I rubbed my hands together and prayed for the best as my eyes looked around like a prey trying to spot it's predator only to hide itself better. Within minutes, i could hear Akashi's voice ; him ordering his men to look for me everywhere possible. I couldn't see much, but judging from what I saw, men rushed into their vehicles and drove out of the mansion. Those idiots are going to look for me out there while I'm sitting right here. A smile made its way onto my lips as I stood up and moved from my current hide out. All the four gates were wide open, no guards around and Akashi was out of sight.

I jumped and ran out of the gate at the back of the mansion, did a little noodle dance in front of the dog on guard and ran faster in the middle of a dark road. This..was..freedom! Escaping felt easy, but the hardest part was not to be seen henceforth. Walking on the sidewalk with quick steps, I frantically looked around for something. Maybe I seeked help from someone, maybe my eyes were looking for Mikami or maybe I just wanted a burrow to slip into and get away from this cat and mouse game.

My feet ached as my walking was no less than running. The clothes that wrapped itself around my body was now the only separation between my skin and the creeping midnight chill. In the warm room back in the mansion, my clothes were as tempting as ice water, now all I wanted was another jacket to throw over the top. Up ahead was our rendez-vous, the cafe where i first met Akashi. I was surprised to know that I made it this far in such a short period of time.

I could already see the front, the street tables that were so busy in the day all stood empty, lonely without their chairs. I had never seen the orange paint look so grey, so blackish. The only splash of the friendly tangerine was in a spreading spot from the glow of a streetlamp. The fear I had felt at the mansion had been replaced by a rising feeling of unwellness in my stomach and below the clack of my shoes my heart beat pounded at it's own quickening rhythm. I had expected the streets to be almost empty, but there were a few folks about.

I kept my head low, trying my best not to make eye contact with anybody. My feet, by now were walking on their own and I felt like they wouldn't stop even if I wanted them to. Upon all of that, I had nowhere to go. My phone was dead. Mikami was with Midorima.

Wait! My lips curved sideways forming a grin when I realised that bakao lived just one block away from where I was right now. Takao Kanuzari...here I come!

It took me longer than I thought it would as I lost my way somewhere in the middle but managed to reach his place. Panting and undoubtedly out of energy and breath I knocked on his front door. I could see that the lights inside were surprisingly still on which told me that he was awake.

Takao and I were very good friends. He often used to drop Midorima at our place and while Shin-chan and Miki-chan got busy with their romantic stuff, I had no choice but to talk to Takao. I thought it would be awkward talking to a man who was tsundere's best friend , but he turned out to be something else. As days passed, Kanuzari and I got close to each other and he became that ' 3 am friend ' of mine.

It was probably 3 am now. I kept knocking on his door until I heard approaching footsteps. Once the door swung open, I pushed Takao inside and stepped in as I closed the door behind my back.

" Sana-chan!! " he exclaimed.

I perfectly locked the door and switched the lights off.

" What are you doing? " asked he, but I ignored him and continued to do what I was doing.

" What happened? " he whined as he threw himself over the couch as recklessly as ever. I tossed my phone to him and asked him to charge it while I rushed to the restroom. Yes, I had to urinate.

Takao was probably waiting for me the whole time, because he was standing right outside the bathroom door with his arms folded over his chest when I exited.

' You owe him an explanation! ' said my inner goddess while I just nodded at her.

I grabbed his arm and pulled him towards the couch. As we sat down across each other, I gave him all the explanation he needed.

" Akashi, who? You mean Akashi Seijuro?"were the words that left his mouth while I updated him with everything that happened till date.

" Please let me spend this night here? " I asked, hoping to hear an yes. He rubbed the back of his neck as he stood up and walked towards me. He sat down on his knees in front of me on the floor and placed his hands on my knees ,looking straight into my eyes.

I was prepared for the worst. Maybe not. Takao was my only hope right now as I had no other choice; I knew nobody else. I didn't have any idea about why Akashi wanted me. Was it concern? Was it because I saw his driver die right in front of me? Did the rich sadistic bastard have plans of doing wrong things to me?

Eh, I was being an idiot. If he really had such wrong intentions then he would have done it the day we met itself. Also, I wouldn't be surprised if there were a million girls willing to give away their virginity for him. He wouldn't choose someone like me over them.

I looked back into Takao's eyes who was staring back at me. He gave me a faint smile and said " You can stay here as long as you want ". That's all I wanted to hear.

I jumped , tackling him with my best hug, knocking him down on his back as I laid on top of him. " Thank you kanuza- thank you so much " I muffled into his chest.
" Oi oi! It's okay..he-he" he said as he ruffled my hair.

After completing my job of expressing affection, I stood up and helped him get to his feet. Being the best man that he was, he dropped me at the guest room and he returned to his own.

♡♡♡

Heart pounding, my panicked breath like thunder in my ears, thighs burning, lungs on fire, praying not to trip. Adrenaline almost bursting through my skin, eyes wide with fear, screams locked in my throat. He's coming. I can hear his heavy steps pounding the asphalt. His groans of infuriation. He's right behind me.

I feel his fingers snatching my long hair, tangling and tugging. My head bobs backwards. The scream squeaks through my scorched throat. Snatching at the air, I beg it to help me keep my balance. I see the stars watching from the heavens. His face looming over mine. I get away from his grip and run further away from him.
I keep running but I know my time is up. Out of the corner of my eye I see something sharp and long coming towards me. Before I scream out in pain, a hand swiftly catches the blade right before it can pierce through me and I look up to see the owner of the hand only to find a man dressed like an assasin.

His hair and eyes darker than the red of blood. He was the red assasin. I extend my hand to touch him , to knock his mask off! He was-

" Sana-chan! Wake up!! "

I opened my eyes to see Takao looming over me with two cups of coffee in his hands. So, it was all a dream! I was sweating in real and my breathing pattern was shaky and uneven. Grabbing the coffee from his hand, I muttered out a thank you. It took me a while to calm down.

Takao gave me a concerned look.

" Nightmare. " I uttered and he smiled.

" I'll be back in an hour or two. Don't want you to be a loner all day! " he grinned, before leaving for work.

Takao you sweetheart.

As always, I got out of bed and grabbed my phone which was now fully charged. I almost called Mikami, but stopped right before I pressed the call button. What if that red haired freak tracked my phone?

While I cursed Akashi under my breath, something else caught my attention.

A new mail! Who would e-mail me? Skipping directly to the content,my eyes went wide and heart beat rose.

Miss. Sana ,

We are impressed by your incredible works of art, and have decided to honor you with the ' Sanjusangendo golden leaf ' award.

Additional information has been attached in the form of a pdf below.

Best,

SANJUSANGENDO Art Museum,
Tokyo.

It took me a while to process what had just happened? I..I recieved a mail from the best art museum in Japan!! I never thought they would even bother to take a look my works. Oh my god!!

I swirled around the house , dancing to my own rhythm. I skipped into the shower and danced my way out. I had an hour left before Taka-baka returned. He let me stay, I might as well make it worth it. I switched his laptop on, and looked for the best cookery vedios on net.

After a lot of scrolling aa-and switching tabs, I found one!

' How to make pasta like Granny-momo '

I grinned and pressed play.

I took out the flour and eggs then I fetched myself an apron. I was almost tall enough to reach the high cupboard with the sieve but not quite. Short girl problems!

I took a chair from the dining table and climbed up high. Tool in hand i climbed down carefully and replaced the chair. I dramatically called out to Granny-momo . "How much of each?"

"Uh, three and two." answered she, as if she heard me ask.

I dipped my cup into the sack of wholewheat and counted three. Then I cracked two eggs, whisked them and tipped them into a well in the middle.

After a time I noticed that it was too dry. It didn't look like good pasta at all. My face fell and eyes watered.

" Why is it dry? "

I rewinded the vedio and this time, watched her do it.

" That's two flour and three eggs. Shit!"

I felt angry, she could have said it properly in the start, now my pasta was a mess. My enjoyment evaporated like summer rain from hot tarmac and I even stopped listening to the soft Jazz coming from my phone.

Covering my face with my hands I gasped when I heard the sound of the doorbell. He is early! He said it'd be an hour or two! WHAT THE HELL!

I whined as I made my way to the front door lazily. Swinging the door open, I froze when my eyes met the eyes of a certain red head in a suit.

" Is Takao home? " asked the man.

" No. " was my only answer.

He stepped in and closed the door behind him.

" Wha-t are you doing? " I asked angrily.

He walked straight to the kitchen while i followed. He fetched himself a glass of water and was as calm as ever while I was mentally dying.

"Right," he said looking down at the mess I just made, "two more eggs, a little flour, a tablespoon of olive oil and a little water can fix this."

He rumpled my hair with his hand and I rolled my eyes. I wanted to run away from him right now, but he was making it difficult. Despite myself my face recovered to normal and I fetched the eggs.

A few minutes later the dough was a satisfying ball ready to be kneaded. I felt it in my arm muscles, this was nothing like just throwing the dried stuff in a pot, but i liked it so much more. After a time the grainy texture became silky and it was time to wrap and refrigerate. Later I'd get to feed it through the pasta machine...

The red head watched me as I shoved it into the fridge. It was getting too awkward, somebody help!

Right then, there was another knock on the door. As the saying goes, when you seek help, help comes.

Okay, I admit. I made that up. I walked towards the door and the ruby eyed creep followed. I opened the door and there stood Takao my saviour!

He looked over my shoulder and spoke, " Oye Kagami! What're you doing here? "

______

[A/N]

Long ass chapter because - well because I haven't updated in so long and also because the previous chapter was short af.

Tell me if you guys like it ♡

Love,

AA