-AN-

The flashback is in italics. That's it, read on.

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[A K A S H I]

The girl rushed past me and ran down the hallway on my left. I sighed at how weak and careless she was. People who couldn't handle themselves and sobbed on the floor were sick.

" Oh Akashi-san! " a loud manly voice, aged and worn out greeted me.

I turned around to face him and before I could speak, he did. "I see you are interested in art" he clapped his hands together and gestured to the paintings displayed around us, "there are beautiful ones here, you should buy a fe- "

"Excuse me" I cut him short as I fetched my phone out of my pocket which was now buzzing in my hand. As I picked up the call, I walked out of the hall and into a room where a few more art works were on display and shut the door behind my back.

I pressed the phone to my ear, "Tetsuya".

"Akashi-kun, the judgement was given in our favour." he spoke from the other end.

My lips curved upwards into a smile as I responded. The conversation was short but a faint sound of someone sobbing caught my attention.

Ignoring it, "The money will be transferred to their account before 8 pm today. I've seen the building, I'm buying it ".

"Okay, I'll have the documents ready"

"Hmm" I hummed into the device before ending the call and placing it back into my coat's pocket. My eyes followed the source of those sobs only to land on the same girl I had met in the display room.

She was curled up on the floor as she hugged her knees closer to her chest and cried continuously. Bringing a hand up to wipe the tears off her cheeks she lifted her head up to look at me which made me wonder how someone could be so weak and fragile. A part of me wanted to help her, just like any other man would, but I would only be misunderstood. So taking one last glance at her I exited the room only to be pushed back in. As soon as I unlocked the door, it swung open and I had to step back to avoid the hard wood. People rushed into the room, words of appreciation and exclaims filled the air as they swarmed in. I took a few steps back before looking for another exit, if there was any.

"Who is that girl?"

" Oh my god is she crying? "

" Why's she here? "

The questions bounced off the walls quicker than light. I shifted my gaze to the centre of attention as the black hair girl stayed still on the floor, wiping the last few drops of her tears.

I wanted to walk away from the drama that would unfold before me at any moment now, but a part of me said otherwise. A part of me wanted to help, I didn't know why, I had no reason to. I had gotten rid of my other self back in middle school itself, but not completely. A part of me was still selfish, egoistic and cocky, it was in my genes, something I couldn't change. But I was also my mother's son, due to which there was always a soft corner for the helpless. I would normally avoid a situation like this and walk my way out but something in her, or maybe it was something in me that stopped me from doing so.
I did not know this girl but as humiliation was thrown her way, I watched her ignore it and stay pathetically still.

As more people surrounded her and watched her dishevelled hair and stained face, I stomped my way forward towards her.

Hooking my hand around her upper arm, I swiftly yanked her up onto her feet. She gasped at the suddenness and her gaze shifted on me. I looked up at the crowd surrounding us and they quickly looked away, some of them clearing the area.

"What're you doi- "

"Shut up" I snarled at her and rushed her out of the brimming room. The noise subsided as we made our way out of the building and my car came into view.

" Get in "

" Where are you taking me? "

" I'm trying to help. Get in " I spoke before making my way towards the driver's seat. She hesitated for a few seconds before following me into the vehicle.

____

She didn't want to, but she did. Was it fate or was this guy just taking advantage of a girl in distress? She didn't know but something in her, pushed her forward and forced her to follow the red mop of hair to his car. She knew this could go wrong. She knew this could lead to unholy things. She knew this could wreck her entire career. She knew the things he could do to her.. she knew better but she what she didn't know was how she'd slap herself lateron for what she was doing now. She followed him.

Once both of them were safely seated in his jet black car, the engine roared to life as he pressed the start button. Akira was amused but scared as well. She never went out with strangers like this before but well- fuck life! She didn't have anyone anyway. She still refused to put on the seat belt though, almost ready to open the door and jump out of the car if he took a wrong turn or did anything suspicious.

The drive began quiet and remained that way until they reached their destination. She didn't want to disturb the comfortable silence that existed between two strangers but then he didn't mind either. What could they even talk about? There was nothing that one knew about the other. The ride wasn't boring, it was exciting and nerve wrecking atleast to her, as she had no idea where he was taking her. Was she wrong to judge a stranger? Of course she was.

The car took a swift turn into a valley that was well developed. The buildings were huge and it looked like a shopping complex. She couldn't belive that she lived in the same damn town and didn't know that a place like this existed. Every single piece on display on every shop's window looked like something she couldn't afford. It was for the rich, which she wasn't.

Before she could ask him to stop the car, it halted. " Come " was all be said as he got out of it. She clumsily opened the door and stepped out. They were halted in front of a decent building. It sold clothes, that too of the rich kind ; well that's all she could make out from the beautiful building in front of her.

Akashi let her take in the surroundings for a few seconds before he walked in. She followed quickly. The glass door to the showroom opened and the warmth of the heaters fished her in. There were only a few pieces on display, but they were incredibly beautiful. A girl could loose herself in a place like this any day and before she forgot Akashi's presence beside her and moved to look around, a loud voice shrilled and bounced off the walls making her jump.

"AKASHII-CCHI" a blonde male, handsome, to be frank, he looked better than Akashi himself. The man was dressed in a grey suit that clung onto his body like it belonged there. He quickly jogged over to where Akira and Akashi were before almost hugging the red head. So, his name is Akashi,she thought.

But, "Ryota " a quick acknowledgement was all the blonde recieved. He pouted at Akashi before chiming again, "What brings you here?".

Akashi gestured to the girl beside him. That's all he had to do.

" Oh who is this? " the blonde was now right in front of her face.

" Akira " she smiled. The boy seemed cheerful and she found herself liking him already. This is how Akashi found out what her name was.

" I'm Ryota. Kise Ryota " he did a little hair flip, which impressed Akira more than she'd care to admit.

" I see the problem " he narrowed his eyes at her dress, snapping her out of her little day dream.

" I'll send someone " he grinned at her before disappearing behind the curtains.

Akira turned to find Akashi sitting comfortably on the maroon, leather couch. His eyes moved away from the magazine splayed out on his lap to her face. He rose a brow at her, as if he knew that she was about to say something.

" I can't- "

" Excuse me ma'am " a soft voice made her tilt her head. A woman in her fifties stood behind her, a measuring tape in her hands.

Akira sighed before turning around to face the lady. She took quick measurements, shoulder, waist, sleeve, abdomen, chest, neck and everything necessary.

" Please come " she gestured gently. The brunette was just taking orders today just like every other day and hence she followed and disappeared behind the curtains like Kise and his assistant.

Five minutes. Five minutes was all Akashi had to wait for. Five minutes of fingers tapping on the arm rest, five minutes skimming through the most uninteresting magazine on his lap and then she finally stepped out. Akira, dressed in another white dress which looked almost like the one she had worn earlier but this one had slightly longer sleeves which came upto her elbows, slightly lacy and shorter. Gold coloured buttons were neatly embedded in a perfect straight line between her breasts which made her look prettier than she already was. She bit her lip and shifted her weight on her legs as she showed herself to the mysterious yet nice red haired stranger in front of her.

Akashi gave here a mere nod. There was no glint of emotion in his eyes, he was just satisfied with what he saw. His eyes averted to the buzzing sound of his phone while Akira felt a slight tap on her shoulder.

She spun around to meet a pair of golden yellow eyes twinkling. " You look great! " the blonde exclaimed, to which she could only smile and thank him.

" I- I really like the way this dress looks on me. But - " she paused, she had to say this atleast now.

" But what? " Kise raised a brow, showing her that he was indeed listening.

" but I can't afford it. I'll just change into my old clo- "

" Ah, no no! " Kise waved both his hands in front of her face. " You don't have to pay. It's all on Akashi-cchi "

" Then I'll just go talk to him about this. I really don't want this dress "

" It's free! " Kise almost yelled in an attempt to shut her up.

" This is the first time Akashi-cchi has ever visited my store. So it's a small gift. Keep it" he chimed before nudging her forward.

Before she could think of a proper response to what Kise had said, he spoke again. " Akira-cchi..can I ask you something? "

" Sure.. " she smiled.

" Is he your boyfriend? "

" What? " she panicked, the question was sudden and she could barely process the thought. Akashi was handsome and all that but then he was a STRANGER!

" Who is your boyfriend? " spoke a calm voice from behind her making her eyes go wide open.

♡♡♡

" What did she say? " Miki almost yelled making me jump.

" Tomorrow " was all he said, as Akashi got up from the couch and made his way up the stairs leaving both me and my friend dumbfounded. He ordered us to go back to bed before climbing up the topmost step on the fleet of stairs and disappearing.

A maid came to our aid, who guided Mikami to one of the many guest rooms in this mansion of his and I made my way up to my room.

Taking off my clothes and throwing them on the bed, I ran to the bathroom. A quick shower before I slept seemed like a good idea, considering the flight and long hours of story telling that had happened. I let myself sink into the tub of warn water as my thoughts wandered away freely.

Every word that left Akashi's mouth as he narrated the story-my life story, to the two of us left me in daze. I had never heard him speak so much at once before and the way he sipped on water every once in a while as he continued telling us more, the way he interwined his fingers together when he said something important made me feel something for him. Something more than the thing I was already feeling for him.

I loved how his eyes would snap up from the table before him to catch mine, I loved how his voice lowered when he spoke of something important and how it turned soft when it was a delicate topic. I loved how a faint smile graced his lips when he spoke of me. I loved him.

After soaking for a while, I stood up and wrapped a towel around myself as my mind worked on picturing myself in the past, a movie playing inside my head.

I smiled to myself as I stepped out of the bathroom. Humming, I reached for a tshirt and underwear in the closet. Fetching them out, I dropped the towel around me.

" YAH! WHAT'RE YOU DOING, SHIT! " I quickly reached for the towel that was pooled around my legs and covered my naked wet body with it.

He was there, with his back against the door, arms folded against his chest. His eyes scanned me and he sighed before straightening up.

" You should've KNOCKED! "

" I did. You didn't open the door "

" Well shit! " I struggled to wrap the towel around me, careful not to let it fall.

" Calm down. It's nothing I've not seen before" he spoke, a subtle smirk on his lips as he made his way towards me.

" What do you mean? " I narrowed my eyes at him and once he was close enough, the cocky smirk on his face was much more evident.

" Don't tell me we've done it. I'm still a virgin.. right?" My heart raced as he approached me. If I took a step back, he'd take a step forward, so I stilled and let him close the gap between us. From the close proximity, I could smell the scent of his cologne and my body wash mix perfectly.

" right? " I asked again. Trust me, you have no idea how much it sucks to ask someone else to find out if you were a virgin or not.

He smiled wider at my sudden desperation but I had to know. He leaned forward as his hand slithered to my lower back and settled there. He shook his head as an answer to my question , causing his lips to brush against mine. I didn't know why he was doing this right now of all times, but I felt myself clenching my thighs together as my eyes fell shut.

"I don't believe you" I spoke, my voice was so low it couldn't even be called a whisper.

He did not respond. I gave him a few more moments before gathering up all my courage to speak again.

"I need proof"

I could feel him smile. I couldn't see because his face was too close to mine, but I could make out from the way his lips inched closer to mine again.I waited for his lips to land on mine as I invitingly parted them a little, but nothing came. His other hand landed on my hips and his thumb moved achingly below my hip bone, he stopped and muttered, "It should be here" he paused, "the mole". I gasped and his lips glided against mine once more before he pulled away and took a step back.

I opened my eyes at the loss of warmth. It was only when the cold air hit my wet legs that I realised how much I needed him to be closer to me. The words he uttered left me in complete trance. He knew I had a mole on my hip? It isn't even my hip, it's closer to my... oh god!

" Good night Sana"

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-AN-

SO WHAT DO U GUYS THINK?