They say once you get a job, you can finally breathe easy because job means money, and money means life. But for Tanaka Sora, job means Akashi, and Akashi means death. Well, not really. According to his name's kanji it means—whoa, whoa wait a minute. Weren't we talking about jobs and death? Right, so Tanaka Sora works for the Akashi's. Not just the Akashis. The Akashis, if you know what I mean.

Most people would think, especially girls, that he's the luckiest person alive (but barely breathing), to work-serve for the Akashi family. Specifically, Akashi Seijuro himself. (stupid spoiled brat who's also another term for perfection) Tanaka Sora is Akashi Seijuro's apprentice, and here's how it happened.

It all started with a friendly bet in college. Tanaka was your typical bad boy that skips class-whoa, whoa, I thought we're supposed to loathe Akashi here?!-Anyway, let's just say Tanaka was the opposite of Akashi. Idiot, rude, wild-you get it. Because of Tanaka and Akashi being polar opposites, they hated each other. Well, it's practically one-sided but Tanaka thinks everyone hates him so let's leave it at that.

Akashi was having a fine Thursday afternoon, reading his favorite novel at the podium of his campus' green square when Resident Bad BoyTM Tanaka decided to disturb it. He was returning from his friend's dorm, in a good mood after conversing with his crush, Momoi, when he decided to show up.

Akashi-the bastard-was peacefully relaxing at the stage where Tanaka usually hangs-out, and the latter thinks it's off limits to other people. Especially that Akashi.

So he goes there, looms over the red head, and readied his foot to kick him off-"What brings you here, Tanaka-kun?" Akashi asks, flipping another page of his book. He didn't look up yet he can feel Tanaka's presence. Actually he reeked booze-idiot went drinking last night­-and boy did he smell.

"Bastard, Akashi! Who told you, you can sit on my territory, HUH?!" Tanaka growled at the younger lad, leaning over so he can intimidate his junior three years younger than him.

Akashi was a freshman and he was already a graduating student. If he graduates, that is.

"Last time I checked, Tokyo University didn't belong to you, Tanaka-kun," Akashi replies coolly, not bothered by the anger filling up Tanaka's blood. "If I were you, I'd stop fooling around, otherwise you don't get to escape this place at all," Added the red head, not minding if that was an addition for his response or it was a fuel to the flame of Tanaka.

"BASTARD! I DIDN'T ASK FOR YOUR OPINION! JUST YOU WAIT I'M GOING TO GRADUATE THIS YEAR AND YOU'LL HAVE TO KNEEL DOWN BEFORE ME!"

Tanaka's declaration was heard by the entire northern area of the school, earning several heads to turn their way. The two didn't mind the attention and just focused on each other.

"And if you don't graduate this year?" Akashi tested, his eyes finally leaving his novel as he locked gazes with Tanaka's blue eyes.

The latter laughed, leaning on one leg and put his hand on his hip. "I get to do whatever you want," he answered. Akashi's lips curved into a smirk.

"Are you sure about that, Tanaka-kun?" he challenged, eyes gleaming with mischief. Tanaka ignored the sudden shiver of his spine and nodded.

"A man never backs down from a challenge," he proclaimed, confidently. "You're on, Akashi Seijuro."

"I'm interested with the outcome, Tanaka-kun," Akashi surmised.

- 10 years later -

"Guess~ Who's~ an~ i~ di~ ot~" Haizaki sang, laughter following after that as he formed incoherent words from his mouth to tease his friend, Tanaka Sora.

"Fuck you, Shogo," Tanaka lit a cigar, leaning his arms on the rooftop railings. He knew he shouldn't have told this asshole his long-life story of working with the Akashis.

Okay, okay, he fucking lost the bet so what? It's not like it gets better.

Tanaka Sora wasn't able to graduate that year. Reason? He doesn't wanna fucking say it. He wasn't able to enroll the next year too. So he dropped out of college, starting working for the Akashis-Akashi Seijuro-sama now-and the rest is just history.

"Man, you are the dumbest person I've ever met, Sora, god," Haizaki wheezed out, clutching onto his stomach, still not over Akashi Seijuro and Tanaka Sora's past. They've been friends for, what, fifteen years? It's the first time he's heard the story behind Tanaka Sora's unyielding loyalty to the Akashi family.

"Y-You just became his apprentice like that?"

"Shut up, Shogo. It was a stupid bet, I know. I wasn't thinking when it happened, it just happened," Tanaka grumbled, breathing out nicotine. "I was young and stupid, no need to make fun of my life choices."

"Dude, you were fucking 24 that time. When you graduated high school, you were 20," Haizaki reminded. Bastard.

"Fine, okay, I was going through adolescence puberty, my bad!" Tanaka defended, cheeks flushing as a mere 18-year-old boy, freshly graduated from high school, got the best of him.

"Still," Haizaki wiped a tear from his eyes, grinning. "That's something, man."

"Yeah, that something is a demon disguised as a "perfection"," Tanaka air quoted, rolling his eyes at thought of Akashi Seijuro being defined as perfect. He almost barfed. Well, he did.

His cellphone began to rang, and when he checked; it was the devil itself, making an appearance. "Hello?" he answered it, and was greeted by the red angel named Akashi Seijuro. Fuck that, the A in his name is for asshole. Not angel.

"It's quarter past five, Sora. Where are you?" Akashi's voice spoke.

"What, you're done already? I thought your meeting won't be finished until six?" Tanaka wondered, checking his own watch. It's 5:46 pm.

"That doesn't matter. Didn't I tell you to wait at the lobby? Disobeying my orders again, I see," Tanaka flinched at that tone of Akashi. Whenever he hears that tone, it always spelled chaos. War, famine – whatever, that just means he's gotta be at Akashi's side because the stupid midget still needs a babysitter.

"Okay, I'm sorry, I'll be down in a jiff. Wait at the lobby," Tanaka mumbled, already heading towards the rooftop door.

Haizaki didn't bother to ask where he's off to because it can only mean one thing. The devil summons.

"Stop ordering me around, that's my job. And I'm not going to listen because that's your job. I'll be waiting at the meeting room, Sora. If you're down here in five minutes, I'll—"

"OKAY, OKAY I'LL BE THERE," Tanaka exclaims, jumping down the stair case to meet Akashi's time deadline. He hung up on his boss and quickened his pace to reach the 8th floor meeting up room under five fucking minutes.

When he got there, Akashi was sitting in the room, alone, in front of his laptop, and didn't look a bit happy. Well, he doesn't really smile, but after ten years of working for him, Tanaka can somehow differentiate different moods just by staring at that stoic, emotionless face of his.

"You're four seconds late," Akashi spoke as he noticed Tanaka standing there, panting.

"Oh for fuck's---"

"Are you going to curse me?"

Tanaka shut his mouth. He never got used to the punishments he received for not controlling his sharp tongue. He bowed 90 degrees. "I'm sorry for being late, Akashi-sama," he apologized, swallowing his pride.

"I told you Seijuro's fine."

Like hell I'll call you by your first name! Tanaka thought sourly.

Akashi starts to fix his things, stands up from his chair, and waited for Tanaka to get and carry his bag, before they left the building and head towards the limo. Tanaka opens the door for his master and hopped in the driver's seat, putting the red head's things on the seat beside him.

"Where to, Akashi-sama?" he inquired, starting the engine.

Akashi stares out the window in a daze. Today was a busy day, and he didn't even get a tad bit of rest the whole time. Meetings here, meetings there; hell he had no time to eat.

Okay, maybe, Tanaka felt a bit bad for his boss – but that's because Akashi looks like a kid that got his candy stolen. Akashi doesn't smile, but that doesn't mean he doesn't want to be happy.

"Fit bar?" Tanaka offered, throwing his stock food to Akashi who barely caught it. He chuckled sheepishly. "It's not like your fancy foods but it'll help replenish energy. Call it an appetizer before dinner. It's gonna be a long ride."

Tanaka drives out of the building parking lot, and out to the main road. He peeks at his master who was quietly eating the snack bard he gave. His eyes widened at that and almost missed his turn, causing the car to swerve.

Good thing they immediately got back on track, but he can feel Akashi's menacing aura from behind him. "Sora," Akashi said solemnly. "If I die, I will kill you." Well shit, of course demons can resurrect.

Tanaka muttered a sorry to him before solely focusing on the road ahead of him. Akashi watched as the brunette's posture straightened up; his shoulders tensed, the sweat on his cheek rolling down the curve of his jaw that was clenched. The neck where the collar of his white polo was, his tie almost suffocating him.

He can tell Tanaka was breathing heavily; his hands stiff, his lips pressed together, his eye twitching and his eyes – they were beautiful. The perfect hue of blue that reminded Akashi of the ocean. Akashi never admits it, but he likes Tanaka's eyes. That cerulean ocean color made him remember of his trips to his family's beach house where he spends most of his childhood summers with his mother.

They slowed down at a café, Tanaka asking his boss if he'd like to make a detour since he can basically hear the red head's stomach growl. Akashi, deniably hungry, says it was okay and he can eat at home. He stated he preferred homemade cooking.

Tanaka shrugged and passed by the café.

As they got home, several maids and butlers came greeting the Akashi heir's arrival. Tanaka opened the door for Akashi, have another butler park the limo at the Akashi parking lot, and escorted his boss inside up to his room.

"Oh, what do you want for dinner, Akashi-sama?" Tanaka asks before Akashi could closed his bedroom door.

"I don't know, whatever the chef will cook," Akashi shrugged before slamming the door at his apprentice's face.

Tanaka almost took it down but luckily he's learned self-restraint. Whatever the chef will cook he says! He curled his fist, determinedly. Just you wait, AKASHI!

Akashi was disturbed by a loud voice outside his room. It was Tanaka. He sighed, getting up from his working desk and opened his door to see his apprentice smiling giddily at him, wearing an apron and a hairnet. What in god's name.

"Good evening, Akashi-sama! I, Tanaka Sora, have made it a special privilege-"

"Have it delivered, I'm eating in my room," Akashi cut him off by closing his door. Tanaka stood there in mid-talk, his hand up in a salute – "WHAT?!" he shouted, jaw dropping.

Akashi's bedroom door opened again, the red head glaring at him. "Sora," he called.

Said name flinched and stood up straight. "Akashi-sama?"

"I'm not going to repeat myself."

"Y-Yes, sir."

DAMN AKASHI!!!!! Tanaka was seething. It took him three tries to walk up the stairs without spilling his master's dish. On the fourth attempt, he successfully made it upstairs, having four butlers assisting him. "AKASHI-SAMA! YOUR DINNER IS READY," he shouted in deliberation. He knocked on the door four times, and even stomped his foot. "AKASHI-SAMA."

"Jesus, are you trying to tear down my door?"

"GAH!"

Akashi appeared at the hallway, freshly bathed, and in his sleepwear, towel around his neck. Tanaka narrowed his eyes at this get-up. How old are you, ten?! Not attacking the Akashi family genes, but Akashi was hella short. Like hella.

Well, okay, maybe not that short, but the kid's 28-years-old, and when he was 28 he was around 190 cm? Akashi? He didn't grow that tall after college.

"A-Akashi. . ."

Akashi raised an eyebrow. "There should be a -sama in there somewhere," he huffed, entering his room.

Tanaka backed away, blinking. "SAYS THE GUY WHO WANTS ME TO CALL HIM SEIJURO!" he then hollered after.

"Just put it in here," Akashi demanded, going back to his desk.

Tanaka followed suit, putting the tray down on one of the tables there, and was about to serve his boss when he was stopped. "I can do that myself," Akashi says, going through his books and handing it to Tanaka. "What I want you to do is study about the different businessmen of our generation, and I want at least five essays of CEOs. I also want you discuss about their marketing strategies and also their intake on the business industry. Your deadline is tomorrow by 2, and I expect it to be better than fresh high school graduate."

Tanaka almost fell on the floor with the books he received. He stared incredulously at Akashi who didn't look like he was joking. "But Akashi-"

"Now if you'll excuse me, I'd like to have my meal to myself," before he knew it, Tanaka was ushered out of the room and met the wooden door of Akashi's air. Again.

He bristled. Turns out he was trying to tear down Akashi's door. Three butlers had to stop him before he loses his job.

Akashi, in the meantime, stared at his meal and read the words, formed by condiments, on his rice. J – E – R – K. He broke his chopsticks.

"Stupid Akashi, stupid brat, fucking fantastic! Fuck this, fuck you, you, and definitely you!" Tanaka was cussing nonstop as he did his homework. Nothing really came out of his apprenticeship with Akashi. He didn't know why he even puts up with that kid!

Haizaki, that fucking bastard, was laughing nonstop, on the other line, as well. Tanaka just told him what happened and fuck – he wasn't able to breathe for a minute. "You're the best, Sora," he cackled.

Tanaka wanted to throw his phone at the wall but he didn't. He knew this was his punishment for his fuck-ups for today. He was a man; he won't back down from this.

"Stupid, Akashi, stupid-"

"I'm sorry, who topped everything their whole school life?"

"fUCK."

"Oh, so you're cursing me?" Akashi appeared at staff room's door where Tanaka was doing his homework. He needed to start working on it ASAP, otherwise he won't be able to finish on time.

"A-Akashi!" Tanaka was surprised by his presence; his shoulders tensing up again. Akashi noticed this and sighed, walking over the brunette to check up on his homework.

"Your handwriting sucks," he criticized.

Tanaka ticked a nerve and inhaled a sharp breath. "Thanks, master," he gritted his teeth. He then remembered something, making him grin. "How was dinner?" he continued writing.

"It was okay. Not like those fancy restaurants, but it was at least decent."

You have a lot of nerve attacking my culinary skills! Just you wait Akashi Seijuro-

"I liked the tofu soup."

"You did?" Tanaka was baffled, eyes widening at his boss who stared at him blankly. The brunette made sure he put tons of chili peppers in it! How come-

"It doesn't really count if you don't crush it," Akashi, as if reading his mind, answered his question. The red head had to take out dozens of them and made sure they were put to good use.

Tanaka started sweating at this, worried he might anger his master again and get more homework. "You should eat before you leave," was Akashi's last reminder before leaving him alone again.

Tanaka stared at the door Akashi exited. "What was that?" he asked to no one in particular. A few minutes later, one of the maids served him dinner, saying he should fill up his stomach before studying. He thanked them and was surprised to see his favorite dish. Written on his rice was a familiar threat or warning most people call poltergeist. I – D – I – O – T.

"I won't be surprised if I get poisoned after eating this. . ." Tanaka murmurs to himself but ends up devouring the whole meal after all.

In the end, he gulped down three pitchers to ease up the spicy tonkatsu that was prepared by his very own master, Akashi Seijuro. Well, the red head did put it to good use. He just made sure they were crushed and spread through the meal.

"Damn that Akashi, fucking brat!" There he was again, cursing Akashi Seijuro to ashes.

The butlers watched as the emperor's apprentice walked out of the Akashi property. One of the drivers chased after him, driving a car that was meant for family use. "Tanaka-kun! Hop in, I'll drive you home!" says Iku, one of the employees.

Tanaka blinked, bending down to peek at the rolled down window. "Are you sure, Ajimoto-san? Won't Akashi-sama mind?" he says reluctantly.

"It'll be fine. Akashi-sama makes us drive it home if it's already late," Iku assures the boy, opening the door from the driver's seat. Tanaka hops in hesitantly, putting on his seatbelt, and was tense the whole ride. Iku couldn't help but stifle a laugh. "I see young master has made your lips swell again."

Tanaka ticked a nerve at that as he started ranting about the little red head bastard. Iku just laughed along, putting jibs here and there. He was used to this, having ten years of a complaining Tanaka, but never really quitting. Iku then learned Tanaka didn't really mind the young master Akashi's pranks and whims on him.

"He's not that bad," Was all Iku said that made Tanaka flashback to ten years ago. Again.

- 10 years ago -

Tanaka watched as his batch mates one by one accepted their diploma at the stage. They were all wearing their toga for graduation. Everyone except him.

He stood there, eyeing the podium where he made his bet with Akashi a few months ago. Speaking of the devil, he felt his presence and spoke. "You win, Satan."

"I'd like to be called Seijuro, thanks," Akashi replied.

"Whatever, just state what you want me to do and get this over it. I'll be leaving in a few," Tanaka says, running a hand through his hair.

Akashi stares at his brown locks; admires how wavy they are that reached up to his long neck. Tanaka's hand was touching his nape, and he noticed his hands-his knuckles rather were injured. "You talk as if it's the end of the world for you."

"Shut up, you wouldn't understand," Tanaka snaps, giving Akashi a glare. The latter remains unaffected, his ruby eyes scanning the taller boy's features. Screw that, it was just the eyes he looked at.

"Akashi, just state what you want and I can go," Tanaka was getting impatient. Tanaka just wanted to leave this place and go somewhere far far away from Tokyo.

It's not like he can finish his studies anymore. His parents left him nothing, so he won't be able to enroll next year. He'll just have to work his ass off until he dies, he guesses.

"How about you be my apprentice? You can work for me, and in return I'll—"

"What? No way!" Tanaka immediately rejected. Akashi glared at him for that and took a step forward.

"Are you forgetting your bet, Sora? Or aren't you a man enough to back down?" he challenged. There it was again. That look that tested Tanaka as a whole.

For some reason, he can't help but say no to Akashi's challenges. His whims. Or whatever.

"Asshole. . ." Tanaka hissed at him as Akashi clenched his jaw.

"Well. From now on you'll be my apprentice." Tanaka's jaw dropped; his eyes almost bulging from their sockets.

"I'll expect you tomorrow. Fully dressed in formal. 7 am sharp. At my lobby. The butlers will assist you there."

"Oi Akashi---"

"I'll email you my address," Akashi turns his back at the brunette who still hasn't recovered from-well, what the ever loving fuck. Akashi's apprentice? Akashi reads his expression as full submission to him, before making his way to his next class.

Tanaka stood there, shell-shocked and didn't move until someone kicked his ass, sending him flying on the ground.

"Oi, Tanaka," it was Aida Riko, one of the newly graduates, wearing her toga over a dress. She looked down at Tanaka, with furrowed brows and arms crossed over her chest. "You're friends with Akashi Seijuro?" she inquired.

Tanaka picked himself up and rubbed his butt. "Hardly," he uttered disgracefully. "Fucking brat."

Aida blinked at his sour expression and chuckled. "He's not that bad once you get to know him," she says. Tanaka rolled his eyes.

"Hey. . ." Aida then turned solemn, placing a hand on Tanaka's elbow. "I'm sorry about your parents."

"Oh," Tanaka was somehow surprised that Aida knew. He didn't really tell anyone, but he guesses that a famous bank going bankrupt reached the news. He rubbed his nape again, avoiding eye contact from Aida. He didn't want to see the look of pity she gave him. Everyone gave him.

"Everybody is. Don't worry about it," was his only response. "Besides, I got myself work now so. . ." Tanaka's blood boiled at the thought of Akashi again. The nerve of him. . .

Aida watched as her friend bubbled with rage, shouting nonsense and curse here and there. There was only one thing she heard from all of that and it was – "AKASHI SEIJURO!!!!" – and – "FUCKING APPRENTICE!!!!"

Aida giggled. "Apprentice? He must see a potential in you then," Tanaka pauses from his shout fest and turns to her.

"What the fuck?"

"Idiot! You're actually pretty smart, if you try. . ." Aida whispered the last part to herself. "So it'd be a waste if you're not able to continue to study just because you've got no tuition fee," she stated before grinning. "It'll be good if you slap the name Akashi on your resume. So being Akashi's apprentice wouldn't be so bad!"

"How did you know about that?"

"Um, you were yelling about it nonstop a while ago?" Aida sweat dropped at Tanaka's idiocy.

"I was, huh. . ." he blinked.

"Idiot. . ." Aida cleared her throat, going back to topic. "Anyway, you're safe for now! You've got yourself a job! And it's Akashi we're talking about, so I bet they pay well! You'd be paying your own education in no time, Tanaka!"

- Present -

"Whatever the hell happened to going back to college," Tanaka mumbled to himself, staring out the car window. He looked up the starry sky; the view always got him dazed. "If you think about it, I never got the chance to go back. . ." he murmured.

"You mean to school?" Iku queried as the brunette nodded. "Well that's how it goes. Sometimes you get lost on your own track towards a certain goal. Sometimes you find your way back, sometimes you find a new one. It depends."

"Or maybe sometimes the ground eats you up and you stay in hell forever," Tanaka offered, starting to complain about Akashi Seijuro again. "But you know," he spoke, making eye contact with Iku, his blue eyes shimmering under the streetlights.

"When he asked me to be his apprentice, I knew that he knew about my parents. . ." Tanaka recalled that ruby eyed gaze towards him. "But somehow. . . unlike others, I didn't see an ounce of pity from his eyes. I wonder why." He mused.

Iku smiled at that. "Maybe you saw something else?" he suggested.

"Maybe," Tanaka shrugged. "Or maybe I was just imagining it and didn't see anything at all."

"Maybe he was the one who saw something," Iku said. Tanaka blinked, looking out the window again, his cheek on his palm.

"Maybe."

Author's Note: 

Sup doooooods. Gah, was able to finish this today!!!! Well believe it or not, I just wrote this for hours---and I was doing my plate before that too. My brain's a wreck----Ah ha haha.

This is a one-shot between Akashi and his goofy apprentice, Tanaka. WHOS A BABE IN MY IMAGINATION.

He's a brunette with blue eyes so I'll leave that to your imagination too. 

This is just a one-shot, kinda AU-ish ye know. Hope you like this and tell me what you think!! :D