A/N: I do not own Kuroko no Basket, but I do own Chiaki.

~x~

Akashi Zaibatsu, a worldwide financial company with millions employees working in the company and considered the backbone of Japan’s economy. A company which located at the centre of the thriving town of Tokyo, with over a thousand graduates who were experts in their field hired to work under the company. As the first choice for most of the graduates from well-known universities, they had the strictest interviews to ensure that the graduates are qualified to work in this company. Akashi Zaibatsu created innumerable legends in the financial world over the past 40 years. The company owner had operated the company smoothly and carefully, leading the whole company step by step to the place it was currently at, making the owner became a person of wealth and influence, even the politicians in Japan are aware of his importance and influence.

As time passes, an energetic young man with full of passion and dreams towards his company had now turned into an old man. Despite the passion towards his work, he was forced to let go of his company due to his health problems. He passed down his company to his one and only son, Akashi Seijuurou. Akashi Seijuurou studied finance and management in an overseas university but decided to finish his studies at Tokyo University. As a top student who graduated with flying colours, he got multiple offers from other famous companies from either Japan or overseas to work with them, but he rejected them. He chose to train under his father for two years before inheriting the company from his father. Albeit his young age, Akashi Seijuurou was like his father absolute, powerful, cold, just like an emperor. He didn’t disappoint anyone, especially his father by bringing in the highest profits in over 20 years to the company the first month after he took up the post as the CEO, making him a legend in the financial field.

Akashi Seijuurou’s personal life however, was still a mystery to most of the people. There were neither news about his personal life nor his partner, it was such an obscure fact that all one could say is that Akashi Seijuurou did extremely well in hiding his personal life. One thing about him that made everyone curious about it was that the young Akashi heir always wore a wedding ring on his ring finger of his left hand. When people questioned him about it, he tends to ignore the question or staring at the person while smoothly changing topic. Despite that, many CEOs and millionaires still introduced their daughters to the said bachelor, each wishing that he would lay an eye on their precious daughters and forming a coveted alliance with the Akashi family.

Or it might be just that they couldn’t believe that the mighty Akashi Seijuurou would fall for someone else other than his work…

~QAQ~    

“Any questions regarding today’s meeting?” Akashi’s clear voice rang out in the meeting room located on the 17th floor.

Although today was Saturday, but to the employees, it was still a working day, a HALF working day.

“If not, then we shall call it a day. Dismissed,” Everyone stood, greeted each other before packing their files and walking out from the meeting room. Akashi was the first to walk out from the room since he was nearest to the exit and he didn’t need to pick up those files, that’s his secretary’s job. As he walked towards the lift, he was greeted by a few of his young female employees who happened to walk pass him and he nodded lightly in response. He went into the lift and headed up to his office which was in the 20th floor.

The moment the lift was closed, the girls squealed with delight, which scared the other people who were concentrating on their work, and started whispering excitedly with each other.

“Akashi-sama is just as cold and sexy as usual, kyaaaaaaaa”

“I like the way he stared at me, it is like I am the only thing in those heterochromatic eyes of his~~~”

“Didn’t you guys notice his small smile when he nodded to us? It actually melted my heart~ I almost fainted while looking at him!!!”

“I saw it too!! He was looking at me when he’s smiling!”

“Fool, I was the one he’s looking at when he smiled!!”

“Go away, it should be me he was looking at!”

“You better go and have a check-up on your eyes because he was looking at ME for God’s sake!”

“Crazy women and their bizarre yet fond dreams,” The male employees could only sigh and shake their heads at the women’s infatuation towards their CEO. This was ordinary in this company where most of the female employees were taking a fancy towards the head of the company, or maybe his face. It was no doubt that 90% female employees who chose to work here was because of the great Akashi Seijuurou. They even established a fan club for all Akashi Seijuurou’s lovers to join. As for why the existence of this fan club hadn’t been realized by their boss, is still a mystery.

Today was just as normal as usual, completely normal.

~QAQ~

At the main entrance of the company, was brunette man of average build, holding a little girl’s hand while staring at the beautiful design of the main floor. His brown irises were wide open, and he looked as if his jaw was dropping on the floor. The little girl beside him was too excited to see such a luxurious building. She struggled away from his rather loose hold, and started running around the hall while shouting happily, catching the people’s attention. Noticing everyone was staring at her, the young man snapped out from his pure admiration towards the hall.

Waving his hand at her, the young man called out the girl’s name. “Chiaki, come here. You are disturbing people,” The little girl obeyed the man and ran towards him. The man smiled and brought himself down to her height to stroke his daughter’s hair gently.

The girl seemed to enjoy the man’s affections very much. After a while, the brunette held her hands and walked to the nearby counter. Sensing someone was there, the girl who was at the counter lifted up her gaze to meet his timid one.

“How can I help you, sir?”

“Erm... I would like to know where is Se... I mean, Akashi Seijuurou’s office, please.”

~QAQ~

On the 20th floor where Akashi Seijuurou’s office was located, was a girl named Ueda Takumi who was Akashi Seijuurou’s secretary. She was just in her 27th year and yet Akashi chose her as his secretary over all those women who were more experienced than her. She worked very hard and obeyed every instruction given by Akashi. She was treated badly by her colleagues, which she believed was just out of their jealousy towards her.

One of her jobs was to inform Akashi about the people who would like to meet him, which was something she did with utmost care. Due to her boss’ packed schedule, anyone who wanted to see him would have to make an appointment with her before hand. Last time, a CEO from another well-known company forgot to make an appointment before coming to see Akashi. When he asked for permission to meet with the boss, Akashi rejected the man without a second thought, not caring if the company decided severed all ties with their company which will result in the loss of an important business partner. His rules were the law after all.

After hearing the ‘ting’ sound from the lift, she lifted her head and was surprise to see the people coming out of the lift, a young brunette man with a little girl beside him. He was not one of the employees of this company. She had a good memory and she remembered every single employee working in the company. Moreover, she was very sure that this man didn’t make any appointment to meet Akashi, or she would have met him before.

This guy is going to be disappointed. Akashi-sama  never meets anyone without an appointment,  Ueda Takumi thought to herself as duo made their way to her while looking around the floor. Her first impression of the brunette was that he was a timid fellow. He walked nervously towards her, and he almost tripped on his own foot.

“Is Akashi-san inside his office?” He asked her nervously.

“Yes, he’s in his office,” Ueda Takumi answered solemnly before continue, “But I am not sure whether he would like to see you.”

The brunette looked hesitated for a while before asking her again. “C-can you ask him? I will just be there few minutes.”

Ueda Takumi stared right to his determined eyes before sighing. “Okay, I will ask him. I can’t guarantee that he will see you but why not give it a try?”

The brunette’s face turned delight as Ueda Takumi called her boss’s office. She switched it to loud speaker so that the brunette can hear. After few buzzing sound, the phone was picked up.

“Yes, what is it, Takumi?”

“Good afternoon, Akashi-sama, there is someone who would like to see----“

“What did I said before, Takumi? I will not see anyone without an appointment. I will be leaving few minutes later, asks this person to leave and meet me on other day.” Akashi didn’t sound very pleased.

 “It is me, Sei. I am sorry, I didn’t mean to disturb you while your’re working.” The other man spoke into the receiver.

“Kouki?” Her boss sounded surprised. “Let him in, Takumi.”

“Yes, Akashi-sama. This way, sir.” Ueda Takumi pointed the direction of Akashi’s office before hanging up the phone. It seemed that the brunette must be very close to Akashi since he never let anyone to see him without making an appointment. She watched as the man bent down to talk to the little girl.

“Chiaki, sit here and wait for me. I’ll be back within few minutes, okay?” The brunette smiled to the girl softly while patting the huge sofa beside him. As the little girl nodded, he straighten up and walked towards the office.

Just before he walked into the office, Ueda Takumi’s jaw fell in surprise when she saw something glinting on the brunette’s ring finger. It was a wedding ring, which was an exact copy of the ring which Akashi was wearing.

Just who the heck was this guy??!!

~QAQ~

The CEO’s office on the 20th floor was the biggest office in the whole building. It had a best view of Tokyo city, and an extra room in it for the CEO to take a rest when he is tired. In the CEO office, Akashi Seijuurou was absorbed by the piles of documents. He needed to finish reading all the documents before going home to meet his beloved family. He just had few more to go.

That was why he sounded not very pleased when he received a call from his secretary, Ueda Takumi, thinking that there are more documents or tasks waiting for him. He was very much irked by the unexpected visit, thinking how he wouldn’t be able to go home early now. It was already on the tip of his tongue to ask Ueda to throw that guest of his out of his company but he restrained himself. But that guest, was none other than the person he wanted to see most at the moment. With a smile, he told his secretary to let the man in while silently thanking God that he did not throw his lover out earlier.

While looking through the last document, he heard someone knocking on the door. When the door opened, one Furihata Kouki appeared in his sight. Gentle, he closed the door before him. His brown orbs traveled around the office, probably felt amazed at the design of the office, and landed his gaze at the red hair. There was only silence between them since none of them spoke. At last, Akashi took the opportunity to speak.

“Kouki.”

“...Y-yes?” sputtered Furihata Kouki, not expecting the conversation that brought up by Akashi Seijuurou.

Signing on the last document, Akashi voiced out his question. “I thought you’ll be waiting for me at home?”

“Ah. At first I did thought so,” Furihata scratched the back of his head, looking everywhere but at Akashi, “...but Chiaki said she wanted to pick you up from the company. I think she would want to have a look at the company his father is currently working at. But it is not like I came before, so...”

“Oh, is that so?” Akashi gave a gentle smile while Kouki mentioned the Chiaki’s name. His heart melted when he saw the cute, apologetic face Furihata made while talking to. Damn, how can my Kouki be that adorable, Akashi thought to himself, with a creepy smile on his face.

“Kouki, would you mind to wait for a while more? I need to handle some matters...”

“Of course not. I shall wait for you.”

 ~QAQ~

Ueda Takumi waited outside the CEO office, with that little girl the man brought with him. Despite trying her best to concentrate, the identity of the man who was currently in the office with the CEO kept on spinning in her head, along with the way her boss addressed him and the ring he was wearing on his ring finger. It just made her really curious about the relationship between the duo. It’s not like she looked down on the homosexual, but she just couldn’t imagine her boss falling in love with someone who had same gender with him.

Maybe they are just best friend. Best friends do call each other’s last name, right?  Ueda Takumi tried to convince herself with that statement, thinking that it was just a coincidence that both of them were wearing the rings which had same design, without knowing the fact that they were actually limited edition rings and only there was only one pair of them in the entire world.

After calming down herself about the brunette and her redheaded boss, she turned to get a closer look at the little girl who got bored on just sitting on the coach and decided to have a look at the fish tank near the lift. She wondered about the relationship between the girl and the man. Unlike the brunette, the girl had silky long hair which was red in colour, not as striking as her boss’ but was more beautiful than those who dyed their hair in the saloon. Compared to Akashi Seijurrou’s pure red, there were little brownish bits mixed in red, but that made her hair looked more attractive. Her hair was tied up in a ponytail, with big bright yellow polka dotted ribbon on it.

 She was fair and her eyes was just like the Akashi’s, only that both her orbs were red they had a lively look in them. Her nose and mouth was shaped similarly to the brunette’s, which surprised her since she thought she might be the CEO’s relative. Albeit her small, petite figure, she had a chubby face which made Ueda Takumi wanted to pinch her cheeks. She was wearing her kindergarten uniform and with a small bag on her shoulder. Perhaps she’s just came back from the kindergarten?

After few seconds, Ueda Takumi slapped herself few times mentally to stop staring at the girl, who was counting the fish in the fish tank happily.

What do you think you are doing, Ueda Takumi?! You are supposed to concentrate at your work, not staring at the little cutie there!

Ueda decided to let the girl be while trying to concentrating on her work.

When she was looking over Akashi’s schedule for the upcoming week, she heard the lift opened. Thinking that there might be visitor, Ueda didn't bother to look up and check. When the expected voice didn’t appear, she looked up from her book. There wasn't anyone around her. Not even the little girl.

Ueda Takumi stood from her working desk, started to look around for the girl in panic.

Toilet? No.

Outside the office? No.

Inside the office? Probably not, since she didn’t hear the sound of door opening.

Wait... sound! She DID hear the sound of door opening.

The lift. Don’t tell her that...

Ueda started to panic, and her brain stopped functioning. Can’t really blame her for that though, because if her brain started functioning, several horrifying images of how Akashi Seijuurou would punish her would flash through her brain. Just then, the office’s door opened and the voices of the two men speaking with each other could be heard.

I’m doomed! Those were the only words flashed through Ueda Takumi’s mind.

The brunette was surprised and started to panic when he saw the office was empty without the girl. Just before she lost consciousness, she swore that she saw her boss smiling at her, brightly.

A little too brightly.

 ~QAQ~

Chiaki ran into the lift the moment she thought the lady at the table wasn’t looking. She wanted to go to the 10th floor. When she was in the lift with her Daddy earlier, she saw the man who happened to take the same lift as them pressed “10”. When the door opened, the huge monitor in front of the room which showed a lot of numbers caught her attention. She wanted to go and have a look, but the sudden tight grip stopped her from running. She only could stare at the closing door, with pout on her face.

The number ”10” was a little far from her reach, so she stood on tiptoes and reached out as far as possible to press the button. As the button turned bright, she immediately fell down on the floor.

Why wasn’t she staying at the 20th floor like her Daddy told her to? Pardon her, she did like the fish, but anyone would get bored by counting the same fish 10 minutes. The number of fish in the tank wouldn’t increase every time she counted anyways.

The distance between 20th floor and 10th floor was not far, but Chiaki just couldn’t wait to go and have a look at the huge monitor. The moment the door opened, she rushed out from the lift without realizing this was only the 14th floor. As a result, she ran into a man who was about to take the lift. This man was the manager of that department, the scariest department manager in the whole of Akashi Zaibatsu. The department manager felt something knocking into his knee. Looking down, he saw a girl, about 5-year-old, sat on the floor while rubbing her forehead.

Whose daughter is this? Don’t her parents know that they are not allowed to bring their children to work? His brows twitched while staring at Chiaki.

He thought that Chiaki came to this floor because she knew that her parents worked in this floor. Wanting to know who her parents were, the manager lifted Chiaki up with her shirt’s collar mercilessly to his eyes level.

“Say, little brat. Who are your parents, HUH?” The manager used the way he spoke to his subordinates to speak with Chiaki (which was shouting at her, literally).

Such a big bully. She’s just a kid for God’s sakes, Every employee who were at that scene were thinking the same thing about their manager who just scared a five-year-old kid.

Chiaki was scared; every other kid would’ve gotten scared if they were in her situation. Especially when she realized it was not the floor she wanted to go, everyone was staring at her. Tears started to pool in her crimson orbs.

She sputtered while shivering, “...Not that floor...I...I...”

“Can’t you answer a simple question brat? WHO ARE YOUR PARENTS? I WANT TO SEE THEM IMMEDIATELY!”

“WUWAHH!!!!!!” Chiaki started wailing loudly. The department manager was stunned, since he never handled a child before. Just when he was struggling what to do with the kid, the lift door opened and out came an extremely worried Furihata Kouki and an extremely irritated Akashi Seijuurou.

The people who were staring at Chiaki immediately went back to their work the moment they saw their boss. They still have a long life to live on, places to go,  people to meet and a bright future ahead of them, thank you very much.

“A-Akashi-sama!” The manager greeted Akashi the moment he walked out from the lift.

Akashi nodded curtly at the man. He stopped right in front of him, staring at his left hand, and frowned. The manager realized that he was staring at the brat he was still holding. Despite what happened, she was still crying.

“Can’t even take good care of a child, can you? Then I wonder how you’re going to manage an entire department by yourself.” The manager jumped slightly when he heard his boss’s sarcastic tone.

He tried to smile apologetically while trying to explain his situation.

“Ahaha, I am sorry if that brat bothers you, Akashi-sama. I was just trying to know who were her parents, since company policy clearly states that the employees are not allowed to bring their children---”

“I’m her father. I don’t suppose you have any problems with that?” Akashi asked the manager in a dangerously soft voice that’s almost too kind.

Silence.

Everyone on the 14th floor was completely stunned, the whole floor was in complete silence (you can actually insert a tumbleweed right here, like one of those old cowboy movies). They looked like as if they jaws were all pulled down due to the gravitational force, their mouths opening and closing fish out from the water.

“I can’t believe it...”

“Tell me I am just fallen asleep when I was typing.”

“I think I need to go for a check-up”

“MOM, THE WORLD IS GOING TO END!!!!!”

Stupid me. What did I just say in front of him? I’m done for it…The manager thought to himself, with chills already running down his spine.

The girl, Akashi Chiaki, stopped crying the moment Akashi called her name. She ran to his side, calling him “Father” in front of everyone as she wrapped her little arms around his leg. Akashi stroked her head gently before turning back to the department manager.

“For making my daughter cry, your salary for this month will be halved.”

“But...!”

“Sei!” Furihata Kouki who stood at there for a moment decided to stop Akashi, “It’s not his fault. He just did his duty to make sure that his subordinates obey the rules.”

Akashi turned to faced Furihata. His absolute gaze met Furihata’s determined gaze, both challenging and warning him at the same time. They stared at each other before Akashi gave up and sighed.

Akashi faced the manager, who jumped slightly. “Fine. For Kouki’s sake, I will take back what I just said. Now, apologize to my daughter.“

The harassed man turned immediately to the young girl and bowed deeply at her, who in turn flinched and hid behind her father. “Please accept my apologies, oujo-sama. I didn’t know who you were earlier and I’m sorry for my harsh actions.”

“I don’t wish to see this happen again in the future.”

“Y-yes, Akashi-sama..”

“Let’s go, Kouki, Chiaki.”

Furihata smiled at Akashi who just walked straight to the lift, holding Chiaki’s hand. Before following Akashi, he bowed and apologized to the poor manager for troubling him. A few minutes after they left, the sanity returned to the department manager in Akashi Zaibatsu who seemed to have forgotten how to breathe. Once he calmed down from that fightful encounter with the CEO, he started wonder about something.

Just who was that guy who apologized to him just now?

~QAQ~

Walking out together from the company building, Chiaki went ahead of her parents. She skipped along happily while humming some weird melody, which Akashi doubted that it existed in this world. Furihata, on the other hand, was telling Akashi about what happened at his work place today.

Frankly, Akashi never imagined that he would have such a life if he hadn’t meet Furihata back then. He thought he would just inherit his father’s company, marry with a girl from a good family and just live like that for the rest of his life.

Life was always unexpected. He never truly felt the meaning of home until Furihata appeared in his life, followed by Chiaki. Every day when he went home after work, he relished the moment when he opened the door, and seeing his loved ones greeting him with a bright smile on their faces. That feeling of relief he felt whenever he was at home never failed to make him happy, a feeling that he had long forgotten since his mother left him. Even though she’s been gone for more than 20 years, Akashi misses her very much and sometimes, Akashi would feel the urge to tell her all about the amazing life he’s having with Kouki and Chiaki.

My beloved Mother, how are you? I am just fine right here, this is the life I long for. No worries, I will cherish it, and love my family, just like how you treated me and father.

Akashi smiled gently whenever he thought about his mother and the precious but limited time with her.

“Sei! Are you listening to me?” Furihata nudged his lover gently when realized that Akashi wasn’t really concentrating.

“Yes, yes. You were talking that the mangaka you’re in charge of who just hung up on you the moment you called him----“

“Fushimaki-san was trying to tell me that he couldn’t hand in the storyboard on time! I have no idea how am I supposed to go talk to the Publishing Department, this is the 2nd time he’s delayed handing in his work. I think I’ll have to go to his house and helped him to speed up the process...”

Yup, Furihata Kouki was currently working as a shounen manga editor at Marukawa Shoten(?). Despite dealing with a lot of stress and feeling endless frustration towards his mangakas who tend to do last minute work and leaving him to deal with the Publishing Department people (which in his opinion, are an editor’s worst nightmare), he loved his job very much.

 “So, where are we going now?”

“TO MCDONALD’S….!!!!” Chiaki yelled happily, gathering the attention of the nearby pedestrians.

“Chiaki. You aren’t supposed to have Mcdonald’s twice a week. We should go and have our lunch at a nearby restaurant.”

“But Daddy, Mcdonald’s is nice and they serve delicious burgers and fries~” Chiaki tried to beg with her fathers but was cut off by Akashi.

“Listen to your Daddy, Chiaki.”

“But---” Chiaki tried protesting once more.

“No buts. My words are absolute.” Akashi smirked, leaving the other two effectively speechless.

-to be continued-