking him out to that Korean Restaurant we didn't get to go to when Kitsune called me over yesterday.

It was about five o'clock when I completed all my chores. Time for cooking, I supposed. Kitsune would go mental and start smacking my face again if I didn't get the meal done on time. He was so particular about everything being perfect and prompt.

Just as I was heading downstairs to start my meandering task of cooking, Kitsune, hands in pocket, sporting a huge smirk on his face.

Is Kitsune on drugs today?

"Our company made a profit. I'm treating you all to dinner tonight. Where do you want to go?"

Going out for dinner? Is he okay? But never mind. So, I don't have to cook.

I was starting to get sick of doing all the cooking for these five grown men every day. They were like the five bears, eating everything and anything I put in front of them.

"Yosh!" Sakuragi gushed. "Boss is taking us out for dinner. I'm so excited. Where should we go?"

"Wherever you want to go, doaho," Kitsune replied.

I was sitting on the sidelines, palm under chin, scoffing at myself. What am I? One of this mafia, too?

"Cool," I pointed out.

Kitsune ignored me. In fact, he wasn't even looking in my direction.

Is he still mad at me about yesterday?

"So, where will it be?" Kitsune asked, looking at Fukuda, Sakuragi, Maki and Fujima.

Again, I was excluded. Fine by me.

"I suggest we go to a five star restaurant." I put in my suggestion. "Don't you think so, Sakuragi? Fujima, what do you say?"

"I say--" Fujima began, but Sakuragi cut him short.

"No, let's go to the burger joint down the road."

"What?" I gasped in shock. "Boss said he'll treat us dinner. We should go somewhere classy and expensive."

"But I don't want to eat steak again." Sakuragi moaned.

"Or gravy," Fujima added.

"Yeah, in a five star restaurant, everything's swimming in gravy." Maki further crushed my balloon of hope.

"That's because you always go for roast. Why don't we try something else?" I persuaded them. Which didn't help my predicaments, as Sakuragi once again announced his suggestion.

"Yeah, like pizza. I crave pizza."

"What the hell is taking your sissy asses so long?" Kitsune shouted from the doorway. "Are you coming or what? I'm feeling generous right now. Another three minutes, I'm not sure."

"Put a spin on it, guys. We can discuss this in the car," Fukuda instructed us all.

We then ripped our butts off the seats and crushed ourselves into the limousine, driving to our unknown dinner destination.

Fujima and Maki sat on the sides with Sakuragi between them. Oh, the luxury of a limousine. Fukuda was our driver. At the moment, we were on fire, each of us throwing out suggestions as to which restaurant would best suit our taste buds. We grumbled and grunted. Meanwhile, Kitsune listened contently on my side of the seat, not saying a word. But his body was seriously speaking to me in a different way.

We did end up in a restaurant, except it was the shitties restaurant ever. And all you can eat for twenty dollars per head.

Sakuragi was all hyped up, acting like a baby in a toy store. "Fries, I want fries with chicken seasoning and a can of coke," he raved and raved. "Then I'll have an ice cream sundae for dessert." He went off to make his order.

"I'll have the Hawaiian pizza," Fujima said and disappeared, too.

The other two went off to look for their food, which only left me with the boss. "Aren't you going to ask me what I want for dinner?" Kitsune spoke close to my ear. It make me surprise.

I smiled at him. "What do you want, boss?"

"I thought you were my maid and I have full use of you."

"Are you sure?" I'm asking Kitsune back.

"Just get me some dinner," Kitsune demanded.

"Okay." I smiled.

I was about to leave when Kitsune grabbed hold of my arm. "Aren't you're going to ask what I like to eat?"

I learned closer to Kitsune face. "You want me, boss?"

"What kind of maid are you?" Kitsune scolded, a frown appearing on his face. I laughed at him. Damn, you're cute Kitsune.

"Just get me some food and shut your mouth."

"Okay." I winked at him before I leave.

I jabbed Sakuragi in the stomach to grab his attention when I reached him. He was standing in front of the buffet, too busy stacking his burger upon burger on his plate to notice me.

"Sakuragi." I patted him on the shoulder. "Know what the boss likes to eat?"

Sakuragi turned around and grinned at me. "Three words, Akira. Spaghetti. Pasta. Lasagna."

"They're all Italian." I summed up his answer.

"Of course. Boss is Italian. That's why he likes it so much."

Kitsune was pure Italian? No wonder he had handsome look. That got me thinking again. All the time I'd lived at Cory Mansion, Kitsune had never once mentioned his family.

"Okay, tell me what he doesn't like." I shifted my attention back to Sakuragi.

"One word. Hot food. Wait, maybe that was two words." Sakuragi started citing those two words again. I didn't give him a chance to repeat his mantra.

"You mean spicy food?" I clarified.

"Yeah, especially chili."

"Anything else?"

"Seafood." Sakuragi went to dish up more food on his plate.

I smirked, patting his shoulder. "You got it, man. Go back to our seats. I'll just make an order for the boss. Then I'll be right back to join you."

Ten minutes later, I presented Kitsune with his dinner. It was hot and spicy dish with rice on the side.

Kitsune just stared at the dish as if death were in front of him. "What the fuck is this?"

I wasn't fazed by his intimidating curse one bit. Used to it already.

"It's your dinner," I said, smiling and winked at him.

Kitsune just glared at me. I knew what it meant. Do you want to die?

I glared at him, too. With my own meaning of course. If I die, you're coming along, too.

With us in our staring competition, Kaede finally gave up first. So, the winner is me.

Kaede took one bite, his eyes still glued to mine. And then he started coughing. His eyes become watery. I panicked. What's wrong?

"Boss, what's wrong?" Fukuda came to Kaede side. He glared at me. "What did you give him to eat?"

"His dinner."

"Don't play. What did you give him to eat?"

"Food. A hot and spicy dish with seafood."

Upon hearing of the word seafood, Sakuragi cried, Fujima looked like he was about to throw up, Maki appeared scared, Fukuda face flamed red, and...damn, Kitsune just fainted.

I was in big trouble.

How was I to know Kaede was allergic to seafood? I thought to play with him a bit, but I didn't want my Kitsune to die.

Please don't die.

"Boss, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to kill you." And for the first time in my life. I was crying. Damn! My manhood is gone. I couldn't believe I was crying for the mafia boss.

"Aki, would you stop crying already?" Kitsune chided, head propped on a hundred and one pillows.

"I never crying for someone before. So shut up." I mumbled, tears washing down my face.

"Go wipe your nose. It's disgusting."

I ignored Kitsune blabbering.

"For fuck sake, wipe your tears and use a tissue or something," Kitsune barked.

I still ignored him.

"Jesus. I hate it when you cry. Come here." Kitsune pulled my head forward and wiped my tears with tissue.

"Thank you." I smiled to him.

He just rolled his eyes. "Doaho," he called Sakuragi.

"Yes, boss." Sakuragi appeared out of nowhere.

"Take this away. And give me hand sanitizer."

"Right away, boss."

Sakuragi took the tissue and came back a second later with sanitizing gel. Kaede proceeded to wipe his hands clean of all the germs I might have passed to him. Once done, he gave me a serious look.

"You've done it now, Aki," he said. "Now how am I going to get any work done? I'll be stuck in bed for at least a day."

"We will take care of you, boss." I answered him.

"We? No, I'm busy. Got money to collect and people to threaten. I don't have time to look after the boss," Sakuragi said, already backing out of the deal.

"Yeah," Fujima had to add. "Weren't you the one who made him eat the seafood? It's your fault. Now you have to look after him all by yourself."

"I'm okay with that. I loved to take care our boss by myself." I finished it. Even my face was brightened.

"No. No need. I can manage by myself." Kitsune cut in. Silencing our argument.

"What? Why?" I asked.

"Nothing. Just no need." He answered nonchalant.

"No. The deal already been sealed. I will look after you for the rest of the day and tomorrow."

"Fine."