Soon after the vibrant summer rays had begun to warm the day there was a shrill sound, a whistle, and I leaped out of bed faster than a rat from a trap. Was it the milkman? It was too early in the morning! I ran upto the door and came to a quick halt when I realised I was panicking for no reason. I walked towards the mirror and looked at my beautiful reflection. How could I look so pretty as soon as I woke up?

I looked like I just slept on some dude's floor, my usually brushed locks stuck like an ill thought out piece of art. To be honest, it looked like a crow's nest! My face was as if it was made of wet cement, lips dehydrated, eyes surrounded with a it's own domain of smudged eyeliner.

" I hope he never sees you this way. That poor man will die horrified " I said to my reflection as I shook my head and made my way towards the large bathroom.

After a brief wash, I was out with a towel wrapped around my body and over my head. I dug into my bags trying to find a proper dress for today. No I wasn't trying to impress his mother.

Well, maybe I was but then every girl goes through this kind of shit doesn't she? After rummaging through my clothes, I found a decent knee length dress. Grinning to myself , I put it on!

I quickly brushed my hair and gave my not-so-flawless face the little touch up that it needed and looked at the clock.

I'm amused! I dressed up in less than twenty minutes, I've set a new record for myself. I heard another shrill and rushed out of my room and down the stairs. The noise was definitely coming from outside the house.

" Breakfast miss? "

" I'll be back " I said and ran past a maid.

When I reached the main door I looked around and this place looked a hundred times better in sunlight. Green green everywhere, and on the other hand I was successful in tracking the source of the sound. It seemed to have originated from the left side of the building and I followed it's lead.

After passing a few short trees and bushes , I entered a...field? Well, no. Just a large patch of land covered with lush green-trimmed grass.

I spotted Akashi's mother, an umbrella shielding her face from the sunlight and from me, and also whistle in her hand.

I walked upto her and she noticed me in no time. "Morning my dear " she smiled.

" Good morning " I said with a genuine smile and a nod.

" What're you- " I paused when I spotted the red head running towards us.

But before he was close enough, he took a quick turn and ran back in the opposite direction. I could barely look at his face, it was a mere second and he ran, like the winter breeze colliding into inanimate objects and like a crashing wave hitting the shore line. Like an eagle soaring across the indigo sky and a cheetah racing through verdant meadows. His long, red coloured locks whipped back and forth behind him like a fiery tale as he flung himself over sharp rocks and heavy tree trunks in his way.

" He's training and I..." she turned to look at me " I'm his trainer " she said with a proud spark in her eyes.

" Really? " I chuckled.

She laughed and shook her head a little. " I know it's hard to belive , but I taught him how to play basket ball too "

Was she serious? Is the Akashi family tree full of angry men and multi-talented women? I smiled in disbelief, but I knew that she was a woman of honour and someone who wouldn't consider lying even if it meant losing her life.

She turned around quickly and blew the whistle. Akashi came to a quick halt. His body jerked forward but he kept his balance. His breathing was rugged and his hands were on his knees. He wiped his forehead with his sweat band as he walked towards his beloved mother and me.

" Take a break Sei. I'll be back in a while. " she said before leaving me with him, in this large area next to her house.

Akashi sat down on the grass as sweat ran down his forehead, his hands and legs glistened in the morning light as his wet hair remained motionless. He patted the ground beside him and I quickly sat down as well. It was so quiet that all I could hear was his uneven breathing. It remained so for a few seconds, and the sound gradually attenuated.

" You train every day? " I asked, breaking the silence.

" Yes.. " he cracked his knuckles.

" Do you run everyday? "

" No " he said staring at the ground beneath him.

" Do you lift weights? "

"..." he inhaled deeply.

" Do you skip? "

He smirked and shook his head, still admiring the grass.

" How'd you know I took a train from Kyoto? " I tilted my head a little.

" Your friend is not a good secret keeper, evidently.. " he smirked.

" Argh! Takao.. " I laughed.

He gave me a slight nod.

" How did you catch upto me so quickly? " I rose my eye brows as I bit my lip.

" Jets are faster than trains "

" Oh shit yeah! You rich bastard! " I facepalmed as I laughed.

" Say that again? " his voice ten fold serious.

" Umm.? N-Nothing! " I stuttered.
"Why are our rooms connected? Did you give me the room next to yours, so you could sneak up on me..at night? " I asked completely facing him.

He looked up at me with forrowed eye brows. " No.. " he smirked a little, " I'm not interested in women as much as you think I'm. It was previously just one room, later partitioned into two, mother suggested and that's why the door exists. "

I narrowed my eyes and questioned him further, "Not interested in women? "

" No, I'm not....woman " he answered.

" Are you gay? "

He completed turned around to face me with a confused yet amused face. His eyes had their attention on mine. " I kissed you yesterday, and today you ask me if I'm... " he sounded pissed off.

" No.. I was just..uh Sorry. " I apologised, rubbing the back of my neck, a tint of red taking over my cheeks.

He glanced at me, his red eyes meeting mine for a moment and he looked away laughing. It was a short yet the most handsome laugh I had ever seen. In my time with Seijuro, I had known how rare it was to find him smiling and it was even the rarest of rare to catch him laughing. It made my heart swell with some kind of strange happiness. I found a smile spreading on my lips involuntarily.

" Did you mean that? " I questioned him yet again. I had to get this one last thing answered.

" Mean what? " his face tilted a little towards me.

" Did you mean what you told your parents about me, the night you brought me here? That..I was your...umm woman?" I fidgetted with my fingers for a while before I decided to look up at him.

His rich red hair that had tousled griminess which promised finesse, was now pushed and held back, away from his forehead with his right hand. His strong brows were arched, and a drop of sweat trickled down his face making his skin glisten and sparkle that it could almost be illegal.And then his eyes- they were deep and catastrophic, staring back into mine. He finally parted his lips to answer and my ears were yearning for an yes. I wanted to know that he meant it. I wanted to know that he loved me as much as I loved him.

Love was a strong word, but my feelings weren't just limited to infatuation or lust. I loved this man, and I would give anything to know that he felt the same.

Did he mean what he said? Did he mean it? Did he?

" I see you both are having a good time. I'm sorry to interrupt , but it's time for breakfast " said his mother as she gracefully walked towards us and stopped at a distance from which her voice could clearly be heard.

I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. If it wasnt Sei's mother, I would have thrown a rock at anyone who interrupted us. I stood up along with Akashi, dusting the little remains of dirt off my skirt. He gave me one last glance before walking towards the house, while I just stood there staring at his retreating back.

" Sei looks happy around you.. " said his mother.

I quickly turned my head towards her, the blush on my cheeks resurfaced.

" I could have sent a maid to escort you to the breakfast table, but I had something to discuss with you " said the elder woman.

" Yes, sure " I waited for her to speak, curious of what she had to discuss with me.

" I know he is a little aggressive and scary sometimes but honey, all men are." she shrugged. " Just.." her voice, much quieter and softer than it usually was.
" Just promise me you will stay by his side no matter what.." she stretched her arms forward and her red eyes bore into mine.

I nodded as I took her hands in mine " Yes.. I promise ".

She smiled wider and gave me a short, sweet hug. She almost filled the hole in my heart, the wound of not having a family was now healing at a faster rate than I suspected. I walked along with her to the breakfast table and as we took our seats across each other, Mr. Akashi senior walked down the stairs.

I stood up in respect and he gave me a small nod, acknowledging my presence. The aura that surrounded this man was much denser than that around Seijuro. With a stoic face, the not too old man glanced at his wife before picking his fork up. I bet he wasn't as bad as he looked. He must be a nice person, I could attempt talking to him someday.

I started off eating slowly in a very princess-ly manner, but the lemons cakes were so good that I was almost began stuffing my face with it. I couldn't belive how slowly the other two were eating. How can someone not gobble up something so tasty?

It was almost half an hour past when, my crush, the red head walked down the stairs dressed in black linen, professional, formal and handsome. I openly stared at him, completely forgetting that his mom and dad were seated right before me. The more I looked at him, the better he looked.

His eyes met mine for a second and before I could smile, he looked away. Effortlessly did he move, as he dragged the chair backwards and pulled it forward as he sat next to me.

" Morning.. father " he said bluntly to which the senior man responded with nothing. Hell he didn't even look up at his son. He probably has a hearing defect, he's aged afterall. It's common!

" Mr.Akashi , Sei wished you a good morning " I said a bit too loudly , mustering the attention of all the other three individuals at the table.

Mother's eyes went wide , while Seijuro gave me the are-you-serious look. His father glared at me for a moment before he spoke " Thank you for informing, Miss- "

" Sana! You forgot my name already? " I pouted.

Seijuro placed his hand on my thigh and I straightened up. Mother looked like she was trying her best to suppress a laughter. There was silence, the only sound was of the pots and vessels being moved around in the kitchen.

I gulped and waited for something to happen, but after a few minutes the tension was relieved and people went back to eating. My inner self shook her head in disbelief, why do I do this to myself?

The breakfast soon came to an end as we washed our hands and wiped them clean. The senior couple got away from the table and walked together towards and out of the main door. Lady Akashi was sending her husband away to office and i found it somewhat adorable.

The sound of a chair being dragged back along the tiles of the floor captured my attention and I looked at the red knight getting onto his feet beside me. I quickly stood up, but he just walked away without saying a word. I looked at my feet as I tapped it onto the floor.

" It is today, isn't it? " asked he.

" Yes, wait! How did you know? " I gasped.

" Just another spilled bean. I shall pick you up at six then " he said, making me smile.

" That's amazing. Thank you " I said bowing a little before spinning around on my heels and beginning the short trip to my room.

" Sana.. " called his smooth yet steady voice making me look back at him.
" Yes? " I gave him all my attention.

" I always mean what I say.. "

♡♡♡

[A/N]

I'm so sorry that the previous chapter was a tad bit crappy, LOL! I TRIED to make this comparitively better. Hope you guys liked it!

♡♡ MERRY CHRISTMAS ♡♡